Lookee what I got! Old stuff!

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Nice.

Just keep in mind of old powders being unstable and could spontaneously combust (You might want to dump out any foul smelling ones and keep the hulls).

This is from Hodgdon on "Gunpowder Stability" - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/safety/gunpowder-stability

"Smokeless Propellant

The main ingredient of smokeless propellant, comprising from about 55% to 90% of the composition, is nitrocellulose. The process of creating nitrocellulose leaves remnant acid in the material. This acid immediately starts decomposing the finished product. Left alone the decomposition will reach the stage where the propellant becomes unstable and self-ignites. This process resulted in massive explosions at U.S. Government arsenals after World War I.

To increase the life of the smokeless propellant, a stabilizing chemical is used. This 'stabilizer' reacts with the acid to slow down the decomposition process. However, as the stabilizer reacts with the acid it is consumed. After the stabilizer is totally consumed, the propellant is no longer protected from the internal acid.

The entire stabilizer / decomposition process is a time and temperature function – the higher the temperature, the shorter the safe life of the powder. Even moderate temperature, over extended time, leads to propellant decomposition. As a rule of thumb, any temperature over that which is comfortable to a person is accelerating the decomposition of smokeless propellants."
 
Nice.

Just keep in mind of old powders being unstable and could spontaneously combust (You might want to dump out any foul smelling ones and keep the hulls).

This is from Hodgdon on "Gunpowder Stability" - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/safety/gunpowder-stability

"Smokeless Propellant

The main ingredient of smokeless propellant, comprising from about 55% to 90% of the composition, is nitrocellulose. The process of creating nitrocellulose leaves remnant acid in the material. This acid immediately starts decomposing the finished product. Left alone the decomposition will reach the stage where the propellant becomes unstable and self-ignites. This process resulted in massive explosions at U.S. Government arsenals after World War I.

To increase the life of the smokeless propellant, a stabilizing chemical is used. This 'stabilizer' reacts with the acid to slow down the decomposition process. However, as the stabilizer reacts with the acid it is consumed. After the stabilizer is totally consumed, the propellant is no longer protected from the internal acid.

The entire stabilizer / decomposition process is a time and temperature function – the higher the temperature, the shorter the safe life of the powder. Even moderate temperature, over extended time, leads to propellant decomposition. As a rule of thumb, any temperature over that which is comfortable to a person is accelerating the decomposition of smokeless propellants."
Thanks! You think they'd be safe to shoot or would that just be stupid? I was thinking of flattening out the boxes, particularly the more mangled ones, and putting them in a shadow box or as the background for some firearm wall hangings.
 
I was thinking of flattening out the boxes, particularly the more mangled ones, and putting them in a shadow box or as the background for some firearm wall hangings.
Someone here collects old ammo boxes I believe. Seems cool. I've met guys that collect old Zippos and display them. Guys collect empty beer cans and display them. Old ammo boxes seem like a cool, throwback type display. I'd be happy to send you one. Pm me if your interested. No charge.
 
Neat! I have some old stuff like that I have found over the years- its all in my glass-toped coffee table in the cave.
 
I’ve shot some of mine. All of it has worked except some of the .22lr. I haven’t tried the .30-06 because I don’t have a gun that shoots it.
 
Neat! I have some old stuff like that I have found over the years- its all in my glass-toped coffee table in the cave.
That's a great idea. I have a largeish shadow box I could turn into a table. Trouble is I'm not sure about the glass being strong enough.
 
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