Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Wild Bill on September 17, 2018, 11:13:39 AM

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Title: Need some help...
Post by: Wild Bill on September 17, 2018, 11:13:39 AM

So, I’m stuck in KY for a while... learning a lot about humidity... the hard way.
My 7mag loves 3100fps... if I’m off that mark more than 50fps, she goes from a 1/4 in gun to .75. Good enough to hunt with.

I brought my powder down from wa. Like a dummy left it in the garage in a pelican case.
First shooting  session after reloading I immediately realized how bad that idea was. My rifle dropped A LOT of FPS. I associate it with the humidity possibly soaking into the powder.
 I had the fortunate experience of Shooting with Jerry Barnhart and spoke with him about my troubles. He recommended moving my set up into the basement. He said the powder will begin to dry up a little. I did so, and it brought the FPS back to 2965 average. Not perfect, but good enough for barely under a moa at 1200 yds.

So now, I’m toying with pulling the powder out of the 80-150 rnds I had loaded from the powder in the garage. At 69.5 grains per, that’s a lot of powder. And that means a lot of money. Lol

Would It be a bad idea to pull them, then pour them back into the keg in hopes it drys back out to the same level? I won’t be reloading until after Sept 28, as I’m out of town on an Archery hunt. So it has about two weeks.

The 80 good rounds I have loaded won’t be enough for my range time, and 3 rifle hunts I have this yr, so I’m for sure going to end up reloading, but can’t stand the thought of tossing that powder if it may dry out a little in that time.

Thoughts?
WB

Title: Re: Need some help...
Post by: h20hunter on September 17, 2018, 11:24:35 AM

My first thought is thats a lotta rounds to break down depending on your method with no guarantee your powder is salvageable. Sp break down 20, keep the powder seperate, let it dry, load, fire. If you are good to go break em all down.

Title: Re: Need some help...
Post by: Oh Mah on September 17, 2018, 01:26:03 PM

if you end up pulling them all,buy yourself a cake size tupper ware pan pour the powder in it level it out so it is even put 3 sandwich bags open with a couple crackers in each (to keep cracker contaminates out of powder) and let set with lid on a few days and the powder will be, well powder dry again.  :tup: during the few days turn powder around a little to get bottom to top and vise versa.

Title: Re: Need some help...
Post by: Bofire on September 17, 2018, 08:39:44 PM

might as well shoot em up.
Carl