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Larry W.
Guest
Again I have not loaded since 1973.I have 11 different powders and I wondered if they were worth using or throw them away. I think I may know the answer. You sure forget a lot of things when you are 70 years old.
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Edwin D
Guest
use them!
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mike in co
Guest
if in metal containers, pour them out to check for rust......
smell the contianers....if it dont smell like powder, its fertilizer!
mike in co
smell the contianers....if it dont smell like powder, its fertilizer!
mike in co
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Gerry
Guest
shelf life Of powders
If they are kept cool and dry
Longer then you would expect.
Mike had it right check the color.
If it looks rusty it probably is bad.
It should have that either smell.
If they are kept cool and dry
Longer then you would expect.
Mike had it right check the color.
If it looks rusty it probably is bad.
It should have that either smell.
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Bill Ohio
Guest
Ditto. Smokeless powder, when properly stored, lasts for generations. Dupont has tested lots that were nearly a century old, and found negligible (i.e. insignificant) deterioration.
If you haven't stored it properly, then you might have a problem, but I'm betting it's fine.
JerrySharrett
Senile Member
Like said above, inspect the powder, its container, its storage history and mainly the smell.
Some background on modern smokeless powders, modern meaning smokeless as compared to black powder. A few years ago the American Rifeman had an article on some original Hercules Unique. Hercules had placed some of the first Unique in a laboratory carboy then filled the container with water and capped it off. For many years after the Hercules lab would remove some of the powder, dry it, then load and fire it. This was loose powder placed in that carboy in 1890!
As of the date of that AR article (I think about 1985 or so) the powder still performed satisfactory.
I have some of the original H4831 that Bruce Hodgdon bought. I bought mine in 1957 from a guy who had bought a drum earlier. I still ocasionally shoot some of it in a 30/06.
Most of the 8208 we still shoot is older than that.
Be safe, don't take any chances, ask others if you are not sure, but 1970's powder should be fine.
Some background on modern smokeless powders, modern meaning smokeless as compared to black powder. A few years ago the American Rifeman had an article on some original Hercules Unique. Hercules had placed some of the first Unique in a laboratory carboy then filled the container with water and capped it off. For many years after the Hercules lab would remove some of the powder, dry it, then load and fire it. This was loose powder placed in that carboy in 1890!
As of the date of that AR article (I think about 1985 or so) the powder still performed satisfactory.
I have some of the original H4831 that Bruce Hodgdon bought. I bought mine in 1957 from a guy who had bought a drum earlier. I still ocasionally shoot some of it in a 30/06.
Most of the 8208 we still shoot is older than that.
Be safe, don't take any chances, ask others if you are not sure, but 1970's powder should be fine.
Bob Kingsbury
New member
Some 8208 I have is probably 40-45 years old and ok. Its in plastic.
I did buy a can of Dupont once that was probably no more than two
years old in a metal can. It was bad when I got home from the store.
Just got to check it all.
I did buy a can of Dupont once that was probably no more than two
years old in a metal can. It was bad when I got home from the store.
Just got to check it all.
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Don
Guest
Yea, I was surprised to see the new 8208 xbr powder offered in containers with metal caps. Why would any intelligent, experienced, powder manufacture make that mistake?
Maybe it was just for the first small batch for test shooters, hope so.........Don
Maybe it was just for the first small batch for test shooters, hope so.........Don
JerrySharrett
Senile Member
I just looked and I have several brands and several packagings from recent to very old that have metal lids, BUT, all these metal lids have a plastic coated paper gasket. I guess as long as the user doesn't remove that gasket the free nitric acid, if there is any, will not have anything to latch on to.
I have several metal IMR cans that contain powder back to about 1960. I have Hercules cans that are metal on both ends. They seem fine.
I would guess, not being a gunpowder chemist, that the powder breaks down, due to whatever, then it attacks the can not the other way around. Possibly a double base powder would go first?? Any of you powder chemists out there reading this thread?
Jerry Dailey
Southron
Gi 322
If you have any of that be especially careful. I dont know why but it deterorites after several years. It has a real foul smell and some have said that it can self ignite. I do not know of any other powder that does that but as you have been advised, smell it to be sure.
If you have any of that be especially careful. I dont know why but it deterorites after several years. It has a real foul smell and some have said that it can self ignite. I do not know of any other powder that does that but as you have been advised, smell it to be sure.
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caroby
Guest
The "production" 8208XBR... Hodgdon puts plastic lids on with gaskets, as with the rest of their powder line... IMR Canada or ADI Australia produced...
Now, this is for the 8Lb containors.... The 1Lb cans still use metal lid caps with gaskets.
Really like the 8Lb lids... Wish they'd just use a similar lid/cap on their 1Lb cans.
cale
Yeah, that GI 322 is nasty stuff,if any of you guy have some and want to get rid of it,let me know. I'll pay you to ship it up here so I can dispose of it (properly) in my unregulated and environmentally abusive trash pile. Better safe than sorry.
Joel
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Don
Guest
Good point, I never thought of it that way. I will say, that the only time that I have ever seen bad powder is in either all metal containers or containers with metallic caps. I have neither seen or heard about a bad bunch of powder in all plastic containers...............Don
Joe Maisto
New member
Now you boys have me thinking about my RL 11 I've had since the early 60's, and I don't really know how old it was before I got it. Yup...metel cans too, but it still smells ok to me, altho I'm not sure how it would smell if it wasn't.
I used it in my Whelen as late as 8 years ago. It went bang just fine. Lot #10.
I used it in my Whelen as late as 8 years ago. It went bang just fine. Lot #10.
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Gerry
Guest
shelf life Of powders
You have me thinking too.
I have reloader in metal cans.
It's still good though.
You have me thinking too.
I have reloader in metal cans.
It's still good though.
JerrySharrett
Senile Member
You have some RL-11? I've been trying for years to get Ben Amonette at Alliant in Radford to get some RL-11 made again. He says, never. Best 22/250 powder ever made!! Mine is in a fiber drum with metal ends, and it smells ok too. Only about 3# left.
Joe Maisto
New member
Jerry,
I don't know what I would use it for anymore. Sold the Whelen. Don't suppose I'll use it in my #1 .223, and for sure not in my .270. Seems a shame to blow out ppc cases with it, altho seems to me I did that once, along with some 3031. Whatcha think?
Maybe I'll bring it along to the SS, as long as I don't really have a use for it?
I don't know what I would use it for anymore. Sold the Whelen. Don't suppose I'll use it in my #1 .223, and for sure not in my .270. Seems a shame to blow out ppc cases with it, altho seems to me I did that once, along with some 3031. Whatcha think?
Maybe I'll bring it along to the SS, as long as I don't really have a use for it?
M
Mark2
Guest
Bring it, I'm sure someone will want it. Not many shoot 22/250 any more. There were a couple other cartridges that RL-11 was good for but I can't remember them right now.
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