Dusty Red Dot?
- Thread starter Muddydogs
- Start date
DustyRusty
Contributing Member
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- Jan 14, 2020
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- 865
Call the manufacturer.
1KPerDay
Member
Mine isn’t that dusty
Blue68f100
Member
I wonder if it graphite. Did you shake the bottle up good before pouring it out?
Charlie98
Member
The RedDot I used some years ago did NOT look like that. From the picture, I wouldn't touch that with a 10' pole.
I didn't. I was just transferring it to a smaller jug.
Why? It smells and looks fine.
I do think this could be Hercules Red Dot instead of the newer Alliant powder.
gwpercle
Member
Red dust could be a sign of powder decomposition .
Smell some fresh powder so you know what fresh powder smells like ...
then smell the Red Dot ... if it is not acidic , sharp smelling and unpleasant to the nose ...
it is probably still good to use ... if it burns your nose and is unpleasant to sniff ...
it's starting to go South . My nose tells me more than my eye's when it comes to powder going bad .
I hate it when powder does that !
Gary
Smell some fresh powder so you know what fresh powder smells like ...
then smell the Red Dot ... if it is not acidic , sharp smelling and unpleasant to the nose ...
it is probably still good to use ... if it burns your nose and is unpleasant to sniff ...
it's starting to go South . My nose tells me more than my eye's when it comes to powder going bad .
I hate it when powder does that !
Gary
I already stated the powder smelled fine. Dust is not red. From the look of my finger which was holding the funnel while pouring the powder I'm thinking Blue might be on to something with the graphite.
lordpaxman
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From your picture it looks like a plastic funnel. It might have a bit of static attracting smaller particles.
I’d just light a small amount and see if burns like smokeless powder does.
I’d just light a small amount and see if burns like smokeless powder does.
Charlie98
Member
Which is why I said what I said. It may not be chemically broken down (smell, red dust) but it looks like it's physically broken down. Again, I wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole.
So is it old Hercules or Alliant? I've got a bottle of Alliant that I'm almost done with and been loading 38's. It's not dusty at all and I know it's an older lot of RD. I'd be leary of it myself. If it's Alliant I'd call and see if you could give them the lot number of that batch.
Poper
Member
I'd not use powder degrading/altered like that. One of the principle qualities affecting burn rate and pressure properties is the physical size, shape and configuration of the granules. When the shape and density are altered, as appears to be the case with your Red Dot, there is no telling what a safe charge may or may not be. There is no load data for altered powders.
That's my take on it. But hey! You do you...
That's my take on it. But hey! You do you...
AJC1
Member
My powder has no dust and I doubt yours is older..
Riomouse911
Contributing Member
If it’s all ground up from years of vibration, what can happen is a drastic change in the expected burn rate. The size and shapes of the powder grains have something to do with controlling the rate, along with any coatings the maker puts on the grains. Once that happens, an expected load could either go limp and possibly squib, or go pressure-crazy and possibly kaboom!
It may smell right, but everyone agrees it sure doesn’t look right. (Any not like any Red Dot I’ve seen.)
As @Poper posted above I agree; They’re your guns and fingers so do with what you choose. But using old, unknown powder to save 100-150 bucks instead of using known (or much fresher) powder isn’t something I would do.
Stay safe.
It may smell right, but everyone agrees it sure doesn’t look right. (Any not like any Red Dot I’ve seen.)
As @Poper posted above I agree; They’re your guns and fingers so do with what you choose. But using old, unknown powder to save 100-150 bucks instead of using known (or much fresher) powder isn’t something I would do.
Stay safe.
.45Coltguy
Member
Certainly doesn't look like the RD I have. Like others here, I wouldn't trust/use it.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Graphite is a flashover preventative. Remove the graphite and break down the flakes and you have flashpowder.
There are three possible results: squib, resulting in a stuck bullet; no change, resulting in a successful loading; flashover, resulting in detonation. Detonation is a good way to grenade a chamber.
Up to you but I'd make it into firecrackers.
There are three possible results: squib, resulting in a stuck bullet; no change, resulting in a successful loading; flashover, resulting in detonation. Detonation is a good way to grenade a chamber.
Up to you but I'd make it into firecrackers.
ParallelCode
Member
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- Aug 19, 2019
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- 502
I'm far less experienced than most around here, but I definitely would not use that. A few pounds of questionable powder just isn't worth it.
