Old Powder

[dale2242]

I amazes me how old powder retains sits energy.
I was gifted an old can of Hercules Herco.
It came in the tall cardboard can.
The price tag said $5.69.
I have no idea how old this powder is.
In the lot was also a square metal in of Herco.
I don`t know which can is older.
I was skeptical about this powder so I loaded 10 rounds using it for the 357.
The load was 6 gr Herco under a 160 gr cast bullet.
It was a nasty day so I just took them out and shot them at a can to check function.
The powder burned like it was new.
I will chronograph them when the weather improves.

[sghart3578]

That's good to hear. I have several old cardboard cans of 2400 as well as 5 metal cans of 2400.

When I chrono test the two older powders vs new 2400 in any given cartridge the new 2400 and the 2400 from the cardboard can match muzzle velocities perfectly while the 2400 from the metal can is 8-10% slower.


Steve in N CA

[Cast10]

I’ve never had any issues with old powder. Stored in dark closet in house; constant environment. Checked with chrono always yield similar results. Primers either.

[McFred]

Not that all powders are created equally, but it is certainly impessive how it can stand the test of time.

I recently finished shooting up a cardboard can of Hercules Unique. It did not function any differently than a new plastic Alliant can of Unique. I have a friend who's still using an Accurate Arms No. 5 jug from 1994 he stores on the shelf in his un-airconditioned garage in Texas. So far, so good! Then there are cases like this where someone pulled down 110 year old Egyptian 8x57 ammo and reloaded .308 Win with the powder without drama. Grouped nicely with low velocity spread too:

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/...3/m/9391000342

[richhodg66]

I shot up the last of a can of Alcan 5my Dad had not long ago, good powder.

A couple of years ago, I finished up about four pounds of Alcan 120 he gave me. Used starting Red Dot data and shot that stuff in all kinds of things, good powder. Far as I know, it hasn't been produced since the early 70s at least. I'd take more of it if I found some.

I have a box of 12 of the square cans of Unique, I've only broken the seal on one, but it shoots great, just like brand new.

[Winger Ed.]

I got a old 4-5 pound , yellow, round, metal can of Bullseye awhile back.
I think its from the early 1960s, the ones that looked like a little oil drum, and looks like it was painted by a 5 year old kid,
then the lot number is stenciled on it-- probably by the same kid.

I couldn't ask for it to work any better in 9mm or .45ACP.

There was a article years ago about a guy who came across a antique flint lock pistol- that was still loaded.
He pulled the ball, dumped the powder, cleaned it, and put it back together with the old dose of holy black.

He had to prime the pan with new stuff, but it fired just like you'd expect, and with the well over 150 year old powder.

[MT Gianni]

They still have the original lot of bullseye underwater. Every so often they pull some, dry it out and shoot it. Less than 1% degradation in over 100 years was what I had heard.

[MOA]

The metal short square cans of Hercules is the older of containers. Next is the cardboard cans.

[farmerjim]

My 4 lb can of herco has a $6.00 price on it. My unopened sq paper / foil can of Alcan 5 has a $1.18 tag on it. I bought these back in the 60,s.

[Rany A]

I had a couple cans of original BLC (last of that sold in 1961). That was the stuff he bought surplus after WW2, it shot beautifully. Was in paper cans and had been stored well.
I emailed Hodgdon and they mailed the original load data to me, lot of obsolete cartridges on that list.

[GasGuzzler]

I got some 2400 in a paper can in a lot that also included several metal cans of smokeless and black powder. All fine.

[EMC45]

I have cardboard rectangular "cans" of H4895 that shoots just fine. I think the price is $2.15 on the side. I also have sealed square cans of Bullseye, Unique and 2400 I plan to shoot up. It all works.

[MOA]

Wish I could find some older powders. Seems out here in the West it's all used up too quickly. 😆

[jrmartin1964]

They still have the original lot of bullseye underwater.

Actually, it's a sample from the original lot of Unique. From about 1900, manufactured by Laflin & Rand.

I have some Hercules Sharpshooter from the 1910s that still goes "BANG" when called upon.

Jim

[mike4045]

I have some old #1 tin cans of Red dot ,not sure how old but guessing at least 30 years old, seems to work great for shotgun and 45acp.

[MOA]

I have some old #1 tin cans of Red dot ,not sure how old but guessing at least 30 years old, seems to work great for shotgun and 45acp.

Boy I'd like to see a picture of what a tin of #1 Red Dot looks like. Can you post an image of that for us.

[fecmech]

I posted this a few years back with chrono data. Post #2
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...rge-Primer-etc

[gbrown]

Yeah, a few years back, 5-10, I went to an Estate Sale. Looked around and did not see anything I needed or wanted. As I was thinking about leaving, I looked out back and saw an outbuilding with people going in and out. Went there and saw this guy was a shotgun reloader. Hulls in tubs, thousands. Wads in unopened bags, powder, primers, reloaders, all sorts of stuff. I bought several bags of wads, 20 and 12 gauge, primers, and an 8 pound jug of Scot 1250 about 3/4 full. As I remember, about $15. I got load data for the 1250 from a great member here. I have loaded and shot a ton of various caliber with that and still have plenty left. It chronographs just as it should. IIRC, this stuff was discontinued back in the '90s. Correct me if I am wrong. I have no idea how old it is, but its still good, as far as I am concerned. 45 ACP, 9mm, 357, 38, 380, just great! As I have researched, about 88% of Unique. Wish they still made this stuff.

[Bent Ramrod]

I have hoarded cans of SR-80 and IMR 1204 that I still dip into from time to time, for nostalgia’s sake. They haven’t been made since the 1930s. I used to buy and use a lot of Pistol #5 and 5744 in my .32-20 revolvers. Every time my cans of Hi-Vel#2 and Reloder 11 get close to empty, another partial or full can shows up at a gun show at a good price.

The obsolete powders keep trickling out of old stocks like the oil that still seeps out of sunken World War battleships. Last gun show I found an unopened can of SR-4759 for $15, and was glad of the chance to buy it.

I have the old loading books and data, and it still applies with the old and obsolete powders.

[Martin Luber]

I shot up the last of a can of Alcan 5 w.

What did you load it in? I have a bit left, would like to use it...have most popular Pistol ctgs and std rifle. Thanks