old powder

[jp8775]

I just came into a nice load of DuPont 4198, 4064, 4350. I got it for free from a garage sale where they just wanted to get it out of the house dad died. The cans (multiple) are the old steel cans with the small caps. No rust on the containers so seem to have been kept dry. DuPont became IMR a long time ago so this is old stuff. With the price of powder being so high I am reluctant to throw all of this away. Other than a burn test ( have done that many times)does anyone have experience as to how to test this other than see if the bullets get stuck in the barrel?

[Norsesmithy]

A Ruger # 1 or a cheap throw-away gun with a sandbag over the receiver and a pull string for the trigger. Old powder sometimes degrades in such a manner that it becomes faster burning and higher pressure.

[timwarner]

I'd load a few lighter side loads up, and give it a try.
I don't think powder goes bad, when well kept.

Seismic might have more insight, since he's about as old as dirt.
If not, I'd give it a try for you, not familiar with those powders though.

[mnmike59]

Seismic might have more insight, since he's about as old as dirt.

He's busy eating Domino's under his bridge.

[JJ]

Its all garbage. I would be happy to take it off your hands no charge and dispose of it

[ScatterGun4015]

Its all garbage. I would be happy to take it off your hands no charge and dispose of it

Me too.......one round at a time

[870TC]

Open the cans, check to see if the inside of the cans rusted and if so has it turned the powder red. If no, smell the powder, does it smell like good powder maybe a slight solvent odor? then its good.
If it has turned red and smells bad then it is no good.
If it has turned red and smells okay, it is possible to still use it and there are ways to slow down the deterioration. First thing is get the powder out of the rusty can and into a plastic jug with the recycling number "2" inside a "triangle" logo, usually found on the bottom of the jug.

[Pat]

If it at all has the aroma of ammonia, flush it down the toilet. Nitrates want to oxidize. Just think of old piss...

[jp8775]

Open the cans, check to see if the inside of the cans rusted and if so has it turned the powder red. If no, smell the powder, does it smell like good powder maybe a slight solvent odor? then its good.
If it has turned red and smells bad then it is no good.
If it has turned red and smells okay, it is possible to still use it and there are ways to slow down the deterioration. First thing is get the powder out of the rusty can and into a plastic jug with the recycling number "2" inside a "triangle" logo, usually found on the bottom of the jug.

Some great advice, I knew somebody would know. Thanks both of you.

[Seismic Sam]

Remove the lid and stick your nose over the can and see if you can still smell ether. If you can, that's a good sign. As a previous post said, color changes are a bad sign. If it was in steel cans, chances are good it's still usable.

Back when I got into reloading, I found out that the H4831 powder that was popular for magnum cartridges was actually pulled down 37mm Okerilon AA shells from WWII, so that was a gap of over 30 years.

[jp8775]

I agree, I have no old piss to smell first. I suppose I could make some? I guess he means it just smells foul.

[Seismic Sam]

Actually, it's kind of funny, because when I'm shooting my .338 Ultramag with nearly a 100 grains of Retumbo powder in the case, the smell is VERY reminiscent of a pail full of soggy diapers that hasn't been emptied in several days. Several people who have been near me have at OGC have actualy thought the wind changed and they were downwind of the stinky pit toilet that OGC has. That probably means that one of the by-products of either firing good powder like Retumbo or old powder that is starting to disassemble itself without being fired is urea.

[jp8775]

my old powder works fine.

[Seismic Sam]

my old powder works fine.

Told ya!!!

[bobbydamit]

Powder disposal. I see some say flush old powder down the toilet. But, If you think it is bad, or it is not identified well and you are not sure of the correct type, by all means pitch it. But you can still make it count for something. Just spread it over your lawn and it makes great fertilizer. Remember Fertilizer makes good explosives too. Nitrates!!! Think GREEN. LOL!
Please, no exploding or burning lawn replies. It is not a concern unless you dump a few hundred pounds in one spot.