you guys see this: from another forum

[9w1911]

Just thought you guys would find it interesting

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=750418

[Pb2au]

[osteodoc08]

32# of mystery powder. Probably military surplus or pull down. I'd use it as fertilizer as suggested, but that's me and it's not in my possession

[762 shooter]

I am in the minority here I guess. 32 lbs of smokeless gunpowder and I would be exhausting all avenues to track down or work up a load for this. Methinks thou protest too much. He seems to have a line on the original owners notes and another 5 gal bucket of powder.

Visual clues, a set of Lee dippers, a scale, a chronograph, judicious use of the intraweb and alot of reloading manuals should narrow down the identity. It's not alchemy, it's just dangerous if you don't pay attention.

I would not fill up a case and see what happens. Has everyone forgotten scientific principles of gathering data and making an informed decision keeping safety as the main principle? The detective in me gets all tinglely inside at the prospects of trying to figure out what type of powder the 32 lbs might be. Some people shouldn't attempt to reload even when they know the type of powder they are using.

YMMV

762

[fecmech]

I'm with Reloader Fred, I'd find out what the speed of the powder was and I think a .357 would be a great place to start.

[Love Life]

Scientific method= magic.

[dragon813gt]

There are ways to work it up and w/ 32#s he has plenty to go around. It would not be for a novice reloader to attempt. I don't think I would attempt it since I have a garden and $8 for that amount of fertilizer is a steal. If you treat it like a pistol powder and are prepared to remove squibs you can work it up.

[Love Life]

Seriously, if he isn't mentally defective then he should have no issues figuring it out. The thread says he is getting the notes so that is a super win.

Reloading is not hocus pocus or voodoo. As another poster mentioned above, some people shouldn't be allowed to cut out paper dinosaurs with safety scissors...

[357maximum]

I would grow a sack, do some homework, do some playing, and find a use for it. I have a strong 357 and a strong 223.....with just those two toys and some judicious homework over the chronagraph....I would find a way to sling lead with it.


The proceding was one man's opinion and what you think of that opinion is irrevelant to said poster.

[Jeff Michel]

Marion Ohio, theres a surprise

[swheeler]

wish I had it

[OBIII]

I'm just wondering if the "unique stinch" was from the sealant or from powder gone bad?

OB

[uscra112]

He said it was from the sealant.

What cracks me up is the guy who commented that the OP should use a "strong action" for testing - a Contender.

[TCLouis]

Dang, I wish you were closer, I would pay 10 bucks for the lawn fertilizer.

[Beau Cassidy]

I would be calling my buddy with a mass spectrometor. Send the unknown powder and a few known standards such as bullseye and unique and go from there.

[raingauge]

Now I cant tell from looking, but, I remember years ago when Hodgden finished testing H450 they sold it off by the keg/ton. It was a ball powder sort of like that in the picture. My older brother and his buddy bought 8 tons, 10 cents a lb, and sold it for 20cents. Wonder if it's from that era

[9w1911]

they just said its w296! ugh lucky bastard!!!

[beagle]

And, it looks amazingly like the old powder that came from .30 military blanks and if so, you don't want to go there as with any kind of projectile, they turn into hand grenades. When I was a kid, we'd take cannon fuse, punch it through the paper on a blank and crimp with pliers. You had to throw it a long way as they gave off quite a bit of shrapnel but were loud and would go off under water. Better off as fertilizer./beagle

[lylejb]

they just said its w296! ugh lucky bastard!!!

I DON'T THINK SO!!

That doesn't look like my can of 296.

[9w1911]

I am wondering what was labeled what, just following the thread it is hard to tell,