IMR 4350 brown smoke??

Status
Not open for further replies.

zgate

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
41
Location
PA
I have some 4350 that has been around a couple of years. When I poured it into another container a small cloud of brown smoke drifted up. The powder itself looks normal as does the inside of the original container. Any idea what causes this?
 
Sounds like your powder is starting to oxidize. Did you smell it and if you did, did it have a sharp acrid smell? My suggestion would be to dump it or use it for fertilizer, just don't reload with it.
 
That doesn't sound good.

I've been using it in my .338 and it shoots okay. What problems will this cause? I hate to think I have 80 pounds of fertilizer.
 
8 Lbs or 80 Lbs? :eek:

It should not go bad in a couple of years unless it has been stored in terrible circumstances. Heat, humidity, open, etc. If it does not smell bad, it is probably OK. The brown dust does not sound good, but if you only got a small puff pouring a pound or two out and the powder looks and smells OK you probably are OK.
 
Different opinion......

If the powder still has a "new cloths smell" (dacron) or "doctors office" (ether) smell to it... it should be "ok".....

If it smells like "vinegar", then it's starting to go bad (like "old" aspirin). If it's 8lbs, only a modsest loss....(I had some 6lbs of 8lb container of H322 go bad.. I tossed it because I had some "old" H450 lock up the bolt of my '06 with a previously "accuracy" load--- well below published maximum. Case looked like a belted magnum when I got it out... without a primer of course !!!! ). If 80lbs, You ain't shootin enuf...... !!!!!!!!!

The deterrent coating on the H4350 is brown, hence the tan-brown cast to the powder compared to the black-graphite appearence of the IMR4350.........The dust is perhaps just some "excess" deterrent coating on that individual lot of powder. (variations do happen, just as they do with home-made biscuits....just becasue they're a "little too brown" dosen't make them bad..... unless they're hard as rocks..........

If it shoots "ok" and smells "ok", then I'd place the 8lb? container in the refrigerator (I keep my powder in a "replaced" refrigerator in the basement near the reloading area). If 80lbs, I suggest purchasing a "used" refrigerator to protect my considerable investment....... !!!!!!!!
 
Different opinion......

If the powder still has a "new cloths smell" (dacron) or "doctors office" (ether) smell to it... it should be "ok".....

If it smells like "vinegar", then it's starting to go bad (like "old" aspirin). If it's 8lbs, only a modsest loss....(I had some 6lbs of 8lb container of H322 go bad.. I tossed it because I had some "old" H450 lock up the bolt of my '06 with a previously "accuracy" load--- well below published maximum. Case looked like a belted magnum when I got it out... without a primer of course !!!! ). If 80lbs, You ain't shootin enuf...... !!!!!!!!!

The deterrent coating on the H4350 is brown, hence the tan-brown cast to the powder compared to the black-graphite apperance of the IMR4350.........The dust is perhaps just some "excess" deterrent coating on that individual lot of powder. (variations do happen, just as they do with home-made biscuits....just becasue they're a "little too brown" dosen't make them bad..... unless they're hard as rocks..........

If it shoots "ok" and smells "ok", then I'd place the 8lb? container in the refrigerator (I keep my powder in a "replaced" refrigerator in the basement near the reloading area). If 80lbs, I suggest purchasing a "used" refrigerator to protect my considerable investment....... !!!!!!!!
 
There is about 80lbs of the 130lbs I started with. I don’t know if there is such a thing as “shooting enough” but I try. The problem is the things I put 4350 in tend to beat up on the shoulder. I’ll have to try to make it more versatile.

I did the sniff test (actually my wife did, my sniffer don’t work to well) and it smells fine. I guess I’ll just keep using it until it takes a turn for the worse.

Fortunately I have a very large “refrigerator” this time of year.

Thanks for the answers.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top