What do you do with unknown powder?

It depends on how much and if I think I know what it is. I have pulled down a bunch of ammo that had good reloading notes so I got about a pound and a half of IMR4831 that I will use for working up conservative loads in 303.

then I have the small random powders from pulling down a few rounds, really anything less then about 1/4 lb is not worth messing with so it goes into the big mixed can of random powder. It includes a bit of everything including a bunch of black powder. I originally got that at auction, there were 2 cans of IMR4831 one was unopened the other was half full of a mix of 4831 and black powder I just keep adding to the can.

now because it has a fair bit of black powder mixed in I'm a bit hesitant in burning it, but the can is getting really full so the plan is to take it out into the field and burn it, might be exciting, I'll make a few feet of fuse by gluing a strip of powder to some paper so I have some time to move back to a safe distance.
 
"Pulling down hand loads" - I bought circa 35 rounds of 7 mm Weatherby Magnum - mostly for the brass - three of the cases were head stamped 270 Weatherby Magnum, but were sized and loaded as 7 mm Weatherby. There was two distinct colours and textures of powder, and three weights of bullets - it might have all made perfect sense to the person that did that - but was no notes - I had no clue what that was, but I could look up what was likely suitable powders for those various weights, in that cartridge. Because I could not be sure - that all got added to the sweepings from my reloading efforts when I get loose powder spilled on workbench - so likely debris from work bench mixed in there are well - so I do not "re-use" it.

Same with the primers - I could see two colours of pellet in the primers - did not know what they were - first ever attempt and it worked - I pressed out those live primers on my reloading press - dumped those unknown (but presumably "live") primers in a tin of motor oil - they soaked in there close to a year. I had presumed that the oil soak would "kill" the primer chemical. When I burned off the powder, I dumped out the oil from that tin, and played the plumber's torch into that tin can - every one of the primers "popped" - they were not "dead" - but I never tried to fire any with an impact. My "grand total" of experience to press out live primers and to dispose of them.

For some reason I had another batch - I pulled the bullets and dumped the powder - then fired off the primers in the rifle - in my garage. - resized, de-primed as normal. I do not recall why I had that batch to deal with - was AFTER I had pressed out those other primers and burned them. Maybe had convinced myself that a year's long oil soak did NOT make the primers inert - but firing them would.
 
I had some unknown powder sitting around and ended up using it to blow a beaver dam, fill a pop bottle attach a cap and bury in dam. It seemed to have a bit less energy than anfo or dynamite sticks but it opened up the dam just fine.
 
nowarningshot said:
I had heard that it will not break down in gardens. Personally I would use one of the pyro ideas above.
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I seem to recall a comment a while ago form someone here on CGN that it will break down - over about 20-30 years.

I've dumped baggies (a couple of tablespoons at a time) of powder on a bonfire with completely satisfactory results. Even alarmed the citiot when he heard "gunpowder". I guess he equated Saturday morning cartoons with reality.
 
Take an empty plastic powder can. Fill it right up to the top and stick a fuse in it. Screw the cap on. Light the fuse and stand back a little. Its most impressive when done at night. :)

NO, it won't explode. Powder containers are designed not to explode. Years go we ended up with a half dozen pounds of powder that had gone bad. We burned all of it as above and it is honestly nothing like what you expect.



Hmatt said:
Should I not be worried about corrosive from eastern bloc millsurp?
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Corrosive ammo is due to the primers, not the powder
 
Fill a case of 45-70 to capacity, compress with a heavy bullet and let it rip.

Joking.

Without being in a container to up the pressure the burn rate is unimpressive. Go to 7 minutes in, this mirrored my experience with pistol powder

https: //youtu.be/eyiQy6f-SNY?si=XFT0YKD3dRu5zCYn
 
woodlotowner said:
Don't forget to clear a sufficient area for the helicopters to land, prior to undertaking the above suggestions.
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I burned off a half dozen 1-pound cans of powder and nothing happens. But I'm sure you, who have never done this, know better than me. :jerkit:


This video is not mine but this is exactly how my night powder burns went. Pretty cool but not dangerous at all.

 
Actually, I burned a couple of pounds of my Dad's old powder I was uncertain about by just laying a long strip of it on the cul de sac where I was living at the time. The entire neighborhood was blanketed in heavy smoke for some time. Smokeless powder? :)
 
Last year I dropped off 7 pounds of contaminated gun powder to my local RCMP. A five minute discussion, fill-in small paperwork, done.
 
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