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Disposing swept up propellant

  • Thread starter Deleted member 10043
  • Start date
D

Deleted member 10043

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I've been wondering how people who reload in a basement or garage dispose of swept up propellant.

I've just been sweeping out of the shop in the grass. Water down that patch of grass with the garden hose. I've never had a "spill" to sweep up. Just the regular crap that hits the bench or floor and eventually gets swept outside. I'm just looking for suggestions or what other people do. I'm beginning to wonder if wet propellent eventually dries out and is still combustible as before. So, how do people get rid of their crap propellant?
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

Fertilizer is good but I like a HUGE carbon footprint to cancel out my hairy-pitted leaf-eating neighbors' efforts so I burn it.

I believe one of the mfgs even advise you to burn it in small controlled piles...I should try to find that.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

Save it for a "rainy day", stored in a location separate from your regular powder stash.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

Found it.

Alliant--Storage And Handling

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Alliant Powder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The best way to dispose of deteriorated smokeless powder is to burn it out in the open at an isolated location in small shallow piles (not over 1" deep). The quantity burned in any one pile should never exceed one pound. Use an ignition train of slow burning combustible material so that the person may retreat to a safe distance before powder is ignited.</div></div>
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

throw it on the grass, it will thank you later with thick dark green leaves, or bun it up on the driveway, it pretty cool as it burns fairly slow.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

When I have a small amount from the bench, I just flush it down the toilet. A couple of flushes takes it all out of the bowl and then it's the City's problem
grin.gif
cool.gif
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Originally Posted By: Alliant PowderThe best way to dispose of deteriorated smokeless powder is to burn it out in the open at an isolated location in small shallow piles (not over 1" deep). The quantity burned in any one pile should never exceed one pound. Use an ignition train of slow burning combustible material so that the person may retreat to a safe distance before powder is ignited.</div></div>

Just don't try that with black powder.

I may blow my vac up one day, but I clean it up with a shop vac.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I just throw it in the trash. There's not enough of it there to constitute any significant fire hazard, it's like throwing out a few safety matches.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Conqueror</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just throw it in the trash. There's not enough of it there to constitute any significant fire hazard, it's like throwing out a few safety matches. </div></div>

I just throw it in the small trash can under my bench. It is small enough that it doesn't ever accumalate much before being emptied so I never worry about it.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I know a fellow that used to vacum it up, the fire started in the hose, went to collected powder in the hopper of the vac, melt-down all around the motor and exhaust.

He said it was a very interesting few seconds till the flames went out.

I did get to see the remains of the hose and vac, it looked like it was probably an OH CRAP moment!
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

Just made me think of some mischief. Pour some waste powder in the sand of the "ashtray" you find outside the door of most public offices. Some employee will walk out for a smoke (on taxpayer time of course) and when they put the butt in the sand SURPRISE!
shocked.gif
shocked.gif


I used to work in an office where several smokers took 5-6 "breaks" per hour. At 5-6 minutes each they only ended up putting in half a day of real work.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

CAREFUL NOW! These days, some people call that TERRORISM!Don't be foolish. Don't even think about it! And don't even post it. You just got "on the list", at several AGENCIES!<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Deadshot2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just made me think of some mischief. Pour some waste powder in the sand of the "ashtray" you find outside the door of most public offices. Some employee will walk out for a smoke (on taxpayer time of course) and when they put the butt in the sand SURPRISE!
shocked.gif
shocked.gif


I used to work in an office where several smokers took 5-6 "breaks" per hour. At 5-6 minutes each they only ended up putting in half a day of real work. </div></div>
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I hit it with my little butane powered torch. The powder is a pretty interesting violent flame!!
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: joshboucher</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CAREFUL NOW! These days, some people call that TERRORISM!Don't be foolish. Don't even think about it! And don't even post it. You just got "on the list", at several AGENCIES!<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Deadshot2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just made me think of some mischief. Pour some waste powder in the sand of the "ashtray" you find outside the door of most public offices. Some employee will walk out for a smoke (on taxpayer time of course) and when they put the butt in the sand SURPRISE!
shocked.gif
shocked.gif


I used to work in an office where several smokers took 5-6 "breaks" per hour. At 5-6 minutes each they only ended up putting in half a day of real work. </div></div> </div></div>

Heck I'm probably on a lot of "Lists" I know of two ex wives that have me on their list
cool.gif
After that, there's not much to fear from any "agency"
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I save up the dribs & drabs of various powders. I also pulled a bunch of military 30-06 just to see how consistent the charges were (spread of 7.6 grs.) I put the powder on the marigolds & raspberries. Best crop to date. Or put it on the grass.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

When I worked for a indoor range years ago we had to sweep the range every evening. It's amazing how much powder goes unburnt. On the weekends we had more shooters and more powder after we closed. We would put the powder in a steel bucket and take it out back. Crumble up a paper towel, light it and chuck it in the can. The freakin' thing would throw a flame 30-50 feet high!!! Yo' dude cool!!! Safe??? Well it was fun anyway.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I collect it in a small pill bottle and when its full, i take it to the drive way and light it up
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

In the three plus decades I've been reloading I've bumped a loading block once and knocked a few granuals out onto the bench; I can remember one time not having the pan close enough to the measure when I dropped the charge and a few granuals went out on the floor, I can remember once dropping a charged 45 long colt case and loosing all of that....but I can't ever recall the need for a concerted effort to routinely "clean up powder" at the bench. Some of y'all sound like you're slingly it everywhere and calling it "normal".

