Had a powder clog in my Hornady powder measure.

[CoalCrackerAl]

I was loading some 9mm. With bullseye powder. It stopped dispensing after 11 rounds. Pulled the measure off. Checked the drop tube and die. All clear. Then i looked in and the drum was clogged on top where the powder went into it. 1ST time i had a clog there in any powder drop. I switched over to my uniflo to finish the session.

 

[wild willy]

Is this the measure you painted?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Yes it is. I was thinking some paint came off. But it's holding up.

 

[higgite]

Yes it is. I was thinking some paint came off. But it's holding up.

Did you ever have a clog in it before you painted it?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

No i didn't. This was the 1st time running bullseye. I have ran TAC,CFE BLK and unique after painting. No issues. Here is how i painted it. I used epoxy primer. The PPG paint and chromax clear. My neighbor has a body shop. He gave me the supplies.

 

[Reeferman]

I have three Hornady powder measures two on LNL AP presses and one on a powder stand and have never had that happen. I also use a lot of Bullseye in all three. Am I assuming correctly that you painted the inside of the body above the rotor?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Yes above the rotor. Im going to run some 38 special then with unique. And see how it goes. I just dumped my uniflo. And a lot of the bullseye stuck to the hopper and measure body. So maybe it's something with the powder? Can you put a descant pack in the powder? In-case it's moist.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The unique worked fine. So it wasn't static.

 

[Bill M]

Years ago I was going to a Revolver Match, and felt I needed to bring a couple more boxes of ammo, but I was out of Blue Dot. The gunshop only had a partial can, so I loaded a couple hundred, and drove 120 mi to the match, first stage I had a bullet stuck, and then being offered a reshoot, it happened again! I figured out I could find the cases with no powder by shaking them, and feeling the powder, (13gr).
After zero on the first stage, I only got second place overall, but I learned a lesson! Since that time, I use a screen cut to fit the powder hopper, and any clumping is apparent, when adding powder, and can easily be broken up with a finger.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Great idea Bill thanks.

 

[Blue68f100]

BE has a high nitro content and has a know history of attacking some plastics in powder dispensers if left in. So it could have been that the high nitro/solvent had a reaction to the paint or moisture in the air causing it to cake.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I think you just have a static problem. It happens this time of year when the air is really dry. Borrow some of your wifes Static Gard and shoot some down in the measure from a little of a distance and let it dry.
It will help with the static.
I really don't like loading this time of the year.

 

[Reeferman]

Yes above the rotor. Im going to run some 38 special then with unique. And see how it goes. I just dumped my uniflo. And a lot of the bullseye stuck to the hopper and measure body. So maybe it's something with the powder? Can you put a descant pack in the powder? In-case it's moist.

Don’t know if it would help your situation or not but every now and then I run some powder graphite through all my powder measures and make sure to get some on the plastic hopper as well. I live in a very dry climate most of the time and static can be an issue here. With the graphite it stops any powder issues especially with powder like Bullseye.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I turned off my room size dehumidifier today. I also wiped the hopper down with a dryer sheet too. Where does one get powdered graphite?

 

[dartor]

I turned off my room size dehumidifier today. I also wiped the hopper down with a dryer sheet too. Where does one get powdered graphite?

In the key and lock section of any hardware store.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Awesome thanks.

 

[Tilos]

OP:
This is going to sound counter intuitive to the popular practice of baffles in a powder measure and I have never posted it before but if may solve your problem.

I started out loading single stage with a powder measure having a knocker that you flicked after throwing a charge.
Now, loading on progressives, the powder measures operate smooth with no knocker.

I made a wooden weight with a hole saw that I place on top of the powder in the hopper.
I tested that and found the drops to be more uniform with the weight than without it.
I never had bridging but believe a light weight would help eliminate bridging.

I have since replaced the screw with a loop of para cord.
.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have a hole saw. And plenty of wood. I will make a weight.

 

[Tilos]

I have a hole saw. And plenty of wood. I will make a weight.

Thanks for responding to my post.
Several days have passed and I'm just curious as to why you haven't made or tried a wooden weight yet?
Making that weight and testing it will either prove or disprove its viability.
Pic of the diy wooden weight:

I use that weight when loading for handgun on my progressives. (piggybacks, Pro1000, Loadmaster).
I throw 10 drops into a long tube and weigh it for consistency.
Pics of those long tubes:

Those tubes are of a length to fit into the press opening, under the PTX die.
I just hold those tubes up-under the PTX die and follow it upward as I manually operate the power measure.
jmo,
.

 

[Tilos]

oops

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Hello I made a weight. I didn't load any pistol yet with bullseye. I did some 45 colt and 44 mag with unique. It went well.