Scored Some "Old" Powder

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    00-Guy

    Active Member
    Feb 15, 2008
    168
    OK. So I scored a some 1 lb containers of various powders in their original containers at a sale. All are labeled as to when they were purchased (2/99). They were stored in an acceptable controlled location. Other than send/deliver/give them to some of you folks :innocent0, do you think that they are safe to use in reloading? (The powders will work for most of what I reload.)
     
    0

    00-Guy

    Active Member
    Feb 15, 2008
    168
    Thanks for the replies. Pretty much what I figured. But better paranoid and safe than cussing on the firing line.
     
    Biggfoot44

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    33,252
    IIRC the NSSF and/or NRMA, and most powder mfgs will have ccomplete check lists of what to check.
    But as long as storage conditions are even sort of ok, 2/99 is practically brand new.
     
    boule

    boule

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 16, 2008
    1,948
    Galt's Gulch
    For government purposes, powder used to have a 10-year shelf life if kept in containers. If kept in cartidges, somewhat longer....

    If you score some old powder, check if it is still sealed and and also check for smell and consistency. If it smells sour, leave it alone, if the grains are easily broken apart by hand, leave it alone, if it looks and smells fine, I'll take it :innocent0

    One small thing to mention: Powder charges tend to differ; a charge from years ago might not behave exactly the same as a current one and there might be some subtle aging effects that you do not recognize. I would therefore recommend against using the powder in loads at the end of the pressure scale, but otherwise it should be fine.
     
    hairba111

    hairba111

    XGMG2
    Feb 3, 2010
    4,969
    Close to Tim Hafer's shop, Hagerstown
    I ended up with my grandfather's old H&R .38 five shot revolver and two boxes of ammo (S&W .38). One box was very old. I fired one shell and found that it was NOT smokeless powder! Four more rounds through the weapon convinced me that the ammo was OK. Comparing it with a new box of ammo, the old stuff (1892) kicked a lot harder and of course belched out a cloud of smoke.
     
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