Highland Lofts
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If in doubt- THROW IT OUT.
More unidentified stuff from friend
- Thread starter Lee Q. Loader
- Start date
doubleh
Member
You must be tone blind. I am to the extent I got sent back to check if I was color blind during a company physical one time but I can easily see the blue flakes in the picture. That said, I don't have a clue what the powder is. The OP said he was going to dump it.
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.38 Special
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Whenever I contemplate taking a risk, I like to imagine myself in the E.R., explaining things to the doctor. If the explanation sounds stupid to me in my own head, then I don't do it.
For example: "Well, the guys on the internet said it looked kind of blue."
For example: "Well, the guys on the internet said it looked kind of blue."
CoalTrain49
Member
Measure the flakes. The shape of the flakes indicates it could be Blue Dot. I would have to see it to be sure, and then I still wouldn't be sure.
https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sa...ltOrder=Sorter_distributor_code&resultDir=ASC
https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sa...ltOrder=Sorter_distributor_code&resultDir=ASC
entropy
Member
Blue Dot has a few dots sprinkled in, mostly enough to verify the type against Red Dot and Green Dot. That sample would be more blue dots than powder if there were, so I suspect it is an artifact of lighting. I recommend using it for fertilizer.
higgite
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Is this a blue dress or gold dress kind of puzzle? Some of us see blue powder, some see green, some see gray. The color we see in the pic depends on the camera used to take the pic, the OP's computer's rendition of the color, the viewer's computer's monitor's rendition of the color and the viewer's degree of color blindness or not. If it's used as fertilizer, it's color won't matter. Just saying.
Some of us see blue powder, some see green, some see gray. The color we see in the pic depends on the camera used to take the pic, the OP's computer's rendition of the color, the viewer's computer's monitor's rendition of the color and the viewer's degree of color blindness or not. If it's used as fertilizer, it's color won't matter. Just saying.
GeoDudeFlorida
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That was my first thought, too. Either that or somebody mixed Clay Dot with Blue Dot to make a fast magnum shotshell powder. I’ve heard of crazier things.
Lee Q. Loader
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I have, and use a lot of Herco. Herco is all black, it's the same size discs as the mystery powder, but all black. Herco and Unique look exactly alike in my opinion.
I'll restate that I'm going to dump this stuff. I think it's a mixture of 2 or maybe even more powders.
Yankee1986
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Tree stump removal!
GeoDudeFlorida
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I agree, I think there’s probably at least two powders in there. That would be a thing for someone who either really, REALLY! knows their powders and how to handload (there’s a member who blends range pickup lost cartridges, takes them apart and blends random pistol powders for his reloads) OR someone who knows absolutely NOTHING about powders and reloading. If you really really really know how, I’d imagine you could create a near perfect custom load for a specific purpose. Or blow a gun up. Either way.
Bush Pilot
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Maybe the giver assumed the receiver was smart enough to know that already.
garandsrus
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I don’t think it’s Blue Dot. Way too many dots. Here is a pretty cool site that has a lot of powders and pictures of the various powders: https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/index.php
You can select a view where it shows you all the flake powders. I didn’t see any that look like your picture.
You can select a view where it shows you all the flake powders. I didn’t see any that look like your picture.
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P Flados
Member
If you lived near by (Wilmington NC), I would be tempted to offer to try to convert your "mystery powder" into "approximately equivalent to xxx".
I play the milsurp game. I am considering the possibility of needing to buy something odd (such as CBI) if I run out of Promo before it becomes routinely available again.
Your powder is a flake. This makes it easier as there is no worry about the ball powders that can be a concern with reduced loads.
Given the appearance, I would pour the entire container into a "big bucket" to ensure it is consistent (i.e uniformly mixed).
I would then figure out the density. I have the Lee VMD chart that would aid in comparisons.
I would load up some 160 gr cast in 357 mag for my TC contender. The gun is high margin with respect to cartridge pressure and the heavy bullet helps assure good ignition (just in case the powder is something like Blue Dot). Load #1 would use a charge that is mid range for pressure with the fastest flake powder on the market (based on Quickload). Depending on the result, I would probably work up some more powerful loads until velocity is at least "mid range" for recoil while still getting primer appearance indicative of less than book max Unique loads.
If initial testing was encouraging, it would make it worth the effort to break out my old chrony that is a PITA to use. I would probably also fire off some "reference ammo" loaded with Promo and/or Unique to tweak measured velocities to predicted velocities.
I would then use Quickload to find powders with similar velocity per grain.
If velocity per grain and density matched a known flake powder, it would be a good "reference powder".
If nothing matched real good, I would look for a powder that gives slightly more velocity per grn and at the same time is just a little bulkier. Using this as a "reference powder" will give results that are slightly lower in performance than load book data, but pressure will also be slightly less.
I play the milsurp game. I am considering the possibility of needing to buy something odd (such as CBI) if I run out of Promo before it becomes routinely available again.
