Old reloading powder?????

R

rammer43

Guest
I have about 20 assorted cans and plastic containers of unopened reloading powder that I bought in the late 80's and early 90's and have had in my possession since then. It has lived on the Southern California coast, the N.E. Georgia mountains, Sarasota, FL for 12 years, and now in northern Ohio for the last 2 years. It has been stored in large sealed GI cans but it has been through some climate changes. It has always been stored in a garage on a shelf not climate controlled. It has be hot and cold at different times. I opened a can of IMR 4895 today and there wasn't any of the normal odor that is noticed when you open a fresh can. My question to you reloaders that have more experience with older powder than I is it safe to use this stuff or should I dump it? I don't want to hurt myself or damage one of my rifles. Your opinion would be appreciated. Thank you, Richard Ramsey, North Ridgeville, Ohio
 
rammer43 said:
I have about 20 assorted cans and plastic containers of unopened reloading powder that I bought in the late 80's and early 90's and have had in my possession since then. It has lived on the Southern California coast, the N.E. Georgia mountains, Sarasota, FL for 12 years, and now in northern Ohio for the last 2 years. It has been stored in large sealed GI cans but it has been through some climate changes. It has always been stored in a garage on a shelf not climate controlled. It has be hot and cold at different times. I opened a can of IMR 4895 today and there wasn't any of the normal odor that is noticed when you open a fresh can. My question to you reloaders that have more experience with older powder than I is it safe to use this stuff or should I dump it? I don't want to hurt myself or damage one of my rifles. Your opinion would be appreciated. Thank you, Richard Ramsey, North Ridgeville, Ohio
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As far as I know, unless it is emmitting a pungent ammonia like smelling rusty gas, then it is good to go. You could fire some test rounds over a chrono to see if energy levels and velocities are within normal ranges..............Don
 
Smokeless powder

has a really long shelf life normally. Open several more cans and if they all smell the same I would consider it good. I am still shooting 4831 I bought back in 1963 and it come out of a keg in the driveway of a lumberyard in N. central Kansas. The keg was paper and the lid was just resting on top. The keg was about 1/2 empty at the time. No heat or ac for this powder since either. Mostly stored in unheated utility rooms since I purchased it. Max
 
Powders usually have some sort of stabilizing agent, to absorb detremental products of decomposition. Double Base powders have long included ethyl centralite for this purpose.
In recent years massive explosions involving double base propellants in long term storage at ammunition dumps have revealed that ethyl centralite loses its protective quality within 25 years at best.

Single base powders are subject to damage if they draw moisture from the air, but are less effected by temperature extremes. Double Base powders are relatively unaffected by moisture from the air, but more affected by high temperatures, around 125 degrees for long periods of time.

Near as I can tell Black Powder remains potent for centuries if reasonably dry, and if wetted can be dried sucessfully with little change in properties.

I recently dumped all my older powders just to be on the safe side.
There was not that much to get rid of by then, and I prefered to start out afresh with recent production powders.
One should always redo the load building process when you obtain more recent production powders. Qualities may not be exactly the same as the old powder.
 
Old powder

Out of all the powders I have stored over the last 20 years only one powder I dumped.. Vihtavuori powder! It was the only powder when opened smelled Acidic, which I have been told when powder smells like that...GET RID OF IT!!.... It could self ignite at that stage of deterioration.
 
The urban legends about powder spoiling are just like pharmaceutical companies propaganda about drugs expiring.
 
My expeience!

Max Shaffer said:
has a really long shelf life normally. Open several more cans and if they all smell the same I would consider it good. I am still shooting 4831 I bought back in 1963 and it come out of a keg in the driveway of a lumberyard in N. central Kansas. The keg was paper and the lid was just resting on top. The keg was about 1/2 empty at the time. No heat or ac for this powder since either. Mostly stored in unheated utility rooms since I purchased it. Max
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I still have two unopened paper containers of Hodgdon's 4831( government surplus powder) bought in 1968.The price stickers show $1.35.
I had a part of a can of the same vintage,that was starting to show some "dust",with an slightly acrid odor.
These have always been stored in a cool,dry basement.
I loaded 250 .270's for my son in 1979,using this powder.
Last year,I loaded him a large batch,using new components.I'm getting up in years and wanted to give him a fresh batch,in case I'm not around to reload him more in the future.
I brought home about 120 of the early batch,that hadn't been fired.
I figured on breaking them down,salvaging the cases and bullets.
I was surprised to find that the powder had deteriorated to the extent that I had to dig it out of most of the cases.
I found green corrosion on the base of many bullets and on the inside of almost all of the brass.Most of the cases were corroded to the extent that the remaining wall thickness was questionable.This had been new Remington brass when loaded.
I ended up scrapping everything except the bullets.
I don't think powder is expensive enough to take a chance.Especially,if you may not fire these rounds in the immediate future. Five years from now,it may show detioriation.
The old paper containers left a lot to be desired.
 
Thanks for all of your replies......

