Thoughts on Power bottle labels

[Leo_B]

Yeah. Then, I gotta remember what each of the colors are. It might work/be helpful if all the rifle cases were red, pistol cases were purple, etc.

It's first letters. Rifle Red, Pistol Purple, Shotgun Silver. And a sign on the wall with one of each color dot used and the type beside it. A red dot says Rifle and so on. Written inside the cover of the loading logbook along with color dots. Anywhere else you want to put a key.

 

[ELR LVR]

I'm not opposed to the idea
yet there must first be an industry accepted standard for when powder transitions
from pistol to rifle
such as at the Re-7/4198 mark?
Red Caps for pistol
Green Caps for Rifle
But, all in all, Im for double checking what powder you use
Sniff, Inspect, use a 30x Loupe to look at granule size, shape, color, if you happen to forget which powder
you left in the powder measure recently.

 

[Leo_B]

I'm new at all this, SO new, but already I learned only one powder on the bench at any time. So the bottle on the bench should be what is in the measure? And the bottle should be on the bench, the only bottle, until the measure is emptied back into it and then put away so another powder can take its place? So there never should be any question what's in the measure or any cases awaiting bullet seating or whatever left while rushing to the hospital for the new baby to be born? (Or whatever else was big enough to distract from finishing the rounds started?)

 

[SeabeeKen]

I just use a grease pencil and write it on the measure and containers. Easily wipes off and no doubts about whats in it. I only have 1 powder on my bench at a time, NO EXCEPTIONS

 

[argrendel]

I adhere to most of the practices mentioned here. I don’t always empty my measure, but I only have one powder out and it sits right beside the measure. As soon as I finish loading one caliber, I empty the measure and put it away. I also double check with a manual that I’m grabbing the right powder.
I do need to improve my note taking. A couple of times I’ve been pulled away when load development. Come back a few days later and scratch my head, where was I?

 

[Oso]

I shoot supersonic and subsonic in a couple of cartridges and also SBR’s, and some downloaded “powder puff” loads in others. All of this to say pistol powders get used in rifle cartridges as well as different rifle powders get used in same cartridge for different applications.

The Matrix of Potential Uses for any given powder is to complex to capture on bottle label. The powder manufacturer can only label so much. There are legitimate resources online that are provided by powder and bullet manufacturers that detail recommended “Load Data” for most applications. This is a great reference and starting point.

Reloading is dangerous and requires focus. Anyone reloading should have their own Reloading Notebook detailing their specific load recipes. This should capture every load they use for each cartridge and possibly also by firearm (pistol and rifle). This is your “Bible” and it should sit on the bench within reach to compare, confirm, and record your data. This is where I record what powders I use with what bullets loading for which cartridge as well as if load is for use in a specific firearm. This is first thing I reference when I get ready to do some reloading even if it is a mainstay load for me that I have been loading for years.

If you want you can also build a spreadsheet to track additional data as a backup. I like having a hard copy present on the bench.. no excuse not to quickly confirm data.

 

[Downeast]

I have one brand of powder on the bench.
I dip powder from a small glass dish onto the scale.
When I'm on a roll I can weigh and load two to three charges a minute. All to 0.01 of a grain. I seat each bullet as I go. One brand of powder, one brand of bullet on the bench. When I'm done I pour the remaining powder back into the original container. I'm a low volume loader. I sit down and tell myself that I am going to load 10 rounds. When I have done that I tell myself, OK, ten more. Sometimes when I'm in the "mood" I'll load 50 or more rounds. The minute I lose interest I quit and put everything away. Generally I'll load a 100-150 rounds a week. Sometimes none at all. Depends on how I feel. I'm not going to load if I'm pissed or aggravated over something. I guess that is about as safe as anyone can be?

 

[Oso]

I adhere to most of the practices mentioned here. I don’t always empty my measure, but I only have one powder out and it sits right beside the measure. As soon as I finish loading one caliber, I empty the measure and put it away. I also double check with a manual that I’m grabbing the right powder.
I do need to improve my note taking. A couple of times I’ve been pulled away when load development. Come back a few days later and scratch my head, where was I?

This is reason I also write the name of powder on piece of tape and put it on the powder hopper/thrower that I’m using. It is my safety backup in case the powder canister gets moved or prematurely put away. One less thing I have to remember or solve

 

[JEFFPPC]

Piece of masking tape and a Sharpie work for me. No Nanny Police needed or accepted.

 

[SSL]

This is reason I also write the name of powder on piece of tape and put it on the powder hopper/thrower that I’m using. It is my safety backup in case the powder canister gets moved or prematurely put away. One less thing I have to remember or solve

THIS ^^^^

 

[brokeasajoke]

Dang, I just put 5 lbs of #9 shot in a Winchester Staball bottle. Both products are spherical -- maybe I better label that jug. jd

I have one full of #12

 

[jds holler]

I have one full of #12

I heard that #12 gets a little spiky with high temps. jd

 

[jelenko]

This is reason I also write the name of powder on piece of tape and put it on the powder hopper/thrower that I’m using. It is my safety backup in case the powder canister gets moved or prematurely put away. One less thing I have to remember or solve

Same here.
I have several Dillon tool heads set up for different 223 loads - each is labeled with the powder, powder charge and bullet.
But even with that I have to force myself to actually read and comprehend what the label on the measure says and what the label on the powder jug says.
All my mistakes come from 'knowing' what the labels say.

 

[Webster]

Same here.
I have several Dillon tool heads set up for different 223 loads - each is labeled with the powder, powder charge and bullet.
But even with that I have to force myself to actually read and comprehend what the label on the measure says and what the label on the powder jug says.
All my mistakes come from 'knowing' what the labels say.

53 replies on how to label a container? Are we all nuts?

 

[Oso]

53 replies on how to label a container? Are we all nuts?

Yes… Until you or someone you know blows up a gun. Hopefully they walks away with only needing a new clean pair on pants. My protocols are based on preventing or reducing chance of worst case scenario.