Old old hodgdon 4831

[savagelh]

I just picked up 3 sealed pounds of this old 4831. No smell and color is good. Can I use modern h4831/h4831sc data with this? I dont see why I shouldn't be able to but the ad had a disclaimer to not use h4831 data. Also anyone have any idea about how old these cans would be?

 

[Denver Steve]

Should be between 66-73, they starting putting a H infront after that. And before that they said BE Hodgdon Inc. because it wasn't officially the Hodgdon Powder Company untill 1966.

 

[Denver Steve]

I would just do the usual load work up, if it's dry and not stuck together, smells, and looks good. Then it should work, it might be a bit less powerful I would guess? But I do not know.

 

[todbartell]

I think it's a bit slower burn rate than the new stuff. Buuut I could be wrong

 

[guntech]

Back in the late 60's I believe the 4831 that was being sold was left over from WWII. Stored properly it has a long shelf life. I would venture it may not have the power it once had. You can still use it for fertilizer. I saw it being sold at a sporting goods store in bulk... weighted into a paper bag in the 80's. Take it home and recan it your self.

 

[savagelh]

Back in the late 60's I believe the 4831 that was being sold was left over from WWII. Stored properly it has a long shelf life. I would venture it may not have the power it once had. You can still use it for fertilizer. I saw it being sold at a sporting goods store in bulk... weighted into a paper bag in the 80's. Take it home and recan it your self.

Already did. Put almost all of it into an empty vihtavuori 1kg jug. Definitely too valuable for fertilizer. Loaded up some ladders that I had used 4831sc for in the past so we'll see how it does compared to that data. With 1lbers at $100 now I happily paid half that for new old stock.

 

[guntech]

Crap, I bought some in the US in 66-67 for 50 cents a pound...

 

[savagelh]

Had some interesting range results. Velocity was a little bit slower in the 22-250 ackley with 77gr hpbt by about 50fps across all charge weights but averaged about 20fps faster than h4831sc in 280 ackley with sierra 165 tgk. No pressure issues.

 

[track]

Personally, I wouldn't gamble to waste bullets and primers. Today, H-4831SC, with temperature control is a better option. If you do try it, let us know how it worked.

 

[Dogleg]

It won’t work as fertilizer, it won’t break down for years. If you don’t believe that put some powder in a glass of water and it’ll still be there after your grand-kids weddings. Winchester (Olin?) used to store surplus powder underwater until they figured out what they were going to do with it. (What they did was start making ball powder)
As for using it, you’ll work your loads up anyway so whats the problem?