Questions about old powder - Page 2

Sheldon J · January 19th, 2008, 01:33 PM

I just recently polished off a 2# can that was over 30 years old, then I went out and bought a 8# can. As long as it was kept in a cool dry place and the flakes look whole it is good to go. Just remember the stuff is coated with graphite and will always be dirty looking.

Tubby45 · January 20th, 2008, 01:12 PM

Should be fine. I ran a half pound of 2400 dated 1971.

bmcgilvray · January 21st, 2008, 02:57 PM

It'll be fine if kept dry and cool. I've used old lots of powder with perfect results.

coffeecup · January 22nd, 2008, 08:36 AM

Back in the dark ages of the mid 50's I bought 100 lbs of 4831(military surplus) from Hodgdons for something like .75 a pound. I still have maybe 10lbs of it and the stuff works just like it did when first manufactured. FWIIW--Alliant keeps powder manufactured over 100 years ago stored in water--every now and then they dry out a sample and test it. No problems to date.

bmcgilvray · January 22nd, 2008, 11:27 AM

I've heard that somewhere there's a batch of ancient Unique and Bullseye that's stored in water that is dried out and used for control. Can't recall where I heard/read this.

coffeecup · January 25th, 2008, 10:23 AM

Alliant uses it in their advertisments.

Supertac45 · January 25th, 2008, 05:35 PM

I'd use it.

ridurall · January 26th, 2008, 01:47 AM

My 8 lb keg of IMR 4350 is over 25 years old like most of my powder. Many years ago I purchased my powder in bulk. When loading for my 30 Belted Newton with 69.5 gr of IMR 4350 behind a Nosler 180 Partion bullet I still get 2915 FPS. Nothing has changed. The same with my 296 in my .357. 15.6 gr of 296 behind a 168 gr SWC Ray Thompson designed cast bullet with gas check still gets me 1513 FPS out of my Contender. All my powder is stored in a temperature controled room in a those air tight 20mm ammo cans.

ridurall · January 26th, 2008, 01:52 AM

One thing to pay attention to though is if any powder has spent much time traveling or bouncing around in a vehicle it will speed up it's burn time. Years ago we had some 270 rounds that had bounced around in our pick up for 10 years and I decided to shoot them so I could reload them. When I pulled the trigger on the first one I knew I had a blue pill load. Flattened and crattered primer and blow back in my eyes. I pulled the bullets on the rest of them and the best I could figure was that in the bouncing around in the truck the powder changed it's consistancy. It was not neat little pencil leads. It looked like about 1/2 leads and the rest powder. I was lucky the mod 70 didn't blow up in my hands.

January 19th, 2008, 01:33 PM	#11
Sheldon J Distinguished Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Battle Creek, Mi. Posts: 1,686	I just recently polished off a 2# can that was over 30 years old, then I went out and bought a 8# can. As long as it was kept in a cool dry place and the flakes look whole it is good to go. Just remember the stuff is coated with graphite and will always be dirty looking. __________________ "The sword dose not cause the murder, and the maker of the sword dose not bear sin" Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac 11th century

January 20th, 2008, 01:12 PM	#12
Tubby45 Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: In the reloading room Posts: 1,988	Should be fine. I ran a half pound of 2400 dated 1971. __________________ Freakshow Manufacturing LLC "You can kill it. We can help." 07 FFL/ 02 SOT

January 25th, 2008, 05:35 PM	#17
Supertac45 VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Michigan's U.P. Posts: 2,979	I'd use it. __________________ Les Baer 45 Sig Man N.R.A. Patron Life Member M.C.R.G.O.

January 26th, 2008, 01:47 AM	#18
ridurall Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SW Oklahoma Posts: 735	My 8 lb keg of IMR 4350 is over 25 years old like most of my powder. Many years ago I purchased my powder in bulk. When loading for my 30 Belted Newton with 69.5 gr of IMR 4350 behind a Nosler 180 Partion bullet I still get 2915 FPS. Nothing has changed. The same with my 296 in my .357. 15.6 gr of 296 behind a 168 gr SWC Ray Thompson designed cast bullet with gas check still gets me 1513 FPS out of my Contender. All my powder is stored in a temperature controled room in a those air tight 20mm ammo cans. __________________ Life member NRA since 1983 I normally carry a Sig Pro .40 in a Crossbreed IWB but when necessary will switch to: Baby Eagle .40 W/Kramer holster Bersa Thunder380 Kel-Tec P3AT Skyy 9mm

January 26th, 2008, 01:52 AM	#19
ridurall Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SW Oklahoma Posts: 735	One thing to pay attention to though is if any powder has spent much time traveling or bouncing around in a vehicle it will speed up it's burn time. Years ago we had some 270 rounds that had bounced around in our pick up for 10 years and I decided to shoot them so I could reload them. When I pulled the trigger on the first one I knew I had a blue pill load. Flattened and crattered primer and blow back in my eyes. I pulled the bullets on the rest of them and the best I could figure was that in the bouncing around in the truck the powder changed it's consistancy. It was not neat little pencil leads. It looked like about 1/2 leads and the rest powder. I was lucky the mod 70 didn't blow up in my hands. __________________ Life member NRA since 1983 I normally carry a Sig Pro .40 in a Crossbreed IWB but when necessary will switch to: Baby Eagle .40 W/Kramer holster Bersa Thunder380 Kel-Tec P3AT Skyy 9mm

January 21st, 2008, 02:57 PM	#13
bmcgilvray Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,152	It'll be fine if kept dry and cool. I've used old lots of powder with perfect results.

January 22nd, 2008, 08:36 AM	#14
coffeecup Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cadiz,Ky Posts: 587	Back in the dark ages of the mid 50's I bought 100 lbs of 4831(military surplus) from Hodgdons for something like .75 a pound. I still have maybe 10lbs of it and the stuff works just like it did when first manufactured. FWIIW--Alliant keeps powder manufactured over 100 years ago stored in water--every now and then they dry out a sample and test it. No problems to date.

January 22nd, 2008, 11:27 AM	#15
bmcgilvray Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,152	I've heard that somewhere there's a batch of ancient Unique and Bullseye that's stored in water that is dried out and used for control. Can't recall where I heard/read this.

January 25th, 2008, 10:23 AM	#16
coffeecup Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cadiz,Ky Posts: 587	Alliant uses it in their advertisments.

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