Old square can of 2400

[sheepdog]

I have an unopned old can (69 to 70s maybe) of 2400. Heard as long as powder isn't opened its probably ok. Thinking about using this for some squib loads in case its gone "proof" so I don't go "poof". Any recommendations, maybe a light 38 special or 45 acp load?

[Bullshop]

I dont think it will be good for either of those mentioned.
2400 has a much more narrow pressure range that it works well at than say Unique.
It is not as narrow as say H-110 but still at its best in the higher pressure range of loads.
I think being in the burn rate suitable for magnum pistol loads it is not at all suited to either cartridges you mention.
It will be far better mated to things like the 357 mag case, 44 mag case, and even the 45 colt in some revolvers. It will likely do its best at loads starting at about 75% of max and going up to max.
It seems to be a preferred powder for reduced rifle loads, but in some larger size cases may require a filler for uniform ignition.
BIC/BS

[HamGunner]

A bit of testing should confirm it's condition. I would find one of your known loads using 2400 and load up a few and compare them to some newer powder. If you have a chronograph it would be easy to see what it is doing. I would think that if the stuff was stored in an area not exposed to high temperatures, that it should be just fine. The can is desirable by a few collectors.

I have one of the small 13oz. square cans of Unique and the price tag was $2.79.

[ETG]

That could be some dangerous stuff there. Suggest you send it to me immediately - I'm almost out of the 2400 I bought back in 74 :D

[zomby woof]

I'm using an old square can of it right now. 20.0 grains with a 180 LEE in my 30.06.
It'll be fine. Mi powder has no smell at all to it.

[Rocky Raab]

I have two of them with prices as low as $1.75 on them. It works just fine. I don't like 2400 in handgun cartridges, but use it as a rifle/cast bullet propellant, mostly in the 30-30. There, 16.0 with the Lee GC170F is a mighty fine load.

[JIMinPHX]

I'm having good luck using 10 grains of square can 2400 in a .223. It gives me around 2,000fps with a 55-grain boolit.

[Houndog]

I delivered a load of freight to Hercules when they were in Kenevil NJ and they had a drum of Unique from the first batch made in the 1800's. They stored this drum in an airtight container under water! From time to time they told me they would take a sample from the original drum and test it against the lot they were running at the time. The original powder ALWAYS tested from 96% to exactly same energy as their present production run! If a powder more than 100 years old that's been stored properly still gives energy levels well within the tolerences for newly manufactured powder, why shouldn't we expect a PROPERLY stored canister 30-40 years old to be good? I wonder if the newest lots being manufactured in Radford VA. by Alliant will carry on that quality and tradition? I certainly hope so!!!!!

[Shiloh]

I have to go with those who take the storage aspect of it.

If it was stored cool, dry, and consistent, it should be fine. If it was stored in a wet environment, somewhere with a wide range of temperature fluctuations, or opened,
It's toast.

Shiloh

[Bert2368]

It was THE powder for .22 Hornet for a long time- Supposedly developed for the cartridge.

[JIMinPHX]

I delivered a load of freight to Hercules when they were in Kenevil NJ

Two friends of mine used to work there. One is dead now. The other one picked the right day to call in sick from a hangover. They've blown up parts of that place a couple of times. the original M-16 powder was one of the bad ones. I've been told that the powder was such a problem to make in commercial quantities, that the military changed the gun slightly to accept a slightly different powder that they could produce. I am also told that the bad rep the M-16 got early on about not feeding properly was often due to an original M-16 being fed the ammo for the A1 variant. At least that is what I was told.

[Bullshop]

Made for the hornet true but it became the powder for Elmers baby.
Ha! I got an unopened 5# Red tin can. Gloat, gloat, gloat!!!
BIC/BS

[stubshaft]

It was THE powder for .22 Hornet for a long time- Supposedly developed for the cartridge.


IIRC that was the reason it was called 2400. It was the velocity achieved with the hornet.

[Rocky Raab]

It was THE powder for the Hornet not because it was the best, but because it was the ONLY.

Today, the warning against using old load data is just as true for the Hornet as for Saint Elmer's concoctions - don't. The ONLY Hornet case I ever had blow the primer completely out and shoot gas into my face was that classic 10.0 2400 load. It is NOT safe with today's components.

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Yup, if it skeers you send it to me, still shooting 2400 from the early 70's Just my humble opinion....

[GP100man]

Smellit. if it`s bad you`ll know it !! What does the inside of the can look like ??? Rusty??? pitted??? or nice & clean???

[JDBrowning]

sheepdog, Shoot the powder and sell the can. I was at a gun show in Columbus, Oh and the empty can's were priced at $25.00 each in good shape.

[sheepdog]

sheepdog, Shoot the powder and sell the can. I was at a gun show in Columbus, Oh and the empty can's were priced at $25.00 each in good shape.

