W296 In a Metal Can....How Long Ago??

[Southern Shooter]

A friend of mine wants to trade a metal can of W296 with me for some powder that I have. The can looks fine. No unusal odors. The powder looks fine. I am going to trade.

But, I just want to know how long ago did Winchester stop using metal cans for there gunpowder.

Thanks

[357Mag]

Southern -

Howdy !

From my defective memory..... I'd say around 1980.


With regards,
357Mag

[MarkP]

I am pretty certain I bought some WW powder in the mid 90's that came in metal cans.

[NSB]

It was in the 90s. I still have quite a few odds and ends of different powders from then.

[Southern Shooter]

It is an unused can and was stored in an environmentally controlled workshop. The powder looks and smells "normal". I am going to load up some this week.

[swheeler]

late 1990's to early 2k IIRC

[EDG]

I will guess in the 1990s too. However the powder could go back to the 1980s.
If the powder does not appear to be breaking down or smelling like nitric acid I would not worry about it.
Load a few rounds. I am sure it is still good. Ball powder seems to have a 40 or 50 year shelf life.

[Reload3006]

I have a metal can of 296 I know I bought in the mid to late 90s

[Stonecrusher]

I still have an unopened can I bought around 1986 or so. Label is falling off, but can is still solid.

[Bullwolf]

I bought this metal can of Winchester 296 back in 1993.

I used it mostly with 44 Magnum and 30 Carbine hand loads. I have used H110 as well, and the data was almost directly interchangeable with W296 except for some minor lot to lot variances. The last cans of W296 I purchased after 2000 were black plastic, as were the H110 cans purchased since Hodgdon took over the Winchester powder line.

This old W296 can still has some powder left. (little less than half now) I have been slowly rationing whats left in the can for nostalgia sake, and to see how it holds up over time. The powder is still in good condition. (No rust, discoloration, or nasty ammonia smell. It still smells strongly like solvent/ether)

I loaded some 30 Carbine using it just last year, and it chronographs much the same as it did in the early 1990's.

102902



- Bullwolf

[dagunnut]

I have a metal can of 748 I bought in 1996.

[silverado]

I bought a metal can of 296 last year.... but it was from a shop where the owner likes to kick people out based on his personal feelings... He likes me I guess..... Google ron hess norfolk if you wanna see some serious butthurt....

[John Boy]

how long ago did Winchester stop using metal cans for there gunpowder.
Check the lot number on the can. If you are in doublt how to read the lot number - call Hodgdon

[FLHTC]

I have an 8lb can of 296 from 1998 that I bought from Widener's.

[woody1]

Looks like the can I'm using on right now. Regards, Woody

[beagle]

In the mid to late 90s and if stored properly, that stuff never goes bad./beagle

[Kent Fowler]

Still have an unopened 3# and an 8# metal can of WW296 I think I bought around 1997. Now if I could just remember what " project " I had in mind when I bought the stuff.