Powder smell revisited

[Steve H]

I have read many times that you can tell if powder has gone bad by the smell. I have a few 8 lb kegs of various rifle powders that are about 15 years old. When you sniff the powder it does have an unique odor but IIRC it had that odor when the powder was new. it's almost a sweet vinegar smell.
What does bad powder smell like. These containers have been stored in my shop between 60 - 75 degrees and lower humidity normally no higher that 45%.

 

[Longhorn 76]

Bad powder will smell acrid, you may see red smoke, rusty metal containers. The stick powders go faster than the ball powders.

 

[Average Joe]

15 years isn't that long for powder that is stored in a cool dry place. I have seen powders that last for over 40 years if stored properly. And yes you can tell by the smell it its bad.

 

[rcmodel]

Good powder should have a ether or acetone smell from residual solvent left in it from the manufacturing process.

When powder starts to go bad, nitric acid fumes are released, and a whiff of that is like smelling an old car battery when you take the caps off to put water in it.

So
Solvent smell = Good.
Acid smell = Bad.

rc

 

[matrem]

As long as the lids were screwed on tight, plastic kegs would easily survive fifteen years of just about anything we'd live in, with zero ill effects.

I'm thinking you're overthinking it.

To be sure, you might buy a new pound of it and compare the smell.

 

[Paddy]

Isn't there a long period between "fresh smell" and bad smell where it has basically no smell? I'm thinking about 10 out of 15 yrs it would smell very little, but still be good right? N

 

[Conservidave]

sweet vinegar smell

A Sweet odor would indicate that the powder is probably ok, Vinegar on the other hand sounds a little suspicious. If the powders are something you intend to use compare them to something newer and proceed with caution, otherwise its fertilizer.

 

[cheep]

I'd have to go with the "solvent smell ok", I have some really old powders I use that are still good.

 

[TDC]

I'm currently loading ammo from five different powders purchased over 35 years ago. They include Bullseye, Unique, Norma MRP (old metal containers), 2400 and WW630. The 630 was discontinued by WW many years ago. All my powders and primers were dated on the containers by me when purchased. Most have undergone minor formula changes through the years.

All currently perform as they did when new. None of these powders retain much, if any, of the original smell nor do they smell acrid. All have been kept in well sealed containers in a temperature controlled environment (70 degrees) and in very low humidity.

Although I have seen examples of other peoples powders that have deteriorated I haven't had that misfortune happen to my own.

From my experience I believe its practical to expect your well taken care of powders to last far beyond the 15 years sometimes mentioned on this thread. However, for the sake of safety a prudent person will always check the condition of the powder they use with the methods mentioned.

Never throw away powder simply because you purchased it long ago. The useful life expectancy of both powder and primers is truly amazing....

 

[Blue68f100]

^^^

I'm still using some powders and primers from the 70's, still works just fine. The key is store them properly and they will last.

 

[Longhorn 76]

I still had a lot of stuff from the 60's, too. Most of it is still good. I did have about 8 pounds of 4831 go bad. But it was 50 years old, and kept in the garage. I did have a pound of 4350 go bad after only maybe 7 years, though.