Thoughts on Power bottle labels

[Lee Whitsel]

Was reading the articles on gun blow ups from using the wrong powder in say a rifle with pistol powder. Was thinking about maybe a safe way to label powder that might save an accident. What if a company on their label would place a pic say of a rifle in a small but easy to see symbol on the front of the bottle and it would be a rifle in a green tag then on top of the bottle before you screw the lid of it would have a bright red sticker with a pic of a shot gun and a pistol with a bright red round tag with a X over it that would mean not to be used in anything but a rifle. The same say with a pistol powder on the front with a green label and on top a red round disk on the cap with a pic of shot gun and rifle in bright red and a X as a better warning to catch the reloaders attention. Just thinking!

 

[Mike Casselton]

I keep my powders stocked by burning rate, from left to right.
I also keep brands separated.

I also read the label at least twice before setting it on the bench.

I also verify the specific powder before I add it to the measure.

Takes micro seconds to do it.

 

[John Beauchamp]

Was reading the articles on gun blow ups from using the wrong powder in say a rifle with pistol powder. Was thinking about maybe a safe way to label powder that might save an accident. What if a company on their label would place a pic say of a rifle in a small but easy to see symbol on the front of the bottle and it would be a rifle in a green tag then on top of the bottle before you screw the lid of it would have a bright red sticker with a pic of a shot gun and a pistol with a bright red round tag with a X over it that would mean not to be used in anything but a rifle. The same say with a pistol powder on the front with a green label and on top a red round disk on the cap with a pic of shot gun and rifle in bright red and a X as a better warning to catch the reloaders attention. Just thinking!

You sound like a lawyer, why do you want the powder companies to take care of your inability to read labels properly. A few rolls of painters tape and some different colored markers and you can have whatever markings work for you. I have never had a problem with their containers. I do use painters tape on my powder drop though.

 

[Adam in WI]

So what do you do with 2400 or H110?

 

[joshb]

Oh, we need the Nanny State to make a new law to save us from ourselves!

 

[Lee Whitsel]

You sound like a lawyer, why do you want the powder companies to take care of your inability to read labels properly. A few rolls of painters tape and some different colored markers and you can have whatever markings work for you. I have never had a problem with their containers. I do use painters tape on my powder drop though.

Wasn't looking for your lecture only thinking of ways to make reloading and dealing with powders safer for all of us.

 

[joshb]

Here’s a thought: SLOW DOWN AND BE CAREFUL! Double check everything!

 

[Webster]

Oh, we need the Nanny State to make a new law to save us from ourselves!

You cannot legislate against stupid.

 

[K22]

A simple solution relative to assuring use of the correct powder -

1. Have only ONE powder on top of the bench when reloading. Double check that it is the correct powder that you intend to use. I do this twice, once when I pull it from the storage area underneath the top of the bench and before I seat bullets. If you develop a systematic process, it can eliminate a lot of mistakes.

2. Always empty the powder measure and trickler if you use one, EVERYTIME after you completed reloading session.

3. Always return powder to its original container and store it off the top of the bench.

The powder container labels are clearly marked. There is no need to change them.

Reloading is a hobby that lends itself to a methodical, focused, and attention to detail personality. If this is not you, then perhaps factory ammo is a better approach safety wise. That is not intended as an insult. It simply means that some people are not wired that way thus should consider other sources for their ammo.

 

[jelenko]

I also read the label at least twice before setting it on the bench.

I also verify the specific powder before I add it to the measure.

This. The mistakes I've made is because I did look at the label but 'knew' what was in the bottle. I realized what the label actually said only as I was pouring the powder into the measure that already had some of the powder that I 'knew' was in the bottle.

 

[jelenko]

Always empty the powder measure and trickler if you use one, EVERYTIME after you completed reloading session.

Yep. I don't always do that. The mistakes I've made were because I 'knew' what was in the measure and went to add more of the same powder BEFORE I did my double check. I have a label on each Dillon 550 measure. My double check is to force myself to read what's on the label and read what's on the label on the powder jug.

FWIW, my double check has prevented ever using the wrong powder.

When I use the Redding powder measure for weighing each charge, I keep the powder I'm using next to the measure and always return any unused portion to the jug.

 

[BoydAllen]

My rule is only one bottle of powder on my table at a time, and I take the time to read that label properly. IMO if you are having label problems, you need to slow way down and actually read them. Another recommendation would be to eliminate distractions while reloading, no "multi tasking". Leave the radio and TV off. Stay off the phone. Focus on the job at hand.

 

[jelenko]

Wasn't looking for your lecture only thinking of ways to make reloading and dealing with powders safer for all of us.

Understand.
But, as others have so nicely said, it's hard to imagine how any change in labeling would be sufficient to prevent mistakes made by not having read the label.

The key issue is each round is essentially a pipe bomb that is supposed to be fully contained in the pressure vessel. We can't afford mistakes. Mistakes will be made if we don't absolutely confirm what we're using for each component.

 

[GLShooter]

A simple solution relative to assuring use of the correct powder -

1. Have only ONE powder on top of the bench when reloading. Double check that it is the correct powder that you intend to use. I do this twice, once when I pull it from the storage area underneath the top of the bench and before I seat bullets. If you develop a systematic process, it can eliminate a lot of mistakes.

2. Always empty the powder measure and trickler if you use one, EVERYTIME after you completed reloading session.

3. Always return powder to its original container and store it off the top of the bench.

The powder container labels are clearly marked. There is no need to change them.

Reloading is a hobby that lends itself to a methodical, focused, and attention to detail personality. If this is not you, then perhaps factory ammo is a better approach safety wise. That is not intended as an insult. It simply means that some people are not wired that way thus should consider other sources for their ammo.

And I thought I invented that procedure 50 years ago!! It's worked well for me and no blow ups from mixed powders.

 

[M-61]

My rule is only one bottle of powder on my table at a time, and I take the time to read that label properly

That’s absolutely correct. If you have trouble following that, then reloading is the wrong hobby for you.
More legislation from the government to keep me safe. Their record, is at the very best, piss poor.

 

[BHP9]

I, too, only have 1 powder out. My powders are stored at the other end of the room.

I take the powder from storage and place on the desk. I then look at the container for conformation that it's the one I need, then take it to the loading bench and fill up the powder measure and place beside the measure. Then I start dispensing. Once the cartridges are loaded and stored/labeled in the MTM box, I empty the measure into its container and place the container back into storage.

My system works for me and YMMV.

 

[Daddymac]

I may blow my head off the next time I load something, but I have been doing this for 45 years without any real problems. Powders are clearly identified already and there are tons of places to get safe data on how to use them, so why do we need more? Oh thats right, to protect stupid people. Do you know what stupid people are best at? Making more stupid people so you have to dumb everything down to the lowest common denominator and put pictures on labels because they cannot read or comprehend.

Sorry, rant over.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Wasn't looking for your lecture only thinking of ways to make reloading and dealing with powders safer for all of us.

Reloading is safe.
Powders are safe.

It's the people...

 

[Mike Casselton]

Wasn't looking for your lecture only thinking of ways to make reloading and dealing with powders safer for all of us.

Reloading is safe.
Powders are safe.

It's the people

 

[Gary in MD]

Some guys are going to blow their gun up no matter what you print on the label or how much that you dumb it down for them.