Powder is expensive and if it's on the bench or in the floor, then it isn't going through your gun. Maybe a little less klutz & fumble and a little more care given to putting it where it's intended to go?
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

3/4 lb of bullseye in a pile will make a 15ft tall flame. set a low hanging branch on fire doing this. just keep a garden hose handy in case of SHTF.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I use a small shop vac to suck it up, WARNING DO NOT YOUR WIFE'S VACUUM, and I just dump it in the trash.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the three plus decades I've been reloading I've bumped a loading block once and knocked a few granuals out onto the bench; I can remember one time not having the pan close enough to the measure when I dropped the charge and a few granuals went out on the floor, I can remember once dropping a charged 45 long colt case and loosing all of that....but I can't ever recall the need for a concerted effort to routinely "clean up powder" at the bench. Some of y'all sound like you're slingly it everywhere and calling it "normal".

Powder is expensive and if it's on the bench or in the floor, then it isn't going through your gun. Maybe a little less klutz & fumble and a little more care given to putting it where it's intended to go?
</div></div>

The above saves me some typing. I have been reading with bewilderment. The worst spill I ever had is when moving a case from the loading block to the shell holder, occasionally fumble one and spill a few tenths of a grain, BFD. It has to be rescaled, but the "mess" is minimal. I've never accidentally spilled even a cartridge case full of powder, please give me a gold star. BB
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

Don't worry, I'm pretty sure that I have been doing this long enough. My talent, (such as it is) is that I am slow, deliberate and methodical. Just call me Mr Excitement.
BB
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

You can call me a bull in a china closet. No matter what I do, there's a kernel of powder here and there every time measure.

I hate the new large-mouth powder jugs, I seem to spill more now.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I have a fair-sized collection of 'pulled-powder' due to me NOT using 'donated ammo' as-is.

Over the years, I have been given SO MUCH ammo of all types (rifle/shotgun/handgun) that I pull it apart, salvage the brass/shell and the bullet/shot and just put the powder into a beaker.

I've amassed a fair bit over time, with using it as firestarter as well as just a bit of a pyro-demonstration once-in-a-while as I go, too. There's many who just didn't understand that powder 'burns', and doesn't "explode" like in the movies.

So I show'em, right then and there. Opens peoples eyes, that's for sure.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

You mean powder that is first loaded, then pulled, can no longer be used elsewhere in another powder weight, or chambering?

Interesting.............

What exactly deems it unuseable?

 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You mean powder that is first loaded, then pulled, can no longer be used elsewhere in another powder weight, or chambering?

Interesting.............

What exactly deems it unuseable?

</div></div>

If it is "donated" ammo you have no idea what it may be so unless I'm the one who put it in the case to begin with it gets junked.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

Ah, misread that earlier as someting else....

Was in a hurry, sorry.

I don't fool with donated ammo myself, for any reason.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

I generally decline donations but the one I wish I had thought better of was somebody died and I was offered a big stash of 300, 378 and 460 Weatherby factory ammo. (mostly solids)

I'm sure I could have sold it, placed an ad, but it never occurred to me, at the time. Priced that stuff lately? BB
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the three plus decades I've been reloading I've bumped a loading block once and knocked a few granuals out onto the bench; I can remember one time not having the pan close enough to the measure when I dropped the charge and a few granuals went out on the floor, I can remember once dropping a charged 45 long colt case and loosing all of that....but I can't ever recall the need for a concerted effort to routinely "clean up powder" at the bench. Some of y'all sound like you're slingly it everywhere and calling it "normal".

Powder is expensive and if it's on the bench or in the floor, then it isn't going through your gun. Maybe a little less klutz & fumble and a little more care given to putting it where it's intended to go?
</div></div>

You know, no matter how fine a women looks somebody, somewhere is tired of fucking her.
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Culpeper</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the three plus decades I've been reloading I've bumped a loading block once and knocked a few granuals out onto the bench; I can remember one time not having the pan close enough to the measure when I dropped the charge and a few granuals went out on the floor, I can remember once dropping a charged 45 long colt case and loosing all of that....but I can't ever recall the need for a concerted effort to routinely "clean up powder" at the bench. Some of y'all sound like you're slingly it everywhere and calling it "normal".

Powder is expensive and if it's on the bench or in the floor, then it isn't going through your gun. Maybe a little less klutz & fumble and a little more care given to putting it where it's intended to go?
</div></div>

You know, no matter how fine a women looks somebody, somewhere is tired of fucking her. </div></div>

So...you don't want the stark reality as it aptly applies to this inane non crisis, and instead seek to coddle your deeply inept misgivings.

Roger that.....try this:

broom.jpg


<span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">+</span></span>

Happy_Face_Dustpan.jpg


<span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">+</span></span>

trash-can.jpg


<span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">=</span></span>

istockphoto_1196258-referee-touchdown.jpg
 
Re: Disposing swept up propellant

Ref. the burn techniques...of course make sure conditions are safe (not to dry etc). But it works great for getting rid of
ants..jus sprinkle the powder over said ant problem apply flame
and .......well think of it as antpalm.
 
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