Author Topic: Does powder get old? (Read 595 times)

Myerslake2005 · « **on:** May 10, 2006, 05:26:53 PM »

Is there such thing as old powder? I have powder that is about 14 years old and am wondering if it goes bad. It was opened long ago but has been stored in its original container. One of the cans has an alcohol smell to it. I broke everything out recently to work a load up for an Elk hunt I'm taking and am wondering if I should trash the old powder or us it.

Thanks

Don Fischer · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:44:49 PM »

Absolutely gets old. Story on myself. I had some very old H4895 and decided to use it up, not big on that powder. Anyway,I loaded up some 30-06 stuff with old 180gr Herter bullets to fool with. Took them out to the range and nothing happened. The primer was well dented but nothing. Figured I'd somehow got something on the primer so tried another, nothing. Huh, two bad primwers in a row. Fired a third and still nothing!

Went home and pulled bullet's, figured I'd save the powder. Huh, it had ignited and turned to a yellow solid that would not come out! Pulled the rest and took the powder out to burn it. You guessed it, it wouldn't start with a match. Got out a propane tourch and turned it into a pile of yellow gue!

On the other hand, I've got a bunce of old Super Ballistite that does very well using bullseye data. Go Figure!

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:58:33 PM »

If it does that means you're not shooting enough. The cure is to shoot more and more often. :-D

Grumulkin · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2006, 03:38:17 AM »

I think it depends on how its stored. I have powder that is a least 10 years old and is still good. I has been stored in original containers in a cool but not damp basement for all of that time.

Ranger J · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:52:18 AM »

I had some Unique that I had used to load shotgun shells about 15 years or so ago and when I got into rifle and pistol reloading I reloaded some .38 specials with it using standard primers and had a number of primer only misfires. When I changed to magnum primers this stopped but the loads always seemed anemic as I could often see the bullet in flight. I switched to new Red Dot and have not had either of these problems.
RJ

wncchester · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:33:35 PM »

To answer directly, yeah it gets old; so did I! But if powder is stored properly it seems to last a very long time.

How long? Don't know, yet, but I still have some of a 50# keg of Hodgden's original WW2 surplus 4831 I purchased in 1967 (don't load a lot if it). That powder lost its ether smell long ago but it still looks and works perfectly in a .270 and couple of 7RMags.

So, I wonder if storage problems can account for the difficulties others have had? (And wonder if keeping ME in cool, dry and dark places would have worked as well. ??)

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2006, 05:32:18 PM »

Properly stored powder will last a very, very long time. That means cool and dry.

Improperly stored powder can become dangerous to use. If you se reddish "rust", or dampness on the powder, it is long past where you should use it. Dispose of it safely (using it as fertilizer or burning it is my preference).

Any time you are unsure, caution should rule - get rid of it. New powder is cheap, body parts are not.

Myerslake2005 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2006, 12:37:12 AM »

burned the powder two days ago was one of the hottest and highest flames I have seen in a long time. Purchaed all new yesterday. Now it's time to get on the bench and make some loads up.

Savage · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2006, 02:05:13 AM »

I had some unused powder from the middle 70s. I had H-110, Green Dot, Herco, IMR3031, 4895, Unique, Red Dot, H-5, H-7, and IMR 4350. I gave a lot of the rifle powders to a friend just starting reloading, and burned the pistol powders up myself in plinking loads. This powder has been stored in my residences under climatic controlled conditions. There were no problems with any of the loads.
Savage

beemanbeme · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2006, 03:24:07 AM »

As posted, it depends on how its stored. Think of all the milsup ammo that's being sold, some of which dates back to WW2 that still works.

Powder loses power as it ages. It doesn't get stronger so you haven't anything to fear. If you have a chrony, load some up and see how its doing velocity-wise.