Mystery Powder

Frozen Snake

Frozen Snake

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A friend has 5lbs of smokeless gunpowder looks like shotgun in an unmarked container. Can this be used to reload for pistol? reminds me of 700x but I am not sure. can one use the lowest average charge from other powders and go from there?. I did not have the answer I figuerd someone here would have a better idea.:confused:
Thanks for the help.
 
The old-timers will probably give you some tips on how to go ahead, whereas the younger reloaders will emphatically tell you to dispose of it forthwith for the love of God!!
 
Got any pics of it? BTW, what's it doing in an unmarked container? And let me get this straight....he wants to use this stuff in a pistol? Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
 
If it is unmarked, you are in trouble, since there is really no possible way to determine by looks what powder it is. I would be extremely sceptical about trying to find out what it is by any trial & error method [I have reloaded for 45years] I think the safest thing to do would be to fertilize your lawn with it or burn it off in a gravel pit. Regards, Eagleye.
 
There are ways to determine if it's good (e.g. appearance, smell, condition of the container, storage history, etc.) and for unknown powders, their approximate Burn Rate (is done for surplus powders all the time).

I'm not afraid to explore (see my Avatar) and I've done exactly that with success for myself, but would not advise someone else to try the same - too many variables that can lead to too much risk.
 
I agree with Andy. But anyone wanting to develop information about unknown powder better be prepared to take responsibility for the consequences.
 
Andy said:
There are ways to determine if it's good (e.g. appearance, smell, condition of the container, storage history, etc.) and for unknown powders, their approximate Burn Rate (is done for surplus powders all the time).

I'm not afraid to explore (see my Avatar) and I've done exactly that with success for myself, but would not advise someone else to try the same - too many variables that can lead to too much risk.
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Seconded
 
"...There are ways to determine if it's good..." Yep, but not what powder it is. Spread it on your lawn or in a garden. DO NOT load with it though.
 
Personally I think its best use is as fertilizer. If you are going to use for a handgun application, regardless of the advise given here, use the minimum load for Bullseye data, shoot over a chronograph, then work out the burning rate of the powder based on your observations. For $100 worth of powder I would think about it long and hard.
 
Boomer said:
Personally I think its best use is as fertilizer. If you are going to use for a handgun application, regardless of the advise given here, use the minimum load for Bullseye data, shoot over a chronograph, then work out the burning rate of the powder based on your observations. For $100 worth of powder I would think about it long and hard.
Click to expand...
I would dispose of it. Even using the Bullseye method could get you injured because it may be a BLANK GUN POWDER WHICH IS A FASTER POWDER THAN BULLSEYE. Make a nice big pile of it ,use a long fuse and light it up on October 31.
 
I've been reloading for a long time too. I did experiment with an unknown powder for a while a few years back.
When you don't even know where to start, it's a long road. After a number of less than satisfactory attempts, I ended up spreading it thinly on the lawn.
Remember, there are a lot of powders out there now days, many look very much alike, and appearance is absolutely no guarantee of burning rate.
 
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