old Powder

[HKMark23]

I know there have been past discussions regarding the suitability of powder that has been stored for long periods. As the CGN search function doesn't work, I can't find em.

Much appreciated if someone could post a link to one or two of these discussions?

Thanx

 

[sunray]

Depends on how it has been stored, for how long and if the can was opened. Certain amount of what material the can is made from too.

 

[dead meat]

If you are getting red dust when you pour it out, use it for lawn fertilizer. Stored in a cool dry place it will keep many years.

 

[CRAZYLOCH]

If you are getting red dust when you pour it out, use it for lawn fertilizer. Stored in a cool dry place it will keep many years.

yOU BEAT ME TO THE RED DUST

 

[bearhunter]

Clumping is a definite sign of deterioration as well. If it is shiney, nice consistent grey color, it's probably OK. I have some H4831 that is 60 years old and it is still as consistent and safe as it was when I bought it 40 years ago. That being said, I've had powders go bad in less than 5 years even though I stored them properly.

 

[NormB]

yOU BEAT ME TO THE RED DUST

If you stick your nose in the can and get an acrid smell, its deteriorating/ed. The red dust will definitely do it to your nose.

NormB

 

[NormB]

Clumping is a definite sign of deterioration as well. If it is shiney, nice consistent grey color, it's probably OK. I have some H4831 that is 60 years old and it is still as consistent and safe as it was when I bought it 40 years ago. That being said, I've had powders go bad in less than 5 years even though I stored them properly.

Its usually military surplus powders that go bad faster. Less time to wash out the acid due to production speed requirements

NormB

 

[HKMark23]

Much appreciated guys. Guess I'm good to go.

 

[H4831]

Its usually military surplus powders that go bad faster. Less time to wash out the acid due to production speed requirements

NormB

That sounds like someone's theory to me, and not proven data.
I have original H4831 that came out shortly after WW2. It still looks, smells and shoots the same as it ever did.

 

[shredder0]

That sounds like someone's theory to me, and not proven data.
I have original H4831 that came out shortly after WW2. It still looks, smells and shoots the same as it ever did.

Agreed. Loads of military surplus ammo is still good. That should tell you something. Also, the nose knows! You will smell the acrid nasty smell of deterioration and not the subtle 'ether' type smell of normal powder. If it still shoots to the same point of impact, it's still performing. Your chronograph will tell you if anything changed.

 

[Andy]

I have pulled Swedish military surplus powder that's 70 years old and is fine. I've dumped stuff that was less than 10 years old.

Storage
Storage
Storage

 

[grijim]

I have 15 yar old IMR 4350 that shoots as goood as it did way back. I think it's all in how it's stored.

 

[Eagleye]

I still have a small quantity of old Norma 205, which went out of production in the 70's, so 40ish years old. Looks and works just like it did originally. I dumped two tins of IMR 3031 dated in the late 90's, due to the "red Dust" syndrome. Eagleye.

 

[DOUGLAS D]

I've got an old square cardboard can of H4198 that I've used as an ornament above the loading bench since I bought it for 5 bucks back in 1979. (it was old stock even then)
It's still in good condition and I wouldnt hesitate to use it if I really had to.

 

[tactical870]

I have powder here that's at least twice as old as I am..... Nothing wrong with old powder as long as it's stored properly.

 

[B-78]

I have some of the WWII 4831 powder that has gone bad if the red dust is an indication that it has. But I also have some Ammo Mart 44 powder that is just as old that I'm down to my last 3 pounds of but is still working just fine.

 

[H4831]

I've got an old square cardboard can of H4198 that I've used as an ornament above the loading bench since I bought it for 5 bucks back in 1979. (it was old stock even then)
It's still in good condition and I wouldnt hesitate to use it if I really had to.

I used my last squarish, cardboard "can" of powder within the last year. I bought this as new stock from a gun store in the mid 1960s. It was Hodgdon's H4895 and had a rubber stamp of the wholesaler who had packaged it. It had a metal top, with a round pry-out lid and a metal bottom.
It performed perfectly normal in shooting it.
The "H4895" was written on it in ink.

 

[DOUGLAS D]

I used my last squarish, cardboard "can" of powder within the last year. I bought this as new stock from a gun store in the mid 1960s. It was Hodgdon's H4895 and had a rubber stamp of the wholesaler who had packaged it. It had a metal top, with a round pry-out lid and a metal bottom.
It performed perfectly normal in shooting it.
The "H4895" was written on it in ink.

LOL. Good stuff!
Hope you kept the can! They're selling on flea bay for big bucks.

 

[Ganderite]

Normal powder has a slight cheical smell of the solvents. bad powder is totally different and there will be no doubt in your mind that it is different.

My bad powders turned yellow, not red and smelled like ammonia.

 

[dead meat]

Never seen yellow powder, stuff i had go bad was all new production. Also only had IMR go bad. You never know what may cause the problem, and if you`ve seen every thing your days are likely numbered.