Think I'll save it unopened and try to sell it for $75 ($25 for the can, $25 for the powder, $25 for being unopened).

[stephen perry]

My dad loaded 2400 in 30 carbine with 115 grn Lyman 311359. I shot a mess of them.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR :brokenima

[dbldblu]

The only time I ever loaded ammo that turned out to be too hot was with an old batch of 2400. I wanted to load some 357 Mag with 180 gr Hornady and selected a starting load per the Hornady book. The Lil Dandy rotor that was supposed to throw that weight turned out to throw about 2 grains light. HMmm, that should have been a red flag. I had to go up two rotors to obtain the suggested starting weight. These were weighed charges that I checked and double checked because of the discrepancy. I fired off six of these, opened the cylinder to eject but they wouldn't budge. I had to tap repeatedly on the ejector rod (Ruger 161) with a piece of wood before they would eject. Lesson learned in these quarters.

[Got-R-Did]

Bullshop, I too have an unopened container as you described. Likewise I have two of the older square cans of Bullseye (11 oz.) and 2400. The lot number #24 332 is stenciled on the side of my big red 5 lb can. It also has ICC-13 embossed on the bottom of the can. It looks like it came out of a time capsule it is so nice.
Got-R-Did

[jdgabbard]

I think as long as it was stored in a cool dry place, and it doesnt smell acidic then it should be fine. I've never smelled bad powder, but have been told it smells much like vinegar...

[Blammer]

I had (key word had) 2 square metal cans of 2400 with the pop top, unopened.
I opened them up and used it. It shot every bit as good as the "fresh" 8lbs of 2400 I got last month. :)

[Tim357]

Brian Pearce ( I think) did a blurb a while ago re: 2400. I think it was about lot-to-lot variations. He said when powder was weighed, the same weight often gave differing volumes, and he had to adjust the charge weights to get the volume the same as he had used prior, to get the velocity he was shooting for. He was able to use a chrono to support his findings. I just spent the last 45 minutes looking thru my back issues of Handloader, but have yet to find the one I'm looking for.

[Three44s]

I remember that "Pearce" article.

The bottom line is that the old version ran right in line with Elmer's advice and current stocks topped out at 20.5 to 20.6 gr. pushing the Lyman 429421.

Thus he had to lower his charge wts. 1.4 to 1.5 grs to equalize pressures.

Three 44s

[clodhopper]

I am shooting some 4064 from an old square can with the tiny cap.
lot #97
This style of can predates the type avalible in the early 1970s when I started reloading.
The stuff is fine.
Bad powder has a rusty dust, some of it may escape when the can is opened.
Advice given by a wise man was keep you nose away, that escaping gas/dust can be toxic.
Burned a pound of 4895 on the ground last summer because of rusty dust.
Just dumped it out and tossed a match on it. It burned well with a flame about 4' diameter and about 15' tall.
It was the fourth of July, the wife says "Why didn't you wait untill the grandkids got here to do that? They would have liked to see it"
I didn't want to give them any ideas.

[Newtire]

I bought an unopened can like that at a gun show in San Jose this year and really bought it for the can. Ended up sniffing it and then loading some up and it's no different than the stuff I have on hand that's about 10 years old.

[Lloyd Smale]

ill agree with you. Id take it to a gunshow and sell it and buy 2 lbs of new powder with the money

[Treetop]

Man, I wish I'd known that the old square, pop top powder cans were worth something. I HAD one Unique and one Bullseye can for years, just threw them out last summer:oops:

[vanilla_gorilla]

I wish I could lay hands on the can itself. I can use new 2400, but I'd like to have the square can.

[JIMinPHX]

My square can of 2400 is almost empty now...

...I wonder what I should do with that can when it's finished????:rolleyes:

:kidding:

[WRideout]

I am shooting some 4064 from an old square can with the tiny cap.
lot #97
This style of can predates the type avalible in the early 1970s when I started reloading.
The stuff is fine.
Bad powder has a rusty dust, some of it may escape when the can is opened.
Advice given by a wise man was keep you nose away, that escaping gas/dust can be toxic.
Burned a pound of 4895 on the ground last summer because of rusty dust.
Just dumped it out and tossed a match on it. It burned well with a flame about 4' diameter and about 15' tall.
It was the fourth of July, the wife says "Why didn't you wait untill the grandkids got here to do that? They would have liked to see it"
I didn't want to give them any ideas.

Clodhopper, I have seen lots of cannon propellant open-burned as a way to dispose of unused increments. The preferred method is to arrange it in a line, only a few inches tall, and as long as it will reach. Burning the stuff at night is thrilling; it looks like floodlights have been turned on. If you pile it up together, you run the risk of a detonation.

As an alternative method I have used myself, small batches ( a few ounces) can be spread on the lawn and watered down. It's full of nitrogen and makes the grass green.

wrideout