Dupont 4895

[emptyhead]

Hi guys I didn't know where to put this question. I recieved an 8lb can of dupont 4895 that was sealed with the metal strip over the push pop lid. Powder smell ok but the inside of the can is starting to discolorand almost rust in places. Loaded it up in a 308 and ran it over a chono. Results came back about 10 to 20 fps slower then my current imr. Should I burn the rest of it up in my M1Afor highpower.

[NuJudge]

The best guide to whether it is bad is the smell. If the powder is bad it will have a strong acid smell, and there will be red dust when you pour it.

For good powder there should be the smell of Acetone.

I would not be worried by a dull color on the inside of the can.

CDD

[Larry Gibson]

I would burn the rest up in your M1A. The discoloration is normal if the powder doesn't smell "bad" and/or there isn't any rust discoloration of the powder. 10 - 20 fps difference is well within the expected lot to lot variation of IMR 4895. Over the many years of loading gobs of 4895 in match 7.62 loads for my own M1A/M14s I found that it took, depending on the lot of IMR 4895, between 40.5 and 42.5 gr to push the 168 MK to 2575 fps. Also having pulled many a M118 and measuring the milsurp 4895 I also found the powder charges to vary, between lots, pretty much the same. The acceptable lot to lot variation for cannister grade IMR 4895 was +/- 5% many years back when Dupont still made the powder.

Larry Gibson

[emptyhead]

Thanks guys.

[RayinNH]

If rust is starting to show you might think about transferring the powder to another container soon...Ray

[dale2242]

Shoot it, my friend. Shoot it. It`s OK...dale

[Char-Gar]

Double base propellants like the old Dupont IMR series are much more stable than the old Hercules single base powders. If it dry and smell right, I would shoot it without hesitation.

If the old Hercules powders (nitro based) got gummy or rusty, then you could have some major issues with that stuff.

[JDL]

Ummmmm, IIRC DuPont IMR are single base and Hercules are double base. If the grains aren't brown and the smell isn't acidic, shoot it.
JDL

[MT Gianni]

I have 4831 stored in old two liter soda bottles since 1994. Kept out of the light and with little temperature variation it still chrono's the same.

[mtgrs737]

Sounds like it is good to go to me! If your not wanting to shoot it, send it to me!

[leadman]

Old bleach jugs work pretty well for powder storage. Clean & dry first, most bleach jugs are white and don't let the light in so that is good.

[Shiloh]

Old bleach jugs work pretty well for powder storage. Clean & dry first, most bleach jugs are white and don't let the light in so that is good.

I've done this. Paint it with cheapo flat black paint from Wal-Mart. I paid less than a dollar for the paint.

Shiloh

[deerslayer]

I have a bunch of old powder in metal cans should I transfer it?

Also if I have two or three of the same type that smell and look good is it ok to mix when I repack?

[MT Gianni]

[QUOTE=deerslayer;919337]I have a bunch of old powder in metal cans should I transfer it?
I wouldn't worry unless I started to see signs of deteriation.




Also if I have two or three of the same type that smell and look good is it ok to mix when I repack? I would not unless it was the same lot number.

[azcruiser]

Maybe I have to much money but $145.00 worth of powder and a $1400.00 gun ? My thoughts are when i doubt throw it out will make your lawn green.

[twocool4u]

Good Evening to you all.

On this site it is often said "gunpowder makes great fertilizer". While that may be true, I have yet to throw any away. I do not know where some of you live, but around my area triple 10 or triple 15 is considerably cheaper then any gunpowder I have ever purchased.

Earl Naramore's great book "Principles & Practices of Loading Ammunition" explains how anyone can use any UNKNOWN powder to work up a SAFE load.

Phil Sharpe's great book "Complete Guide to Handloading" explains how the powder mills mix their powder and how anyone can easily duplicate their method in their own garage on much smaller scale.

To those of you who like wasting money, I say "good job".

To everyone else, I say "educate yourself about your hobby".

I bought both of these books for around $50 off ebay. I consider it money extremely well spent. They are 2 of the classics of handloading ammunition.

[Harter66]

I have a 5# keg of red dot and an 8# of Unique both of which have lot no.in tact and date to 1968 from my Grandfathers stuff. Both are still good . I've done my best to shoot them up but I keep running out of primers. I've figure there's just 10000 9mm,38and 357 left in these 2 cans or about 6000 30,32and 8mm rifle loads. I've questioned the Unique then checked it against the brand new 09' stuff the nose knows. Just a little while back I loaded several truck loads of howidzer propelling charges vintage 1957 for the boys in green to train with the whole building smelled just faintly of either/acetone. Think 8000 sqft half a million pounds of 1957 smokeless. I love my job except when I start to drool or cry at the possibliities or waste.

[Cactus Farmer]

It is highly dangerious material. Please box it up and ship it here to the desert for proper disposal. See, we have wide open spaces in which to "dispose" of the offending material with minimum exposure to people and domestic livestock. A few jack rabbits might suffer but only minimully and for micro seconds.
I've used the dreaded" red dust" powder too, just load it down and use for fire forming. I was supprized, they were NOT that inaccurate,concidering they were FF loads.
I do save broken down unknown ammo's powder for other uses,like ant control,but I shoot anything that I know what it is. Powder that is degrading looses power,NOT gain. The coatings change little,just the "nitro" components are unstable in the long run.

[smokemjoe]

One smith told me to wash and dry it which I wouldnt do unless really bad,I have shot red rusted powder after letting the wind blow it off. Years ago a fellow gave me 5 - 1 gal. jugs of old 4895, I used it to start brush piles on fire - right now, Joe

[mtgrs737]

I have a keg of Alcan 5 powder I got from my grandad now gone many years ago. It still looks new and shoots fine too.