Thanks for your replies. I will try some and see what happens. I will say a "Hail Mary" or 2 before sending it down range. Richard Ramsey, North Ridgeville, Ohio
 
If you have any unopened cans of Re 12 or HiVel #2, let me know.
 
wahoowah said:
If you have any unopened cans of Re 12 or HiVel #2, let me know.
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I have three cans of Reloader 11 from the 60's that I used to use in another caliber. I have heard of at least one well known shooter from the past, that used it exclusively for the PPC. Perhaps I should try it.

Anyone care to comment on a double base powder versus single base ?
 
RL36; Whenever I load something...............

that may be around for awhile, I waterproof both ends......
I get a pack of pipe cleaners and form a small "handle" and a small "applicator" from one and put some Ortho Pruning Seal on the inside of the neck, about 1/8" down from the mouth, and let it sit for 24hrs. the next day, take a patch w/some Ronsonol on it and wipe down the neck exterior in case any got on the outside. You can now prime and charge the cases, and seat the bullets, too, if you wish, and when you seat the bullets, let the ammo sit for another 24 to allow the pressure from seating to equalize. Then, you can use one of the commercial preparations to seal the primers, or, take some Spar Polyurethane and mix it with a thinner like Ronsonol to where just a little drop sits on the end of a toothpick(a little experimentation there is necessary ;)) and just touch it to the primer/case interface at 12 o'clock while the ammo is sitting pointy-end down and slanted in a loading block, and capillary action will allow it to run all the way down to six, if you mixed it right. I take the little plastic gasket out of a soda bottle top and mix the primer sealer in there, and, you can also use another one to put some pruning seal in, it makes it handier for dipping the applicator, and not getting too much on :). Before you charge the cases, you have to let the pruning seal set-up for 24 so the powder will pass through the necks w/out sticking and bridging :eek:.
 
langenc said:
The urban legends about powder spoiling are just like pharmaceutical companies propaganda about drugs expiring.
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Well it might seem an "urban Legend" to anyone who hasn't encountered deteriorated powder, but to those that have its a proven fact.
 
Old Powder IMR 4895

This was stored in a basement at 60 to 70 degrees, humidity around 70%, inside a wood powder magazine. Still factory sealed. Others stored around it are still ok. Just this 1lb can went bad.The powder itself didn't seem bad?:confused: I was thinking more like bad metal used to make the can?:confused:
IMR4895_20090928_1.jpg
IMR4895_20090928_2.jpg
IMR4895_20090928_3.jpg
 
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The culprit here is the............

"...humidity around 70%." Thats the kicker!! Maybe the wood cabinet should be moved to the garage, where it may be warmer, but less humid. And, you may also want to get some 1-8 Lb. jugs from some other handloaders to put the powders from those steel cans into, so there's no, or less opportunity, for the corrosive action to be initiated on the container. Make sure you check the lot #s so you get them in the same jugs and lable them accordingly, so there's no mistaking what's inside. Maybe you want to check out your dies, too, if they're stored there as well. Good Luck!! :)
 
I had large amount of Red Dot and Green Dot that went bad but they were in the large paper keggs. I've never had a well sealed can of rifle powder go bad. I was out of reloading for many years and just got back into when my granddaughter started shooting. I had a couple of cans of Dupont IMR4350 and some others that were bought in the 60's and 70's. When I opened them, they looked and smelt just as fresh as a new can. I chronographed some identical loads of the old Dupont 4350 and the new 4350 I had just bought. They were almost identical so I used up all the old powder befor loading with the new. Never saw any difference in accuracy or velocity.

Wow, just saw the pictures of the can above. Never had one to do that but I have always stored my powders in the house where it's climate controlled. Large amo cans work very well for storage chest to keep your cans of powder.

NO FLIPPING WAY THAT POWDERS IS STILL GOOD!
 
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In addition to an acrid odor, deteriorated powder often shows a change in color, i.e., ashen gray. But if stored properly, most powders will survive for many years. However, the velocity obtainable with old lots may differ considerably from new lots. Whether powder is old or new, when you need to replace it, you will probably need to adjust your load.

When I find a small amount remaining in a very old powder can, I throw it on the lawn and buy new stuff.
 
jimbob74

rammer43 said:
I have about 20 assorted cans and plastic containers of unopened reloading powder that I bought in the late 80's and early 90's and have had in my possession since then. It has lived on the Southern California coast, the N.E. Georgia mountains, Sarasota, FL for 12 years, and now in northern Ohio for the last 2 years. It has been stored in large sealed GI cans but it has been through some climate changes. It has always been stored in a garage on a shelf not climate controlled. It has be hot and cold at different times. I opened a can of IMR 4895 today and there wasn't any of the normal odor that is noticed when you open a fresh can. My question to you reloaders that have more experience with older powder than I is it safe to use this stuff or should I dump it? I don't want to hurt myself or damage one of my rifles. Your opinion would be appreciated. Thank you, Richard Ramsey, North Ridgeville, Ohio
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Need to know powder types and size to make a quote. jkruger620@aol.com
 
Mate,

What type of powder do you uses and what is the size to make this powder quote. Where to buy Old reloading powder ?

Hanging Scale
 
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