Is this powder still good?

[Crazy4nitro]

Here's a Pic of some 10 year old Blue-Dot from a 4lb jug that was given to me. It was sealed when I got it,and seems to shoot fine. My question came when I saw a friends Red-Dot powder,and there was like 5X as many colored flakes(all very bright in color) When I look real close at the Blue-Dot it seems like almost half of it seems to have a Green tint to the Flakes. Is this what is called a Double base powder?

Thanks in advance,

Crazy4nitro

P.S. Good point Walkalong: I forgot to mention that it dont have an offending odor,but does smell a very slight bit different then another 1lb can of Blue-Dot that I currently have. (which looks a little better then the above pic)

 

[Walkalong]

You can't tell by looking at it. Does it smell funny?

If it is still in it's original container and has been stored properly it is probably fine. 10 years is nothing.

It will have an acidic smell if it is going bad. A solvent type smell is normal.

 

[ReloaderFred]

You'll also usually get a red rust kind of dust, along with the strong acidic smell, if the powder's gone bad. It's probably good, and the different look would be due to coming from different lots.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Steve C]

I identified it as Blue Dot from your picture and then read your post that it is indeed Blue Dot. Looks good, just load up a couple rounds and touch them off. You'll then know for sure.

An acid smell like vinegar usually indicates a powder is going bad.

 

[Sunray]

You can't tell anything about a powder, other than whether its flake or extruded powder, just by looking at it.
'Double based' means there are two chemicals used as the base for the powder. It's got nothing to do with coloured flakes. Double based powders are a combination of nitro-cellulose and nitroglycerine. Single based are just nitro-cellulose.

 

[Deavis]

I had a couple cans of Red Dot that were literally cans from an old reloader that had passed away. When you compared it to recent Red Dot, I could see the same thing you did. The new Red Dot had brighter and more numerous red flakes. However, that was the only real difference. The old powder shot just as well as the new Red Dot but at slightly lower velocities.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I have some Hercules 2400 in the one pound square metal cans that I bet is older then 20 years and other then being, on average, 25 fps slower then Alliant 2400 it works fine...Actually I have two cans of this stuff. One was open when I got it and the other one still has the seal intact...No idea when the one can was opened, but other then weighing lighter (some of the solvent has evaporated) it shoots just fine...