What would you do with OLD powder?

[LocoGringo]

I received some old reloading powder from my dad who had received it from his dad. I'm sure some of this stuff dates back to the 60's. It's all in the original cans, but I'm certain I'm not going to use it. The Hercules Bullseye 11 oz can still has the price tag on it of $2.33. The 1 lb. can of Winchester 748 is $9.35 and the 1 lb. can of IMR-4227 was $6.25. Some of you fellas who were around back then might remember when those powders were priced that way.

What would you do with it?

 

[bihj]

If it was stored well, it's still good.
If not, fertilize your yard.

 

[EricBu]

If it doesn't stink, send it. If you just want to dispose, I dump my old powder in the garden, or my wife's roses.

 

[edwardware]

I received some old reloading powder from my dad who had received it from his dad. I'm sure some of this stuff dates back to the 60's.

Sniff test, and load it. Alternately, pour it into the mortar tube prior to the last shell of next year's Fourth Barrage.

But if you're just dead set on wasting it, top the cans off with water and throw it out.

 

[AJC1]

The 4227 is a single base extruded, of the three I would imagine it would be the best. I would not toss powder in original containers.... I ended up with my dad leaving me unknown powder in glass jars. I don't imagine I will load that because that's just excessive risk.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Open up each and sniff. Should smell slightly of solvent. If it makes you gag like ammonia, dump it in steel bucket and light it off. Outside in the clear wide open! If it just smells clean and kinda antiseptic, load it!

 

[LocoGringo]

The 4227 is a single base extruded, of the three I would imagine it would be the best. I would not toss powder in original containers.... I ended up with my dad leaving me unknown powder in glass jars. I don't imagine I will load that because that's just excessive risk.

The 4227 has a (for lack of a better word) insert inside of the mouth of the container after you remove the lid. It's almost like a double lid (think paint can lid under the cap). I don't know if it's ever been opened.

 

[LocoGringo]

It all smells decent...not bad like it's going to make me puke.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The 4227 has a (for lack of a better word) insert inside of the mouth of the container after you remove the lid. It's almost like a double lid (think paint can lid under the cap). I don't know if it's ever been opened.

Picture might be helpful.

 

[LocoGringo]

Picture might be helpful.

I’ve removed the red cap on the 4227 to show the mouth of the can.

 

[AJC1]

The 4227 has a (for lack of a better word) insert inside of the mouth of the container after you remove the lid. It's almost like a double lid (think paint can lid under the cap). I don't know if it's ever been opened.

At 50 bucks a pound and factory sealed there is zero chance I wouldn't take every opertunity to use it. Besides the condition of that can is almost perfect

 

[243winxb]

Give it to an old fool like me that will load and shot it. A little red dust never hurt a thing. * My red dust was from the metal can.* The 4227 can be burnt up fast. 357 or 44 mag
Bullseye will take a while.

The 748, in 223 moves fast. A couple mag dumps, all gone.

Just do not load ammo for long term storage. Load & shoot wiithin a few days, just in case.

 

[AJC1]

Your 390 miles away

 

[LocoGringo]

Give it to an old fool like me that will load and shot it. A little red dust never hurt a thing. The 4227 can be burnt up fast. 357 or 44 mag
Bullseye will take a while.

The 748, in 223 moves fast. A couple mag dumps, all gone.

My grandpa loaded for .41 mag, .45 ACP and 30-06 I know. I'm wondering if he might have loaded for .308 also.

 

[1-cavediver]

Load it and fire away. Stored properly in original containers……it’s going to be fine.

 

[LocoGringo]

This raises another question. If this powder is from the 60's, what would the load data be for something of that era? Do they change formulations over the decades or would today's load data be the same for powder from previous decades?

 

[rocirish]

That's how the metal cans used to come. It probably has never been opened

 

[243winxb]

.308

748 usable in 308. Others.

No major changes over the years. Just use a starting load, work up.

 

[AK Hunter]

Black powder breaks down & will act like fertilizer. Modern powder will not break down.
I had some in my garden & the rain floated it down to the low end of my garden. I scooped it up after it dried & tossed some of it in the fire to see if it still burns. It went up with a big WOOSH. Yes it still burns even after being wet. So if you are going to bury it bury it deep. I wouldn't want to see someone to toss a cigarette down in a big pile of it. Now my scrap powder out of reclaimed rounds I burn on the concrete driveway by laying a small line out to the pile & light the small line.

 

[The Black Prince]

Man kinda glad to see this thread. I recently ended up with a bunch of powder from my uncle, and had some questions.

 

[Random 8]

If it smells and looks good, I would absolutely load it into conservative plinker loads and put it in the front of the line.

 

[dcarr]

Black powder breaks down & will act like fertilizer. Modern powder will not break down.
I had some in my garden & the rain floated it down to the low end of my garden. I scooped it up after it dried & tossed some of it in the fire to see if it still burns. It went up with a big WOOSH. Yes it still burns even after being wet. So if you are going to bury it bury it deep. I wouldn't want to see someone to toss a cigarette down in a big pile of it. Now my scrap powder out of reclaimed rounds I burn on the concrete driveway by laying a small line out to the pile & light the small line.

I am definitely going to stop dumping excess powder in the garden and lawn.

 

[Zygodactyl]

If it doesn't have an acrid smell it's good. I found an old red 3 lb canister of Bullseye in the barn of the house I bought twelve years ago. They haven't used the steel canisters in decades. It shot fine. I'm using military surplus powder from 1972. It shoots great. Age doesn't matter as much as storage conditions.

 

[film495]

I’ve removed the red cap on the 4227 to show the mouth of the can.

I have a couple old cans like that Dupont metal can. I kept it, but I don't think I'll ever load it. Thinking I should probably get rid of it and then just put a little sand in the old can, and just have it as an old timey decoration for the mantle.

 

[Swampman]

A little red dust never hurt a thing.

I'd strongly advise that anyone with smokeless powder containing red dust do some research before using it or even continuing to store it.