Powder Sticks in Powder Measure

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I have a Hornady Lock N Load Powder Measure and have noticed the last couple times I have emptied the powder to use another type of powder that when I dump the powder back into it's original can there is a lot of it still stuck to the metal part of the powder drop, right below where the plastic tube is. The only way I can get it out is to actually blow it out with air.

When I first got the powder measure I cleaned it out like it said in the instructions with the gun cleaner & dry lube. I even keep a dryer sheet wrapped around the plastic tube to prevent static and also one of those dry packs that soak up moisture. It's not a big deal but there's probably enough in there that I blow out to load up a couple rounds and with the way prices and availability is after a few years of that I'd lose a bunch of it.

Any tips or tricks to keep this from doing that?

 

[spclark]

I've never had that problem but if I did I think I'd try giving the internal parts a rinse with something like Lock-Eze. It's an alcohol suspension of graphite powder, the alcohol evaporates quick & the graphite stays behind as a dry lube. Most propellants are graphite-coated anyway, put there for various reasons by the manufacturers so I doubt it'd do much harm.

I'd welcome other forum participants to share their opinions about this, alongside what their suggestions are to the OP'S problem.

 

[Witchhunter]

I use a dryer sheet on powder measures, scale pans and funnels to remove static.

 

[Ohio1]

You can wash hopper in dish soap also (it gets rid of static)!

Steve

 

[amlevin]

Static can be a major pain depending on the ambient conditions. To eliminate it as much as possible many people will establish a grounding point on their work area. This can be as simple as buying a "cord cap" (the part of a cord that plugs into a wall outlet) connecting a wire to the green (ground) terminal, and running the wire up to the workbench. To ground various pieces of equipment just run a wire (with alligator clips on both ends) from the ground point to the metal part of your powder dispenser, scale, etc.

Wiping everything with dryer sheets, spraying with anti-static spray, or rubbing graphite on everything is fine but the static electricity goes away quickest if it has a path to ground. Nothing better than a wire ground.

If you want to carry it to the next level get a ground strap that's used by electronic techs. It attaches by velcro to your wrist, has a resistor in series so you don't get electrocuted if you come in contacted with a live wire, and drains off any static that accumulates in your body.

 

[watercam]

In some powder measure instruction sheets they mention adding a teaspoon of graphite powder to the powder in the measure to help eliminate static. Have not tried it but can not think of a reason why it would be a problem.

 

[expiper]

I have used a powder measure for 50+ years and have never had any problems with mine,,,I load at the range and at home in every type of weather that there is in the USA,,,dry and hot in the desert,,,wet and clammy in WV,,,below freezing and above 100*,,,,I think the static is caused when you pour the powder from its container/can into the hopper of the measure,,,,,I use powder that is stored/transported/dispensed from a removable Nalgene bottle (or old fashioned pill bottle from the local drug store) ,,,,,all of this rubbing and pouring and installing jumper cables is just self delusion,,,,keep it simple and it will work,,,Roger

 

[jonbearman]

I just wipe the interior with a dryer sheet and it works fine.KISS

 

[amlevin]

I have used a powder measure for 50+ years and have never had any problems with mine,,,I load at the range and at home in every type of weather that there is in the USA,,,dry and hot in the desert,,,wet and clammy in WV,,,below freezing and above 100*,,,,I think the static is caused when you pour the powder from its container/can into the hopper of the measure,,,,,I use powder that is stored/transported/dispensed from a removable Nalgene bottle (or old fashioned pill bottle from the local drug store) ,,,,,all of this rubbing and pouring and installing jumper cables is just self delusion,,,,keep it simple and it will work,,,Roger

Apparantly you've never loaded in a climate with extremely low himidity and enough static generated from just moving your clothing to cause "lightning bolts" to fly from your finger to a car handle or door knob.

 

[MikeCTX]

+1 on the dryer sheet...just opened a Lock n Load and had the same issue ran a lb of powder through it to 'get is a little dirty' then wiped down the whole thing with a dryer sheet. No problems after that...as another poster say KISS and done

 

[bheadboy]

my memory may be filing however I believe LNL instructions indicated to clean the new measure with their oneshot and dry with dryer sheet. there apparently was a mfg coating of some sort that needed to be removed.

Bob