Your powder is a flake. This makes it easier as there is no worry about the ball powders that can be a concern with reduced loads.
Given the appearance, I would pour the entire container into a "big bucket" to ensure it is consistent (i.e uniformly mixed).
I would then figure out the density. I have the Lee VMD chart that would aid in comparisons.
I would load up some 160 gr cast in 357 mag for my TC contender. The gun is high margin with respect to cartridge pressure and the heavy bullet helps assure good ignition (just in case the powder is something like Blue Dot). Load #1 would use a charge that is mid range for pressure with the fastest flake powder on the market (based on Quickload). Depending on the result, I would probably work up some more powerful loads until velocity is at least "mid range" for recoil while still getting primer appearance indicative of less than book max Unique loads.
If initial testing was encouraging, it would make it worth the effort to break out my old chrony that is a PITA to use. I would probably also fire off some "reference ammo" loaded with Promo and/or Unique to tweak measured velocities to predicted velocities.
I would then use Quickload to find powders with similar velocity per grain.
If velocity per grain and density matched a known flake powder, it would be a good "reference powder".
If nothing matched real good, I would look for a powder that gives slightly more velocity per grn and at the same time is just a little bulkier. Using this as a "reference powder" will give results that are slightly lower in performance than load book data, but pressure will also be slightly less.
Blue68f100
Member
What does the powder look like mid way down and at the bottom of the jug?
I've never bought a 8# jug that was completely full. I think like others it's a mix of several powders.
I've never bought a 8# jug that was completely full. I think like others it's a mix of several powders.
P Flados
Member
And just FYI, here are mid range 357 loads with the fastest powders in Quickload.
Code:
Cartridge : .357 Magnum (SAAMI)
Bullet : .357, 158, LYM LRN 358311
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.590 inch = 40.39 mm
Barrel Length : 9.5 inch = 241.3 mm
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Hodgdon Clays 54.2 3.6 0.23 955 100.0 22000 1182 1.080
Vihtavuori N310 46.9 3.8 0.24 982 100.0 22000 1256 1.075
Maxam CSB 5 54.7 4.1 0.27 1011 100.0 22000 1361 1.052
Lovex D013 58.9 4.2 0.27 1069 100.0 22000 1607 1.018
Accurate Nitro 100 58.9 4.2 0.27 1069 100.0 22000 1607 1.018
Alliant RED DOT 60.8 4.2 0.27 1043 100.0 22000 1502 1.040
Norma R1 61.6 4.3 0.28 1007 100.0 22000 1369 1.066
Accurate Solo 1000 58.6 4.5 0.29 1050 100.0 22000 1510 1.027
Lovex S015 58.6 4.5 0.29 1050 100.0 22000 1510 1.027
Alliant GREEN DOT 60.4 4.6 0.30 1073 100.0 22000 1615 1.025
Maxam CSB 4 58.8 4.6 0.30 1060 100.0 22000 1539 1.022
Hodgdon TiteGroup 40.8 4.6 0.30 1043 100.0 22000 1480 1.033
Vihtavuori N320 58.0 4.7 0.30 1071 100.0 22000 1577 1.024
Lovex D032 41.8 4.8 0.31 1098 100.0 22000 1720 0.998
Lovex S011 51.6 4.8 0.31 1080 100.0 22000 1622 1.006
Maxam CSB 3 61.5 4.9 0.32 1081 100.0 22000 1621 1.012
IMR TrailBoss 105.0 4.9 0.32 940 100.0 16484 1237 1.186
Alliant BULLSEYE 55.8 5.1 0.33 1170 100.0 22000 2120 0.970
Hodgdon HP38 44.7 5.2 0.33 1093 100.0 22000 1685 1.006
Hodgdon Universal 59.4 5.3 0.34 1128 100.0 22000 1872 1.004
Accurate Solo 1250 64.0 5.3 0.34 1111 100.0 22000 1757 0.997
Winchester 231 50.4 5.3 0.34 1100 100.0 22000 1723 1.003
Ramshot Zip 45.3 5.3 0.34 1100 100.0 22000 1723 1.003
1KPerDay
Member
Herco is uniform in color.
bluetopper
Member
Load a few 9 or 45acp up with Bullseye data and try them out. If they cycle and lock the slide back on the last round you're good to go. If they don't add a little more. Adjust accordingly. That's a lot of powder.
lightman
Member
I think your opening sentence nailed it! I would hate to pour 8+ pounds of powder out but I would also hate to blow up a gun or be injured trying to use an unknown powder.
I keep a jar on my loading table for unknown powder. The powder is mostly from duds that I pick up at shooting places or junk thats given to me. I have a label on it stating "unknown powder do not use". Thats for whoever has to deal with my stuff after I'm gone. The jar goes with me to Deer Camp for my annual "light show" around the camp fire.
Bcwitt
Member
Id mix it w sulphuric acid & recoop the nitate ions.
