Bought some unopened cans (metal tins) of one 7828 off a guy a little while back. Most of it is good, grey black like normal. In two of the tins the powder has a brownish hue with what looks like some rust in the cans. Is this still ok to use or would you guys turf it?
Rusty coloured powder
- Thread starter Slimbo
- Start date
Could just be a bit of rust from the can. Does it smell any different than the other cans. If bad you should have a nasty chemical smell like very strong acetone.
Boolitcaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island
It’s probably still usable, but starting to degrade. When I find powder that I suspect is just starting to go over, I make up a couple of test loads to check over the chronograph compared to known good powder.
I am shooting similar powder now, and it still performs well, but I am monitoring it.
I am loading and then using it immediately in small batches until it is either is used up or has to thrown out.
I am shooting similar powder now, and it still performs well, but I am monitoring it.
I am loading and then using it immediately in small batches until it is either is used up or has to thrown out.
Ok, next question....is it contagious? I found it while I was dumping all my different lots of 7828 into an 8 pounder. Probably 1/16th of a lb got mixed in with about 5 other pounds of powder....I scooped out as much as I can but it got mixed in. Will this make the rest of powder start degrading?
Guess I better get shooting!
Guess I better get shooting!
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
Regarding the smell again:
A solvent smell is normal and expected. Only if there is an acidic smell, that indicates it is starting to go bad.
For sure make it a priority to use it up.
A solvent smell is normal and expected. Only if there is an acidic smell, that indicates it is starting to go bad.
For sure make it a priority to use it up.
If in doubt throw it out, not worth risking a spontaneous combustion incident. The general rule is to check powders frequently for deterioration. I've got some powders that were purchased 30 years ago and are just fine, but had some IMR 3031 that was less than 5 years old and it was starting to go bad, luck of the draw.
Put it into a plastic container.
It is rust from the can, not coming from the powder.
If you want to remove the rust dust then gently pour it in a bowl while blowing from the side with a low pressure air blower like a fan or reduced pressure from a compressor.
Do this a couple of times and most of it will be gone.
If it smells good then I'd use it.
It is rust from the can, not coming from the powder.
If you want to remove the rust dust then gently pour it in a bowl while blowing from the side with a low pressure air blower like a fan or reduced pressure from a compressor.
Do this a couple of times and most of it will be gone.
If it smells good then I'd use it.
I have a bit of IMR 4831 like that. Transferred it over to a plastic container and am watching it.
In my 30-06, with the 180 grain bullet, there is an average of 20 FPS difference between this
powder and some fresher stuff I have, so I am not worried at the present. It has no unusual
odor at all. Dave.
In my 30-06, with the 180 grain bullet, there is an average of 20 FPS difference between this
powder and some fresher stuff I have, so I am not worried at the present. It has no unusual
odor at all. Dave.
I personally wouldn't mix that powder into the main blended lot, if the can they came from has rust inside.
That rust inside the can is indicative of the powder breaking down and corrosive gasses being released.
If it were mine, especially if you got the powder at a good price, I would likely scrap it.
If it's a different lot from the rest of the powder, don't mix it in. Not because it will cause a problem but because it appears to be breaking down.
I have picked up powder recently, that was new manufacture, less than a year ago, that had brownish color coating.
At first I thought I had gotten a defective batch. Not so. The brownish coloration was from the coating used to regulate burn rate.
If the brownish color is shiny and not loose on the kernels, it's likely just fine.
From what your pics show, it's still shiny and not dull in appearance.
If the can isn't rusty inside, it should be OK.
It's got to be pretty old powder, which shouldn't make much difference, if it's still in cans. All of the IMR7828 I've seen in the past 5+ years has come in black plastic bottles.
That rust inside the can is indicative of the powder breaking down and corrosive gasses being released.
If it were mine, especially if you got the powder at a good price, I would likely scrap it.
If it's a different lot from the rest of the powder, don't mix it in. Not because it will cause a problem but because it appears to be breaking down.
I have picked up powder recently, that was new manufacture, less than a year ago, that had brownish color coating.
At first I thought I had gotten a defective batch. Not so. The brownish coloration was from the coating used to regulate burn rate.
If the brownish color is shiny and not loose on the kernels, it's likely just fine.
From what your pics show, it's still shiny and not dull in appearance.
If the can isn't rusty inside, it should be OK.
It's got to be pretty old powder, which shouldn't make much difference, if it's still in cans. All of the IMR7828 I've seen in the past 5+ years has come in black plastic bottles.
Yeah it’s still shines for Sure and doesn’t smell. The inside of the cans has some rust. I’m not going to mix it in, aside from the inadvertent little bit that got mixed in with my other lots.
If I roll the kernels between my fingers they go back to normal colour and there is rust on my fingers
If I roll the kernels between my fingers they go back to normal colour and there is rust on my fingers
Maybe it's just rust from the can itself but usually it is powder starting to deteriorate that causes the can to rust. Still in early stages by the look of it so get on using it up. The shelf life is getting shorter.
From personal experience with this issue, I use that powder up asap
One thing to check, dump out the powder, wash out the container, if it's steel, let dry. Then look inside to see if the inside of the container walls are rusty or pitted. They should be shiney.
If the container walls are rusty or pitted, I dump the powder and if I have any cartridges with that powder in them, shoot them asap, then clean in the same manner as using corrosive surplus ammo.
I also find that powder will not usually be as consistent as non deteriorating powder.
I would never use it to load hunting cartridges or match cartridges.
A bit of a tangent but seeing guys say the same wrong thing repeatedly is a bit irritating.
Powder begins deteriorating as soon as it is made. The powder sitting properly stored in your home or shop is deteriorating right now, it's just doing it extremely slowly thanks to the addition of stabilizers. Heat is the number one cause of deterioration to the point of actual breakdown of the product.
Powder begins deteriorating as soon as it is made. The powder sitting properly stored in your home or shop is deteriorating right now, it's just doing it extremely slowly thanks to the addition of stabilizers. Heat is the number one cause of deterioration to the point of actual breakdown of the product.
