Cleaning RCBS powder measure

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Dr.Rob

Dr.Rob

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Got done loading some Alliant Power Pistol and when I pour off the leftovers I have a band of powder stuck to the inside of my measure. Dry environment, so moisture not an issue .. possibly static?

Whats the best way to clean it out before switching powder?
 
I keep a used dryer sheet hanging by the bench. I put it in the hopper and use a screwdriver to swoosh it around. This typically causes the particles to drop to the bottom. And then I dump them into the powder bottle.
 
I use a small paint brush like an artists brush to knock it down then scoot it into the measuring chamber and try to eject it. It is static, you could try spraying some static guard into it, It will make it pull the little bit of moisture in air out and help with the static cling.
Just drift some down in there and wait about 10 minutes. Does wonders.

I had to buy my own can, my wife won't let me use hers anymore. I tried used dryer sheets, I couldn't see where they were doing much.
Only other thing you can do is wait until it rains out to load.
I usually have an awful time with static in the winter but we have had way over our normal rain fall so far last year and this one.

No static problems here this year.
 
I usually just blow mine out with an air compressor. As far as the static thing goes i was wondering if anyone has tried a Zerostat? They are used by Vinyl enthusiests to keep static down on records when playing them which in turn keeps dust off. The only issue is they are kind of expensive to buy for just reloading.
 
tightgroup tiger said:
I use a small paint brush like an artists brush to knock it down then scoot it into the measuring chamber and try to eject it.
Click to expand...

Me, too. A soft bristle long handle small artist brush, 1/4" to 3/8" wide, works wonders as brushing the powder kernels to the metering chamber.

When not in use, I store a dryer sheet in the hopper of the powder measure.

Other anti-static methods already mentioned work as well.
 
I use a small paint brush as well and then blow out any remaining with canned air from Office Depot.
 
I had a chemical reaction with my RCBS Uniflo. The Bullseye powder reacted with the hopper plastic and etched it. I had a number of small impressions that were etched by the powder. I have to use a brush to get all the powder out of those cavities.

I called RCBS and they sent me a new hopper but also told me I should NOT leave the powder in the measure when it was not in use.
Emptying the powder after each session is a real pain so RCBS needs to work on the composition of their plastic parts and find a formulation that doesn’t react to powder chemistry.
I have never emptied the hopper on my 40 yr old Saeco measure or the measure on my Dillon press. I’ve not had any reaction with them except for a slight discoloration.
 
I use Zerostat (primarily for my vinyl records) then I blow it out with canned air. Followed by small brush from Harbor Freight. Or vice versa.

I do it in the backyard with automatic water sprinklers set to run at night. Powders make good fertilizers.
 
Last edited:
Bottom Gun said:
I had a chemical reaction with my RCBS Uniflo. The Bullseye powder reacted with the hopper plastic and etched it. I had a number of small impressions that were etched by the powder. I have to use a brush to get all the powder out of those cavities.

I called RCBS and they sent me a new hopper but also told me I should NOT leave the powder in the measure when it was not in use.
Emptying the powder after each session is a real pain so RCBS needs to work on the composition of their plastic parts and find a formulation that doesn’t react to powder chemistry.
I have never emptied the hopper on my 40 yr old Saeco measure or the measure on my Dillon press. I’ve not had any reaction with them except for a slight discoloration.
Click to expand...

Bullseye is the only powder I’ve ever used that etched the hopper of my Chargemaster. RCBS also sent me a new hopper. I always leave powder in the hopper except for the above mentioned Bullseye and I’ve had no problems with any of it.
 
I clean my plastic hopper out each time I use it. Takes less time to clean it than it does to explain that I do it.
 
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