Today I opened up a new can of H380 powder and while throwing charges, I am seeing a very small amount of pellet shaped powder mixed in with it. Even though it is a small percentage (30 or less individual pellets in a 40gr charge of H380), I don't recall seeing this before. Has anyone else seen this and is it anything to be worried about? This is a new unopened can so I couldn't have mixed it with something else by mistake.
H380 Ball Power w/pellets
- Thread starter TheSnake
- Start date
To answer you question, no I've never seen this condition with H380 powder and I've used a lot of it over the years.
This is definitely not normal as you already know. Can you tell if the "pellets" are a clumping of the H380 spherical "balls" or do the "pellets" appear to be cylindrical "stick" powder granulars? The latter would indicate contamination with another powder.
In either case I wouldn't use it. I'd return it to where you purchased it. If that's not possible, I'd contact Hodgdon.
This is definitely not normal as you already know. Can you tell if the "pellets" are a clumping of the H380 spherical "balls" or do the "pellets" appear to be cylindrical "stick" powder granulars? The latter would indicate contamination with another powder.
In either case I wouldn't use it. I'd return it to where you purchased it. If that's not possible, I'd contact Hodgdon.
I would definately not use it..to me in my opinion it looks contaminated...i would contact hodgdon and have the lot number ready..although this may not seem like a big deal if hodgdon is not aware of this problem it could lead to a huge accident..do it not only for yourself but all the other reloaders out there..someone elses pound of powder might even be worse..you could save some ones life or at least a limb
i think your doing the best thing...you never can be too carefull with that stuff..who knows it could just be something that is no problem then again it could be something that is seriously wrong with their machines...you just never know..but thanks for the heads up ill definately have to relook at some of my H380
bdale
NRA Life Member
I think what your seeing is a tagging agent to trace that lot of powder if it is used to make a pipe bomb or something for which it is not for, most powders have some way of being traced that lot just happens to be more obvious, i ran into that same thing years ago with some IMR powder and called and that was the answer i got doesn't hurt powder.
I've used H-380 for years. Never seen anything but small balls. I would not use it. Do not assume anything you see in that container is correct or belongs there. Contact Hodgdon. H-380 always a sweet smell with ball powder However neither smell nor sight are a way to I.D. any powder.Did you carefully look at the seal under the cap when you opened it? That seal is not as secure as I would like it to be so you have to unscrew the top carefully.
DO NOT use it and call Hodgdon.
DO NOT use it and call Hodgdon.
Wondering what was the response from Hodgdon?
the last and first time i saw powder looking like yours i almost blew my gun apart! balls and sticks do not come together! i accidently mixed the two and thank god and winchester the gun stayed together. the cases extraction groove was compressed and the primers gone and the BOSS muzzel brake device was belled in it's center! powders were both hodgden and i was advised to use it for fertilizer, which i did. totally agree...don't use it. let us know what hodgden says.
Update:
Hodgden called me back and stated that my batch of powder was from 2009 and that they have not had any complaints or issues with that batch in the past So they feel it is an isolated case or maybe someone had returned it contaminated and it was put back on the shelf for sale. They stated it has happened before. They are sending me a replacement container with a return box to send mine back for further inspection.
Hodgden called me back and stated that my batch of powder was from 2009 and that they have not had any complaints or issues with that batch in the past So they feel it is an isolated case or maybe someone had returned it contaminated and it was put back on the shelf for sale. They stated it has happened before. They are sending me a replacement container with a return box to send mine back for further inspection.
Seems like things go so much smoother when dealing with a responsible company. +100 for Hodgdon.
if you bought this powder from a reputable vendor have you confronted him/her? are they in the habit of accepting returns for what ever reason? was the seal broken when you opened the can? many years ago an evil human opened capsules of tylenol and replaced the powder with a deadly poison and many people died...the person was never found. this act eventually led to the seals and tamper proof packaging we see on everything...if the seal is loose, on anything, don't use it! your situation strongly suggest that someone, not hodgdon, contaminated the powder, accidently or on purpose. some powder seals are unmistakably secure...vihtavuori.
I got this powder some time back from one of three suppliers I get powder from locally. I keep tax receipts for 15 years but only a year for non tax so this receipt is long gone. I will ask them the next time I visit but I don't want to accuse anyone without knowing who it was for sure. I will post an update when I hear back after returning the can.
I have never found a shop that would return powder or ammo after it was purchased. My local shop gets alot of package deals where guys trade in a gun with all the reloading supplies with it. He just gives the powder away with the sale of the gun and states clearly that it is at your own risk if you use it or he will discard it.
From the photo you posted, the odd-shaped kernels looks somewhat like H100V, though I have no idea how it would've gotten mixed in with a batch of H380. H100V is a bit slower than H380, so if that's what it was, there might not have been a safety problem. However, there's probably no way for anyone other than Hodgdon to make the determination of what the stuff was - better safe than sorry.
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