I've looked around the site and can't find anything on the subject. I was given some old powder in tins and was wondering if it's usable. The power appears to be same as new but I'm unsure if it'll act the same. Looking for opinions from people with more experience than I. Thanks in advance
Using old powder
- Thread starter zeddy32
- Start date
If it looks and smells Ok then it's good. Use it and don't worry.
When powder starts to go bad it gives off some noxious gases with a strong smell and are very corrosive. In tin containers the first indication of powder deterioration is the tin container itself will start to show oxidation/rusty looking crap on the lid threads and the tin surfaces. There will also be a stronger smell, the powder might start to clump up, and sometimes there will be a substance in the powder itself that looks like damp baby powder but varies in colour.
When powder starts to go bad it gives off some noxious gases with a strong smell and are very corrosive. In tin containers the first indication of powder deterioration is the tin container itself will start to show oxidation/rusty looking crap on the lid threads and the tin surfaces. There will also be a stronger smell, the powder might start to clump up, and sometimes there will be a substance in the powder itself that looks like damp baby powder but varies in colour.
As long as it was stored well there shouldn't be a problem. As jethunter pointed out, look for smell, oxidation and clumping. I loaded some rounds with 30 year old powder last month and they worked just fine.
I've been reloading for about 10 years and still have some imr 4895 from then (bought four eight pound jugs). I wonder the same myself.
Apparently, from talking to people and browsing forums, if it clumps together or smells like amonia, it's going or gone bad.
The 4895 I have from ten years ago is still good to go.
Apparently, from talking to people and browsing forums, if it clumps together or smells like amonia, it's going or gone bad.
The 4895 I have from ten years ago is still good to go.
I would use the how much guide line, if it is only a half pound then burn it in the yard for the kids(nice light show) and not chance it. But if you have five sealed pounds then your choice, I think I would ask myself is it worth the risk to my firearms, and possible myself (if things come apart), then to save a couple of bucks.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
Ten years is not old. I wouldn't give a second thought to the age of a powder unless I thought it was at least 30.
I agree completely. Maybe I'm too risk-averse, but if I didn't know the age of the powder and was confident in how it was stored, I'd get rid of it rather than risking my safety and the possibility of damaging my gun.
I use powders made in the 40's.
Good powder has a slight aroma of solvent.
Bad powder has a terrible ammonia small, and often has lumps or rust like stains.
If the powder looks and smells like powder, carry on. Start low and work up, as per usual.
Good powder has a slight aroma of solvent.
Bad powder has a terrible ammonia small, and often has lumps or rust like stains.
If the powder looks and smells like powder, carry on. Start low and work up, as per usual.
I too use '40's powder, some bought from Higginson 40 yr ago. Kept in insulated locker in the shop with little temp/humidity variations. Dwindling supply now. Not looking forward to restocking at $45/lb when most of this was about 10 - 20 bux for 8 lb. Got some powder from an estate sale once and most of it was bad. Burned nice in the garbage barrel. Mark
I still have some of the WWII surplus 4831 powder that is as good as when I bought it for $5/25 pound paper container. It was cheaper if you bought larger containers or a 500 pound wooden crate filled with containers. This stuff was quite literally sealed and the packaging methods stood up very well over the years.
The one thing many don't consider when purchasing small lots of old powder is how often it was moved. Mostly it isn't a problem but one thing not mentioned here is how the manufacturers control the burn rate of different powders. They coat it with graphite and other substances.
When this coating gets worn off from vibration or handling, the characteristics of the powder in the container change dramatically. Usually it become much faster.
OP, not likely to be a problem but it's easily checked. If there is a lot of fine residue on the bottom of the can or a lot of dust that looks like the powder load a couple and try them out before loading a lot.
A lot of my powder has been subjected to -30C, and never had a hiccup. Some of it is 50 years and older, and has never changed in its colour or smell either.
It still produces very close to the same velocity with the same loads in the same rifles that I got way back when I bought my Oehler Model 33 in 1977.
Ted
Last edited:
In the late 70's I bought 20 lbs. of Red Dot out of an estate sale that probably was new in the early 60's. I still had a couple lbs. left in the 2007 and passed it on to another fella. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. It smelt like powder, flowed well through a charge bar, and gave consistent performance. Proper storage I think is the key. Cool and dry always worked for me.
I still have a small quantity of old Norma 205, obsolete for decades now.
Also have some 4895 [No H or IMR designation], which I bought as surplus in about 1965. I
believe I paid about $1.00 a pound for it from a "gunsmith" who sold out of a bulk
supply. Both of these still look, smell, and work just fine. D.
Also have some 4895 [No H or IMR designation], which I bought as surplus in about 1965. I
believe I paid about $1.00 a pound for it from a "gunsmith" who sold out of a bulk
supply. Both of these still look, smell, and work just fine. D.
I'm also shooting old surplus 4831 from ammo mart aka Higginson powder.
Works just fine for me.
