Use old smokeless powder?

[arlon]

I have a few cans of old powder, 2400 still unopened. Is there any reason to not use it? I'm in a very low humidity environment.

[smithnframe]

If it's been stored properly use it. It should smell like ether also.

[smithnframe]

I have some #80 powder from the early 30's that I just loaded up some 44 specials with!

[tazman]

If it looks and smells ok shoot it. Most powders last longer than you would imagine.
A couple of months ago, I and some family members shot up over 300 rounds of shotgun shells I loaded somewhere around 1985. They all performed perfectly.

[Iwsbull]

I have an 8 pound carton of 2400 from 70’s to the early 80’s , said he didn’t remember exactly when he bought it. I have been using it in 44 magnum loads and it has worked fine. I am in a very high humidity and hot area it spent a few decades in his outbuilding no heat and no ac.

[bmortell]

also be cautious with loads as it may be more or less powerfull than modern data says

[Norske]

Since modern "cleaner burning" 2400 calls for lower powder charges than the old stuff (245 gr cast in 44 mag, dropped from 22 gr to 20 gr for a max load), modern reloading manuals should be safe if the powder hasn't degraded (smells odd).

[arlon]

also be cautious with loads as it may be more or less powerful than modern data says

Have load data from the same period as the powders and never come close to max loads of anything. Mostly shoot mid to low range cast loads. Shouldn't be a problem, good point to be aware of.

[Harter66]

I'm shooting up Red Dot and Unique from 68&69 and H4831 that is marked WWII surplus repacked June 74' .

[richhodg66]

I'd load it and shoot it. Got powder from Dad that old or older, works fine.

[Texas by God]

Is it just me or are those IMR cans all blue? I've never seen Dupont rifle powder that wasn't color coded. And I go quite a ways back.

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[swheeler]

Is it just me or are those IMR cans all blue? I've never seen Dupont rifle powder that wasn't color coded. And I go quite a ways back.

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^^^^^This was the very first thing I noticed when I looked at the picture, 4198 ,4320,4350, they all look 4064 blue to me?

[Texas by God]

Exactly.

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[Texas by God]

I know there was some variation, but I remember:
4227- light blue
4198- brick red
3031- red
4320- green
4064- blue
4895- pinkish
4350- maroon
4831- orange

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[swheeler]

7828 dark blue- Ford blue
sr 4756 lime green
sr 4759 maroon
sr 7625 grey
PB brown

Those must have been an employee screwing around, making collectors items.

[Texas by God]

7828 dark blue- Ford blue
sr 4756 lime green
sr 4759 maroon
sr 7625 grey
PB brown

Those must have been an employee screwing around, making collectors items.

Must've been. The thought of using 4064 data with 4198 powder gives me the willies, though!

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[dbarry1]

OP: Those are awesome looking cans. As others have said, if it smells like ether, it is fine.