Can anyone help identify this powder. I bought this along with several other reloadin

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If it is a mix of three or more powders like the pic shows, it isn't worth fooling with. If it appears to be only one powder after magnified inspection of color and shape, follow Fred's advise, and be careful.
 
I'd help you test it if you don't get the info from the son. Treat it like Bullseye but in a rifle. I prof my powders in my 30-06.
 
If you try to use it, test it in a pistol case like Fred suggested, and that will prove the first thing you need to know, is it too fast for rifle, or too slow for pistol. It's the safest way to start.

Go slowly, and be careful.
 
I disagree. I'd want it in a heavy chamber that can take a lot of pressure. 38 isn't very stout. If it is faster then you think then a popped primer is the worst in the rifle. Understand I'm saying treat it like a pistol powder only in a rifle case. I'd start about 4 gn with the smallest bullet I could find.
 
KingM,

Four grains in a rifle caliber, especially one .30-06 size, isn't going to tell you a thing, other than you can stick a bullet in the barrel.

You load a powder like the fastest pistol powder, with a known powder charge that is equivalent to a load you normally use for the bullet you're loading. A chronograph will show you whether the tested powder is slower or faster than your known powder, and you work up from there.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
C'mon guys, get off your high horse. You guys are bringing out all the catch phrases, "Is your life worth?" "are your fingers worth?" "are your friends worth?". The OP has already said he wasn't going to guess and just use the powder or didn't anyone read what he said? He has already reached out to the son of the original owner for an ID, he is being very careful.

If it were only part of a 5# bucket I would probably chuck it but since he has 32# of the stuff and it all looks the same I would try and find a way to ID that powder. If I had that powder I would be doing some load tests on it in the manner mentioned in some of the posts above but that doesn't mean I'm suggesting you do the same.

To the OP, if you get some good load data in the notes you mentioned please feel free to share it with us. lol
 
ReloaderFred said:
KingM,

Four grains in a rifle caliber, especially one .30-06 size, isn't going to tell you a thing, other than you can stick a bullet in the barrel.

You load a powder like the fastest pistol powder, with a known powder charge that is equivalent to a load you normally use for the bullet you're loading. A chronograph will show you whether the tested powder is slower or faster than your known powder, and you work up from there.

Hope this helps.

Fred
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I have worked up data on a few unknown powders. 4gn is what I use in my 223 with one of my powders. It will push the bullet out of my 30-06. This stuff is to fast to use in any of my auto loader handguns. It actually looks just like the powder in the picture. I'm actually betting his is in the burn rate of BLC-2 but what is a few primers & stuck bullets to find out safely. I'd start at 4gn & work up a gn at a time till you get complete powder burn then start looking for a load at .2gn at a time.

ETA: Bullseye isn't the fastest thing out there. I bet the powder I'm referring to would take a light action 38spl apart at 4gn.
 
You got the paper !
WIN !

you may be able to get some of the fellas ammo, too. could be helpful.

glad you are getting the notes,youve made a major score !
 
Notwithstanding anything/anyone else said so far, if the OP doesn't
have access to a chronograph during any work up tests, walk away.
 
If you had 3 or 4 lbs, I would agree with many others to just dump or burn it,.. but with32-64 lbs!, I wouldn't be in a hurry to destroy it.
With the cost of powder and that kind of quantity, it is probably worth investing some time & money to properly analyzed what you have there.
 
TooManyToys said:
If you had 3 or 4 lbs, I would agree with many others to just dump or burn it,.. but with32-64 lbs!, I wouldn't be in a hurry to destroy it.
With the cost of powder and that kind of quantity, it is probably worth investing some time & money to properly analyzed what you have there.
Click to expand...
Especially since surplus powders are going for ~$100/8lbs when you can find them! (WC844/WC846)

Even the 50 Cal stuff is going for between $48 to $64/8lbs with the slightly faster stuff (WC857) is priced @$72/8lbs
 
If I had more than a half pound of unknown, I would totally work up a load for it... eventually. If I had 20-30 lbs, I would certainly put it nearer the top of my to-do list. But only with cast bullets out of my 308. Anything from a fast pistol powder through a medium-slow rifle powder will work. Basically what KingM says, but I'd use cast bullets, only (cuz I have them and when they stick, they don't get as stuck!)

Of course it helps if the guy's son can help you ID it. But I'd still do some testing, such as density and even an informal burn rate. Make a little pile outside, and light it. Try the same thing with a variety of your other powders to compare.

Then I'd treat the powder as faster than I think, ladder load it, starting lower than the min. This is the hard part. I'd take my time and do a lot of research. And when it came time for the moment of truth, I'd bring my squib rod and a mallet. And maybe a couple of easy-squib removers (primed cases with a few grains of Unique). A full cleaning kit would probably be in order, too, for the unburnt powder that I'd be sure to get in the beginning. Don't forget the Hoppes 9.

Heck, I made a super accurate (cast 308) plinking load out of HP38 and H335 that fell to the floor and got mixed up. And that was only a quarter pound. I was kinda sad when that ran out. :)
 
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OK, speculation aside, HE'S GETTING THE NOTES.

Let's drop it for now. If he's inclined to let us know what it is, he can send me a PM and I'll reopen.
 
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