Rusty IMR 7828

rombat

rombat

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Imagine my surprise when I opened a sealed tin of 7828 and found it rusty and full to the lid. Not 1 but 2 tins of the same lot # nfg. They have been stored sealed, cool, dark, and dry. The powder is covered in a light rusty powder, slightly sticky, and has increased at least 10% in volume. I realize it is almost 30 years old but I really expected it to be fine. Hodgen has replied that this is to be expected, the stabilizers have run their course and the acid is taking over.

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Bad powder. Dated Sep. 6 1995

good powder.jpg

Good powder from 1999, guess I have less than 4 years to use it up.

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All 3, with the 1999 stuff on the right.
 

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Hodgen has replied that this is to be expected, the stabilizers have run there course and the acid is taking over.
Click to expand...

I am assuming they told you not to use it?

Sucks that you're down 2lb of powder either way, ####s not cheap these days...
 
Powder manufacture in the last 40 yrs isn't to the high standards it was before, at least in IMR. I have cans 60-70+ years old that are like new.
You can pour it from one container to another outside in the wind to get rid of some of the red dust.
 
If you decide to use this powder, you should do so while keeping an eye on it.
If it starts to smell acidic, or corrodes the container or adjacent metal, get rid
of it. Dave.
 
gewehr76 said:
Nothing wrong with that powder. If its dry it will work fine.
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" rusty powder, slightly sticky"

Sometimes you get away with it and sometimes you don't

In this case, the powder is already "sticky"

Not a good idea to use it.

I had some #44 Bofors powder (IMR3031) that did the same thing. This stuff can be corrosive and cause issues if it isn't cleaned properly asap.

When powder gets that rusty dust appearing, it's breaking down and it's time to use it up pdq.

It isn't advisable to put it back on the shelf for a few more years.

There was another poster with "rusty lids" on his plastic bottles.

Eagleye managed to impress him enough to open all of his containers until he found the culprit.

The powder in the OP's post has reached the point where it's going to start clumping and releasing acidic fumes.

Likely it would be a waste of good components to shoot this or most powders that have deteriorated to this point or close to it. Accuracy will not be consistent because of erratic ignition.
 
I wouldn't use it. The sticky thing ( like bearhunter posted) is not good. If you are to keep it I would also keep it in a place were it couldn't damage anything if it was to self combust. These things can happen.
 
I have no intentions of using it. I switched to H1000 years ago (hence the old powder) and only recently picked up another older .270 Tikka for hunting and thought I would use an old 7828 load to burn up this powder. The good powder load comes up to the bottom of the neck, the rusty powder fills 2/3rds of the neck ( same amount by weight). At best I would have to restart load development for safety and that might keep changing year by year. I have a tin of good powder to work with, I wouldn't be surprised if the 1999 powder stays clean for years. The rusty lot probably was a quality control problem, maybe shorted on the stabilizer.

The tins look fine as far as I can see, I haven't emptied them right out. The powder smells normal at this point, that will change in time. I also wonder what may happen if you load it and don't fire the rounds for a couple of years?
Could it go bad in the case? I would imagine it would.
 
It's spoiled. I've had that a few times in the past, different powders, but similar appearance. The red dust means it is already acidic, and will get worse as time goes on. That powder can corrode inside your cases, corrode the base of the bullet, and will rust the bore of your barrel if you do not clean right after shooting. I've experienced all those problems trying to squeak a few more loads out of spoiled powder. I certainly would not use such powder in any firearm I cared about.
 
Don't know where you guys store your powder for it to go "corrosive" however in my experience.

I disassembled so many rounds that were laying on the ground for years at my range. No matter what kind of powder it was. From rounds starting with 22 LR , 12 Ga and ending in 50 BMG. From Powders looked sticky, grimy, covered in green death, clumped or even white as a ghost.

It all ignited and burned as it should after some drying.
Wet powder will dry in matter of hours in dry place or close to heat source even faster.

"sticky" is happening due to powder sitting in the can with no movement not from it going bad.
OP's powder is pristine compared to what I used in my reloads at times,

Yes performance may be different from newer powder, but it will be that way no matter what can of powder you open. Even same lot of powders will be slightly different from can to can.

People that throw away or dispose powder in flower gardens and or spreading it on the lawn, should give their head a shake, lol.
 
I have used 7828 from tin cans that were not corroded but the contents had very fine red dust in it...The powder was purchased in the early 90's...The powder seemed perfectly fine excepting the ether smell of fresh powder was gone...It worked as normal in my 7mm mags.

All these years later if I had to do it again I would not use it...But I don't do a lot of things I used to do...HA.
 
rombat said:
I have no intentions of using it. I switched to H1000 years ago (hence the old powder) and only recently picked up another older .270 Tikka for hunting and thought I would use an old 7828 load to burn up this powder. The good powder load comes up to the bottom of the neck, the rusty powder fills 2/3rds of the neck ( same amount by weight). At best I would have to restart load development for safety and that might keep changing year by year. I have a tin of good powder to work with, I wouldn't be surprised if the 1999 powder stays clean for years. The rusty lot probably was a quality control problem, maybe shorted on the stabilizer.

The tins look fine as far as I can see, I haven't emptied them right out. The powder smells normal at this point, that will change in time. I also wonder what may happen if you load it and don't fire the rounds for a couple of years?
Could it go bad in the case? I would imagine it would.
Click to expand...

In my experience, it will continue to deteriorate, loaded or not.
 
gewehr76 said:
Don't know where you guys store your powder for it to go "corrosive" however in my experience.

I disassembled so many rounds that were laying on the ground for years at my range. No matter what kind of powder it was. From rounds starting with 22 LR , 12 Ga and ending in 50 BMG. From Powders looked sticky, grimy, covered in green death, clumped or even white as a ghost.

It all ignited and burned as it should after some drying.
Wet powder will dry in matter of hours in dry place or close to heat source even faster.

"sticky" is happening due to powder sitting in the can with no movement not from it going bad.
OP's powder is pristine compared to what I used in my reloads at times,

Yes performance may be different from newer powder, but it will be that way no matter what can of powder you open. Even same lot of powders will be slightly different from can to can.

People that throw away or dispose powder in flower gardens and or spreading it on the lawn, should give their head a shake, lol.
Click to expand...

The OP also stated his powder has "swelled" IMHO that's a pretty good indication it's on the verge of breaking down completely.

WET POWDER and sticky powder are two completely different things, caused by different things.

I have also used powder that's gotten wet and dried it out, so no arguments from me on that. STICKY however is from the powder breaking down and it's only a matter of when, not if.
 
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