Older 1974 cans of Unique, etc. Still Good?

[Walstr]

"Helping" an acquaintance downsize his hobby and has more than a few "cans" of powder. Always stored in bsmt. cabinets.

1-Unopened powder cans from 1974 prolly OK?

2-Opened powder cans from 1974 prolly NOT OK?

3-Are doublebased powders LESS likely to keep well in long storage, e.e. Unique?

Thanks Pards. Wally

[Winger Ed.]

If it looks good color wise, and smells normal--- it's still good.

[15meter]

I shot a varmint match yesterday with H-380 that came out of a Hodgdon can with no Zip Code, that should put it pre-63. I'm assuming it's WWII surplus powder. I'm not sure when Hodgdon started to contract to have "new" H-380 manufactured.

I suspect your 45 year old powder still has some life in it. Unless it was stored under the corn crib, then all bets are off.

Shamelessly stolen from:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...53#post5618953

post #32


Yours is only 49 years old, as opposed to WWII surplus. If it smells and looks like gunpowder, shoot it.

Or you could send it to me I'll dispose of it safely.

[TurnipEaterDown]

Smokeless powder is Capable of remaining stable for a century if processed properly and stored correctly.

Evaluate the powder for condition, and use it if you deem it OK.

I have canister powders from 90's and 70's I use and appear pristine. One can has a retail price sticker in the $5 range. Probably earlier than 1970s. Perfectly fine.

I do keep them stored separately, and do check powders periodically for deterioration.

[Tall]

"Helping" an acquaintance downsize his hobby and has more than a few "cans" of powder. Always stored in bsmt. cabinets.

1-Unopened powder cans from 1974 prolly OK?

2-Opened powder cans from 1974 prolly NOT OK?

3-Are doublebased powders LESS likely to keep well in long storage, e.e. Unique?

Thanks Pards. Wally

Probably fine if it looks and smells good.

[ascast]

I would shake it up good and shoot a few, like 20 rnds to check it.

[stubshaft]

I would shake it up good and shoot a few, like 20 rnds to check it.

What he said!

[MT Gianni]

"Helping" an acquaintance downsize his hobby and has more than a few "cans" of powder. Always stored in bsmt. cabinets.

1-Unopened powder cans from 1954 OK?

2-Opened powder cans from 1974 prolly OK?

3-Are doublebased powders LESS likely to keep well in long storage, e.e. Unique?

Thanks Pards. Wally

Fixed it for ya.

[Dom]

All my stuff from 1982 is still good as new. If that helps any.

[deces]

I'd do a burn test.

[pworley1]

It is all bad! Send to me and I will dispose of it for you.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

50 yr old powder...if it doesn't smell bad and looks like it should, then I'd use it whether the can was opened or not. BUT, it's important to "look" at it, and compare it to same existing powder you are 100% sure is the same, just in case the previous owner got some mixed up.
good luck.

[Eddie Southgate]

I shoot powder older than that with no problem. Never had any Unique go bad.

[rintinglen]

50 yr old powder...if it doesn't smell bad and looks like it should, then I'd use it whether the can was opened or not. BUT, it's important to "look" at it, and compare it to same existing powder you are 100% sure is the same, just in case the previous owner got some mixed up.
good luck.

+1 x 100
In 1980 or 1981, I was given a can of "Bullseye." It was one of the old, 8 oz., metal cans with the pop-off lid. Didn't look right, but I went ahead and loaded up a bunch of wadcutter 38 ammo using it. The first round stuck in the forcing cone tying up the gun. I knocked it out with a range rod. The second round did the same, with even more unburnt powder. The rest went back in the box and I went home to try and puzzle out what had happened.

I came to believe that it was a pull-down, ball powder for rifle cartridges that had just been dumped in the first handy, empty container. Needless to say, 2.7 grains did not push the boolit out and down the highway. Sober reflection made me startle when I had the thought, "what if a fast powder got in a slow powder container?"

I won't do open containers any more unless it is a powder I know well and can compare to a known, good sample. I will say that I have shot up 30 and 40 year old powder that was just fine. While I have read of old powder going bad, I have never personally encountered it.

[Harter66]

Last winter I finished off a 15# keg of 1968 Unique.

[Walstr]

Dom: It does, thanks.

[Walstr]

rintinglen: Thanks. All 8+ cans available are unopened, and they ARE cans owner reports! I too, loaded some old pistol powder back when & worked fine; just not familiar with rifle stuff nor how it's made, etc.

[gnoahhh]

NOT that I categorically recommend this, but I've been shooting a bunch of powder lately that was stored in a garage for 40-50 years with no climate control with egregious temperature/humidity swings (a stone's throw from the Chesapeake Bay) that all passed the sight/sniff tests. Performance has been absolutely normal. Powders include 4227, 4759, 2400, Bullseye, and several Hodgdon "H" powders. Proof that there aren't absolutes in the realm of powder storage - BUT don't assume that poor storage is ok!!

I did have to relegate some ancient Surplus 4831 that was in this hoard to lawn fertilizer though.

[farmbif]

as you are finding out just because powder is old unless it is all rusty colored and rancid it is most likely perfectly good.

[Outpost75]

Double-based powders generally have better chemical stability than single-base.

I have used 100 year old Unique and Bullseye powder with no issues at all.