When you break down commercial ammo with a bullet puller...

[MacTech]

What do you do with the gunpowder?

I had a WWB 9mm round that had a misfeed in an old Taurus PT-99AF, the edge of the brass rolled under, I just got around to picking up one of those kinetic "bullet hammer" pullers, because I had to deconstruct some of my reloads to check powder charge (all were .4 grains low), while I was at it, I decided to pull the 9mm round and kill the primer, the brass is defective and I'll just be tossing it out

I also have a box of leftover Winchester 7.62X54R, 20 rounds, that I've been thinking of pulling apart too, to scavenge the bullets, the real question is, what do I do with the gunpowder from the WWB 9mm and the box of 7.62X54R, I'd hate to let it go to waste, but I also don't know what *kind* of powder it is

What do you generally do with "Mystery Powder"

 

[rokchucker]

the pyromaniacs will be along shortly to help you out

 

[moosehunt]

If there is any quantity involved, i.e. over 50 rounds, I save it, labeled with cartridge and bullet weight it came from. I generally find good use for it. Use common sense, since you don't know what the powder is, don't go off using it in something very different than it came from. If you stick with the same cartridge, or at least one very similar, and a similar weight bullet, you can get good use of the powder. No need to waste it, though I know a bunch of guys will tell you the above is a no no and you should destroy it. I don't.

 

[~z]

feed the tomatoes, they will thank you. I buy several boxes of ammo just for the tomatoes
~z

 

[editingfx]

...must keep away from the fireplace.... must not throw.... stop me...............................

 

[Mr. Creosote]

Its exellant fertalizer.. Toss it in the garden

 

[MacTech]

Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I can't believe that the propellant used in commercial ammo can be used as fertilizer, sounds like you're pulling my leg....

 

[jfh]

It really is excellent fertilizer, MacTech; nobody is pulling your leg.

Jim H.

 

[bullseye308]

Feeding the plants has been a great use for old powders for a very long time. Any mystery powder or mixed powder, or improperly stored powder is best used to feed plants. Yep, tis the truth.

 

[IMtheNRA]

If you don't have a garden, you could just flush it down the toilet.

 

[twofifty]

Now there's an idea. Follow it up with some calcium carbide and a match.

 

[freakshow10mm]

The nitrogen in the gun powder will fertilize the plants. Seriously.

Well Winchester uses their powder in their ammo. Yes, it's the same exact stuff we can buy ourselves; 748 in .223, 760 in 30-06, ets. Pistol uses WST, WSF, 231, and 296. Since we don't know exactly, we should be cautious and simply not use it.

 

[moosehunt]

What a waste! We should be cautious and simply not use it? Excuse me, but please remove me from the we. You don't have to know exactly what it is in order to safely use it, instead you apply common sense, get good use and don't waste it. It doesn't take rocket science to go to tables and with a bit of interpolation of powder weight and bullet weight in a specific cartridge and ascertain adequately how it can be safely used.

 

[IMtheNRA]

The powder that Winchester sells to reloaders is designed to maintain performance consistency from one lot to the next, year after year.

The powders that ammunition manufacturers use themselves can be vastly different from the "cannister grades" that we're used to. The manufacturers test each lot of their powder and adjust load specifications to reflect performance variations of the bulk powder that is currently in use.

There is no reason to believe that the powder you pull from commercial ammo is the same as *any* of the commercially sold component powders...

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Since no one has said it, weigh a few charges as you disassemble them and also make note of the bullet weights That'll give you an idea of how much to use in a similar cartrige when you assemble it with a bullet of like weight.

Charge weight, bullet weight, and case volume are the variables I see here. Lower charge wt. or lower bullet wt. or larger case volume (all within reason) should yield a safe enough round.
Bob

 

[freakshow10mm]

The powders that ammunition manufacturers use themselves can be vastly different from the "cannister grades" that we're used to. The manufacturers test each lot of their powder and adjust load specifications to reflect performance variations of the bulk powder that is currently in use.

There is no reason to believe that the powder you pull from commercial ammo is the same as *any* of the commercially sold component powders...

Did you not read what I posted? Winchester uses Winchester powder and Winchester primers in their ammunition. They also sell their components to the handloading public.

A blanket statement that they use super secret powders is overstated. Some use them some of the time, but most use canister grade powder, like IMR 4895.

 

[oneounceload]

Most mfg.s also blend their powders to try and achieve some form of consistency.

Either use the powder in the garden or just light it off outside - makes a pretty flame

 

[Antihero47]

Wait... Why kill the primer? You could have reused it!

 

[sm]

Fertilizer for the garden and major problems for the fire ants...