Sometimes you just need to step away from the bench

[SSL]

For extra insurance, I only have one powder at a time out and immediately place a hanging card with the powder info on the measure just in case something would cause me to have to leave powder in it even for a short while.

 

[Zero333]

For extra insurance, I only have one powder at a time out and immediately place a hanging card with the powder info on the measure just in case something would cause me to have to leave powder in it even for a short while.

I do the same with labeling the hopper if I leave the powder in there for any amount of time.

 

[Tesoro]

I havent done the first one yet BUT I have dumped powder in my dry lube!! no biggie. Nice to see another fellow user of the el cheapo plastic pos Lee perfect powder measures! They are the tits.

 

[6Creed73]

I havent done the first one yet BUT I have dumped powder in my dry lube!! no biggie. Nice to see another fellow user of the el cheapo plastic pos Lee perfect powder measures! They are the tits.

Those cheap measures work perfectly for how I use them. I throw below my desired weight and trickle on the scale. I don't really need them to be super accurate.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Those cheap measures work perfectly for how I use them. I throw below my desired weight and trickle on the scale. I don't really need them to be super accurate.

How do you like the Lyman powder measure pictured? I have one dedicated to pistol loading and it works real well with Sport Pistol powder.

 

[6Creed73]

How do you like the Lyman powder measure pictured? I have one dedicated to pistol loading and it works real well with Sport Pistol powder.

It works well with ball powders, but not great with stick powders. So I use the Lee's for stick powders. The Lyman crushes the kernals.

Also, the Lee's are much easier to adjust. Working that plunger on the Lyman can be a pain.

 

[perazziguy]

ONE measure, ONE powder, EVERY time. NO exceptions, EVER.

 

[nakneker]

Doesn’t matter if you’ve loaded for decades, mistakes can still happen. I use to double check everything, load data, powders, etc etc, now I triple check. I don’t answer the phone. I just load and try and keep my focus on what I’m doing. Glad you caught your mistake before you suffered any consequences. Money wasted on components beats the hell out of money spent on hospital bills.

 

[ebb]

What he said (perazziguy) one powder, one measure, one chambering then put it away for next chambering

 

[Tesoro]

Those cheap measures work perfectly for how I use them. I throw below my desired weight and trickle on the scale. I don't really need them to be super accurate.

Over the years I have had all the top throwers. Now all I use are the Lees because they are the most accurate of all if you include extruded powder in the averages. They are so cheap that I have a Lee for every load/cartridge I shoot.

 

[BlueWater]

... I wanted to top off the measure. As you can see from the pic, they are labeled and I knew exactly which one was 4064. Yet inexplicably, I pulled the Varget measure and proceeded to dump ...

Glad you caught it. That'd give me the willies, if I ever did up a mixed batch of powder. Kind of a Forrest Gump moment: "you never know what you're gonna get."

In a sense, I'm lucky to be a lower-volume shooter such that I don't need to have a variety of powder setups all ready to go. Before each session, I prep the powder container, do my session, then clean it out when complete.

Of course, I've had my own little "oopsie" moments, here and there. But, so far at least, no mix-and-match powder problems.

There was the time rushing the powder throws into cases prior to having done the primers ...

 

[Murray Brook]

Now, not only does focus become a problem with aging, so does DROPPING STUFF!! GRRRRRRR!!!!

Good God, how true is that

 

[freebird22/250]

A only rule to follow is only one can of propellant on the bench when you're loading.

 

[M-61]

There are also times when you shouldn’t approach the bench.
Poor example would be motorcycles. If you don’t feel you’re one with the bike, then that’s not the day to ride.

 

[Krogen]

I don't have mere "brain farts." I go big and have "synaptic misfires." Regardless of what you call 'em, we all have these episodes sooner or later. Key is to step away and learn from them as many of you have said. For me, taking stock of my mishaps has made me better at whatever it is I'm up to.

On the reloading bench, I like simple; really simple. I do one simple step in the process on every case in a lot, then move to the next step. I'll use a checklist if I expect to load a big lot over several days. For me running several steps on one cartridge before moving to the next cartridge isn't good. Progressive presses give me the heebejeebies just because there's so much going on at once. Heck, I don't even like turret presses. I'll grudgingly use a Dillon for high volume loading but I'm s l o w with it. I'm a lot happier with an arbor press and Wilson dies.

Thanks to the op for 'fessing up to the forum! I can learn from others' mistakes in addition to my own.

 

[Bill Norris]

I too accepted the fact that more than one powder on the bench while loading was a huge no no. So far knock on wood I have not mixed powders.

 

[Retired shooter]

Like most of you one powder container on the bench, enough primers for number of rounds to load. Everything emptied out and cleaned at end of session. Paper notes left in loader heads as to powder settings bullet seatings,date when powder bottle opened and approx number of rounds loaded out of it, & Last date used. Sorry to have to say it but brain farts more numerous as we age. However I did catch my son the other day, adjusting powder on his Dillon 550, made comment " had a long way to go". I looked at scales. He was using grams, not grains. Sometimes 2 sets of eyes are better.

But sometimes peace and quiet provides more concentration.

Everyone have a great weekend.!

 

[ncageneral]

Don't feel like the lone ranger, I once mixed a ball powder with an extruded powder. Man did I feel like a dumb a$$. I, in my infinite wisdom decided I could separate the two powders. I did and managed not to blow myself up in the process. One can of powder on the bench, rest of it goes back into the powder cabinet. Don't beat yourself up to bad!

 

[Xerothermic]

Thanks, I'm fine with my system. I can admit when I've messed up...but I've used multiple measures for a decade and this is the first time I've ever mixed up powders. My screw up was just a reminder to double check everything.

I have two Uniflows, side by side. One small drum, one large drum and never an issue. I did start putting a piece of colored tape on the dispenser and the corresponding container in use. Started this about five years ago after reading a similar post.

Bright green for small drum and bright orange for the big drum. Works for me.