Would anyone here know about when Hercules quit using these type of 15lb canisters? I bought this at a sale for $11.00 and it had about 13lbs of powder still in it. All the red dots have faded out but it smelled ok. Any ideas of age?
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Would anyone here know about when Hercules quit using these type of 15lb canisters? I bought this at a sale for $11.00 and it had about 13lbs of powder still in it. All the red dots have faded out but it smelled ok. Any ideas of age?
Got some 2400 BE and Unique from 1980 in that type 4lb
On this link it shows packaging was changed between 1980 and 1990 from Hercules to Alliant and that seems to jive with my memory.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/general/about_us.aspx
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They used those in the '70s. They last a long time. Don't know when they quit.
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I was given a can of old Bullseye from the 80's and had no problem with it, though it had not been opened.
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Don't know, I have a metal can of Red Dot that my B-in-L purchased in 1971, has faded red dots and it smells okay too. I'm about to test it in some 12 gauge reloads. OBTW, my local gun shop is asking $31/lb of new RD!!!
Last edited by LeftyDon; 11-03-2015 at 05:21 PM.
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Ouch! I just paid 19.99 for a pound of RD today!
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I'd like to guestamate right around 1990 or when Alliant bought Hercules the packaging changed on new product. Remaining stock (fiberboard tube) still remained in the retail chain for some time...mid 90s.
Examine the interior of the cardboard container. Some of what I see looks like water damage.
Sift through the entirety of the container's contents looking for clumping or sticking of the powder to the container. Look at ALL of it, all the way to the bottom, before using. Make sure the power granules are uniform in color throughout.
Red Dot is a tremendously useful and versatile powder and is one of my favorites for pistol, shotgun and reduced rifle loads. Just be sure it's truly in good shape.
I found a guy last year that has a bunch of those still sealed with Bullseye and brought one home. Next time I find my way up there I may see if he wants to let a couple more go.....unfortunate that the lowest I could get him was $120 cash for an 8lb can.
I remember mid 90's picking up some Red Dot during the transition. They were still old Cardboard Hercules containers, but someone had slapped an Alliant sticker over the Hercules logo on the can.Originally Posted by Greg S
I still have one of the Hercules/Alliant transition 1lb cardboard cans kicking around.
Pic below of it, along with my Lyman 358311 mould.
I used to cut the bottoms off the 1lb cardboard containers and use them to hold primers, boolits, and other small stuff on the loading bench.
Wasn't too long before plastic Alliant containers started hitting the shelves after all the old stock Hercules containers got used up.
I loaded shotgun a lot back then (when lead shot was much cheaper) and really went through a lot of Red Dot. Would have loved one of the big 15lb canisters. I never seem to find stuff like that at shows or yard sales.
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I remember many from the early 70's, bet it shoots fine.Would anyone here know about when Hercules quit using these type of 15lb canisters? I bought this at a sale for $11.00 and it had about 13lbs of powder still in it. All the red dots have faded out but it smelled ok. Any ideas of age?
Look on the container, I think you will find a very faded Lot # and date.
Water damage may have wiped it out.
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I'm shooting Red Dot from a 12 lb steel drum with good results.
I picked up a container of Red Dot that looked like that about 7 years ago, it had about 4 lbs of powder still in it. I used it for my wife's Cowboy Action loads for over 2 years with no problems.
I'm still using some red Dot in a metal can that is at least more than 25 years old and it still works fine.
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I'm still loading from a cardboard "keg" that was given to me in 1979. The original owner thought it was 5-7 years old at that time. I find RD 292 printed on the cardboard. Does that mean anything?
Now that's a deal if the powder is good.
Powder is still good. Just finished loading 3,000 - 9mm loads, all with cast, powder coated, green bullets set in shiny nickel cases.
unless you plan on shooting it all in the next year id think about repackaging it in air tight cans
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