How old is too old?

[Shanghai Jack]

Read through this thread on old powder:


https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...74-Old-red-dot


I'm still using powder that I'm 99% sure is left over WWII stocks.

I've reloaded 1937 powder that I've pulled down from loaded 30-06 that I didn't want to fire with corrosive primers.

Now if I could only figure out how re-stuff cordite in the.303's I pulled it from

One string at a time???

[ebb]

The big paper drum that Ive been reloading 38s and 9mm has that same label only its 10 times bigger than the one you show. My unique is way older they all go bang.

[15meter]

Glad I'm not the only cheapskate that's using powder made before I was born. And I've been around long enough, all I've got is white in the beard.

[gwpercle]

I haven't opened it yet. It's sealed.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Open it and do the smell test - does the powder smell good or bad (smell some newer powders so you will know what "bad" smells like . Generaly it's an unpleasant , strong acrid odor that irritates the nose .
Next , look for "Red Dust" in the powder . The red dust is oxidation going on ... that's a sign of bad powder ...
If you see both ... you may not get consistent velocities ... it will not blow your gun up with high pressure but velocities will vary and accuracy will be poor .

Just because powder is old ...doesn't mean it is bad .
Powders stored properly will last 50 years ... I'm using some powders I bought in 1967 and there isn't a thing wrong with it .

Gary

[NObamain2012]

One of the top choices for 12ga 3 dram 1 1/8 Oz trap loads.

[Chena]

I have used many pounds of old stock powders evaluated using gwpercle’s criteria without incident, including Unique and Herco in 1lb containers of the same vintage you have. Right now I am working my way through a 3lb tin of Bullseye dated June, 1965. I am not saying I recommend the practice, just that it has worked for me. I remember discarding a 1lb tin of “rusted” IMR-4064 but that is the only one over many years.

[jonp]

Use a starting load for .38 Special, but fire them in a strong .357 Magnum. Chronograph it, if at all possible.
I'D bet 20:1 that you'll be fine, but this is the safest way I know of to test it.

Exactly my testing method. 38sp loads in my 357 Blackhawk over a chrony to look for velocity spikes/variations.

As for the powder, dump a little out and smell then look at it. If nothing seems off then min - 10% and have at it.

[Moleman-]

Thought you said it was old? The square and cylinder shaped cans are older. I still have several of those cardboard containers with the metal lids/bottoms and pull spouts in my powder storage. IIRC they are the last cans before they went to plastic. Don't think I've got the green dot one anymore but I know there's a red dot and a bullseye for sure. Do the smell test on it and if it passes and seems fine use it up.

[farmerjim]

Gary, Did you buy any of those powders at Globe discount city in 67 ? I did. Still using some of them. I have a unopened can of Alcan AL-5 about 6 feet to my left with a Globe $1.18 price tag on it.

[jonp]

I have a number of pounds of Unique, Red Dot and others in the cardboard picked up here and there as well as some metal cans of 4227, PB etc. All appear to be good and load fine. Last pound of Unique had an $11 sticker on it.

[flint45]

I picked up a bunch of powder at a garage sale about seven years ago and still have some of it there was a can of green dot just like that in the stuff I bought and it’s been fine I still have a lot of it.

[JSnover]

When I started one of the 'rules' was don't use it if it's clumped up. I had some old 7828 that started to clump and one of the old-timers told me it could be aired out and knocked apart, it's still good until the color or odor changes.
Last time I peaked inside one of the cans I noticed rust on the inside; not in the powder - on the inside of the metal can.

[john.k]

If you put a PH test strip into the powder .would it change colour ,or would water be needed to make a solution to test for acidity?

[Wheelgun]

Most likely good, could be bad. Age has nothing to do with it…

I’ve got some Unique that is in the same type of container. It’s from ‘86-‘87. Just opened one and have 2 others unopened. I’ve also got some 2400, and Red Dot in Square tin cans, that stuff has to be from the 60s…Excellent stuff, and I love those cool old cans…

[RyanJames170]

i have used flake rifle powder pulled down from the 1940's made ammo in 223, only problem i had was load data, i also have some real old stuff that was IIRC ment as a direct blackpowder replacement stuff is OLD

[gypsyman]

This gets me wondering. I recently acquired a 1 gallon chlorox jug that was marked IMR-4895. It looked like the newer can grade IMR-4895 I have on hand so I made light load in .30-06 and test fired it. Recoil was light as expected and I will work up from there. The jug has a screw off lid and it isn't childproof so I assume it is at least 30yrs old. I'm thinking it was surplus powder that someone moved from a paper bag to a plastic jug, or did people just bring their own jug of choice to the gun shop in the old days?

Probably from Pat's Reloading supply, use to set up at Camp Perry. Use to have his powder made somewhere down in Florida. The company would match the burn rate. He called it surplus, but was new manufacture. He passed away years ago, and his son was running the business. But haven't seen him at Perry for a couple years.

[Steve Steven]

From post by gwpercle:

"Next , look for "Red Dust" in the powder . The red dust is oxidation going on ... that's a sign of bad powder ..."

Not necessarily, could be rust from steel bottom of can.

Steve

[15meter]

From post by gwpercle:

"Next , look for "Red Dust" in the powder . The red dust is oxidation going on ... that's a sign of bad powder ..."

Not necessarily, could be rust from steel bottom of can.

Steve

Exactly.

Had a can of 4198 that the interior had rusted. I poured the powder out into a pot, then poured the powder back and forth between two pots while standing outside with a decent breeze blowing.

After a dozen passes back and forth, most of the dust was gone. It passed the sniff test, the no clumping test and the density test. More importantly, it passed the kaboom test without kabooming me or the rifle.

The cleaned powder went in a clean non-rusted can. And the old can was sold for scrap to keep me from forgetting about the rust and reusing it for something else.

[JSnover]

Exactly.

Had a can of 4198 that the interior had rusted. I poured the powder out into a pot, then poured the powder back and forth between two pots while standing outside with a decent breeze blowing.

After a dozen passes back and forth, most of the dust was gone. It pasted the sniff test, the no clumping test and the density test. More importantly, it passed the kaboom test without kabooming me or the rifle.

The cleaned powder went in a clean non-rusted can. And the old can was sold for scrap to keep me from forgetting about the rust and reusing it for something else.

Thanks!

[dale2242]

I had an 8# 7828 can that had rusted and caused red dust in the powder.
No bad smell. No clumps. No signs of bad powder whatsoever.
I took the powder out of the can and poured it from one clean container to another in front of a slow blowing fan.
I kept pouring it back and forth in front of the fan until the powder came clean.