Old Powder and Primers

[whitesquirrel44]

I stopped reloading about 9 years ago. I'm looking to start again. I had a full bottle of Win 231 that I've never opened that I've been storing. The bottle still has the seal on it. The bottle was located in a shed that while dry was subject to ambiant temperature changes. The same goes for primers. While the original packaging was not sealed, they were stored in ammo cans with a rubber gasket. While powder and primers are relatively cheap, I hate to see all that go to waste.

Do you think it's safe to use? If not, why not?

I'm NOT looking for someones opinion, I already have one. I'm looking for a professional with some knowledge as to the composition of gun powder and primers to tell me if some part of it would deteriorate over time and may cause it to be unstable.

Thanks for looking.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've got plenty of powder and primers that are much older than your stuff that I'm still loading with and haven't had any problems at all. I've used primers that were over 25 years old, and never had a misfire.

To test them, load some primers into some cases and fire them off without powder or bullets. If they go off, then load them. With the powder, when you open the can, smell it and see if it has a really strong chemical odor, and if the powder has a red rust looking dust on top of it. If neither of those are present, then the powder is good. If it has gone bad, it makes pretty good fertilizer, but use it sparingly........

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Walkalong]

The W231 I use is older than that. I have owned it all that time and it has been stored in a dark place with no big temp swings.

 

[whitesquirrel44]

Thanks Fred

I will check it out.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I've got Hercules 2400 in the square tins that is over 20 years old. One was open when I bought it. Loaded in .357 magnum and ran across a chronograph it exibited a 25 fps drop compared to new Alliant 2400. Yup.. Fred I have a sealed one pound tin too...

 

[Jim Watson]

I am not a powder chemist to cite hard data for the stability of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and lead styphnate, but I can add to the anecdotes.
I am at present loading ammunition with primers stockpiled in the alarums of 1994 but have used up the 1981 powder. No problems at all. I bought those components from the widow of a shooter here.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Now I'm really going to date myself. I still have a pound of WW II surplus IMR 4831 in the paper "coffee bean" bag, with the roll down ties. I used to buy that stuff for .30 cents a pound when I first started loading, and when it went up to .50 cents a pound, I thought I was going to have to give up reloading!

I've got one sqaure can of the old Bullseye that hasn't been opened, but I'll just keep it for the sentimental value.

Fred

 

[Zippy06]

Should be good and safe. 2 yrs ago. I finished up a can of Unique. 18-20 yrs. old. All good.

 

[fatelk]

I'm not old enough to have bought H4831 for 50 cents/lb, but I've bought a lot of it from an old timer for $5/lb and was glad for the good deal! I was told that it's WWII surplus but I still use it to get .75moa or better groups with my 30-06. My best recently was right at one inch at 200 yards, five shots.
Too bad I can't use it in my new M1 Garand, I've still got a bunch.

I did have some 4895 surplus go bad a couple years ago. I think the old guy I got it from stored it in the attic where it got hot or something. I had it in a clear container and it was giving off a brown gas. When I opened the lid it stunk real bad. I poured it in the driveway and lit a match. It would barely even burn. I noticed later some shells I had loaded with it were corroding through from the inside, popped and stunk when I pulled them apart. I sure wish I knew what caused this reaction so I could be sure to avoid it in the future.

I have some 4064 right now that is questionable. I got it in an estate purchase. It doesn't stink, but it is slightly lighter in color than I would expect, rather gray, and there is a hint of dust. I was trying to work up a load with it and noticed the velocity was less than I expected for the charge, with a much wider variation than expected.

Another reloader I trust told me it was likely going bad but it was fine to use it up for light plinking loads, it loses strength as it deteriorates and won't blow the gun up. I'm still skeptical and haven't used much of it.

Added: the oldest powder I've ever used was in a .45ACP round dated 1914. I bought a large box of .45 ammo at a gun show several years ago. Most were WWII or earlier with over 50 rounds dated WWI or earlier. I picked out a handful curious to see if they would go off. The oldest one I shot was dated 1914 and shot just fine. A couple were dated 1912 but I thought I should keep them.

 

[GaryL]

I've got one sqaure can of the old Bullseye that hasn't been opened, but I'll just keep it for the sentimental value.

I saw one of those today at the gun show, empty, going for $10.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Guess you know Fred...I'm going to keep that sealed can of 2400 and the empty one too...Besides they don't take up that much room and they look nice on my "old stuff" shelf...

 

[GCW5]

I loaded up and shot some Gray B powder made in the 60's yesterday without any problems, see the post on it here in the handloading section.

 

[okeybug]

For what it's worth, I've got powder and primers 25 years old. An old freezer/refrigerator is perfect to store this stuff. Powder will go bad sooner if it is stored where there are extreme temperature changes. I've always made it a point to date my powders/primers on the bottom of the can and use those up first. It's worked well for me.

 

[Ala Dan]

Your powder and primers should be OK for use, as it looks as if you took care
of them pretty darn well too me~!

 

[Waldog]

Open the can and smell. If it has a chemical smell like acetone, or NO smell. the powder is good. If it smells ACIDIC and foul the powder is bad. I've got a 1 pound can of DUPONT IMR 4350 that has a $2.00 price tag. This stuff belonged to my father. I would say the powder is about 50 years old. It's still good and shoots well in my 25-06.

Not all that long ago I read an article about the Hercules powder company (Now owned and named something else). Their first canister powder was Bullseye. Their lab has a quantity of the ORIGINAL Bullseye that is nearly 100 years old. They take a sample and test it periodically and it is just as useful as the day it was manufactured. If memory serves me they store the powder immersed in DISTILLED WATER. They dry it before testing , of course.

The key to storing powder is to keep it cool and dry with limited temperature variation. The stuff I have was stored in a wood chest in the basement close to the floor, but not ON the floor.

If it does go bad, like a previous writer stated, sprinkle it on you grass. Makes great fertilizer.

 

[countryrebel]

I opened up some old H110 and it was right on with my new H110 as far a velocity.Not sure how old but maybe 15+ years.