End of an Era

[hdwhit]

I just used up the last of a can of IMR-4198 I bought in 1982 at Wal-Mart for $6.95. Even at 38 years, it still smelled right, looked right and delivered velocities 96% what it had when it was "young". It felt like I was saying good-bye to an old friend when I set the can down for the last time.

I move on to can of IMR-4198 I bought in the late-1990's for $16.95. Between the 4th Edition of the Hornday Handbook and the 8th Edition, maximum loading for IMR-4198 in .223 Remington dropped by a full grain (or more) while other powders changed far less dramatically (if at all). I don't know why the data changed, but I'm going to be using data from the 8th or 9th Editions with this "younger" powder.

Since I'm loading a lot more now that I'm retired, I expect to be using powders from the 21st Century by summer.

 

[sage5907]

I trusted IMR powders back in the day when they were made by DuPont but with all the additives that are included today I'm not so sure about how long they can be stored. I shot a lot of military surplus 4831 in the 1960's that was made in the 1940's and I always trusted it with consistent results. After Hodgdon took over I got some bad IMR 4831 and there has been a bad taste in my mouth ever since. As a result I coveted those rectangular metal cans of pre-Hodgdon IMR powders after the round plastic stuff came out. I shot a lot of Alliant powder for several years but I never quit using IMR 4350 in a 30-06. I am also using H4350 now so I guess I"m back on the Hodgdon wagon. I hope your entry into the 21st century is successful. Good luck with your retirement.

 

[splattergun]

Powder formulas get changed from time to time for various reasons; to tweak performance, modify burn rate, to make less soot, etc. That's why it's recommended that we rework our loads when moving to a new batch of powder.

 

[Ironicaintit]

When I started in 2012, I still had old cans of my dads of IMR 4198 and 4895. Used them up within a year. Powder appeared, smelled and fired just fine.
I’m still working with Hercules Unique, and Hercules Bullseye that’s still in the cardboard can!

 

[rocirish]

I just shot 20 rounds of 222 today, that my dad had probably loaded in the mid 80s with 20gr of 4198 . They shot fine, but didn't seem to be very accurate. He loved that load, so maybe it was just me. (or the powder )

 

[Eugen]

I retired three years ago and started handloading for the first time in my life. The only thing that is old in my shop is me.

 

[murf]

the continued potency of your powder is probably due to the lack of nitroglycerin. just a guess.

murf

 

[Charlie98]

I’m still working with Hercules Unique... ...that’s still in the cardboard can!

I remember my first 8#'er of Unique! I finally ran through it around 2010, right in the middle of the Dark Ages, and it took me a bit to finally find more. I still have that cardboard container... I don't think I'll ever be able to part with it. In fact, the label off that can is my avatar, and is framed and hanging in my reloading room.

I loved the metal DuPont IMR cans... I understand plastic is a better way for many reasons, but I miss them anyway. I did not, however, like the Hercules cardboard pop-top 1# cans... you could never get all the powder out without tearing the can up.

 

[Archie]

I've talked to a tech at one of the power manufacturers who told me all powers vary between lot numbers. Not to say that IMR 4350 becomes IMR 4320 but the exact burn rate changes and maximum loads need to be checked. Few of my loads are top end, ragged edge loads, so it doesn't bother me much. But is is a proper circumstance to keep in mind.

I rather doubt any powder company would sell a lot of powder purporting to be 'slow' when it burns at 'mid level' or 'fast'. Too easy to package it in properly marked cans, avoiding lawsuits and bad press.

 

[hdwhit]

I’m still working with Hercules Unique, and Hercules Bullseye that’s still in the cardboard can!

I still have Blue Dot, Red Dot and Green Dot in the cardboard cans. The Blue Dot and Red Dot continue to work as well as ever. The Green Dot, however, still looked and smelled okay when I used it in 2016, but it only delivered a fraction of the velocity it did when it was new, so it became lawn fertilizer.

 

[hdwhit]

I just shot 20 rounds of 222 today, that my dad had probably loaded in the mid 80s with 20gr of 4198 . They shot fine, but didn't seem to be very accurate.

I became enamored with 4198 when I younger (and poorer). 20 gr. in .223 under a 60 gr. bullet would get between 2700-2800 fps out of my Mini-14. That meant about 350 rounds out of a pound of powder. Powders like Winchester 748 took around 25 gr. (280 rounds per pound) so using 4198 meant I got to shoot more for the same money.

It is difficult to get consistent charges out of it with my RCBS Uniflow and inconsistent power charges do impact accuracy. Sometimes it feels like I am cutting the little powder sticks when I move the lever. To deal with this, I just throw charges light and trickle them up to the desired weight. It's slow, but I'm in no hurry. After all, I still use a single stage press.