Maybe it's time to use this stuff up.

[bilmac]

I was digging around in my powder collection to find something to put in some primed sized cases so I could blast them away and start over with new primers. Found two cans of 4198 I dimly remember my Uncle giving me. The price on the cans, $2.99. I can just picture him when he bought them rubbing his neck and thinking, "If powder keeps getting higher it won't be long before a guy won't be able to afford to reload".

[LONGTOM]

That one's a tough one!
If the cans are still sealed and they have been stored in a cool dry place chances are they are still good.
If when you open one and there is a small dust cloud or they smell musty I would dump them.
If they are clumped, dump them.
If all appears ok then I would try a few rounds with it but not at near max loads.


LONGTOM

[bilmac]

Oh the powder is fine. One of the cans still has a metal seal in the mouth. I should probably keep it for an antique rather than using it.

[Graybeard]

Use the powder, keep the can as an antique.

[bilmac]

Actually the price tag is the antique

[woodchukhntr]

A local gun shop took a large quantity of old powder in lately from a customer.  He used it for lawn fertilizer.  I told him he was lucky that a customer didn't throw a cigarette butt onto the lawn.  Unfortunately he also threw the cans out too.  There was some really old stuff there.

[cwlongshot]

A local gun shop took a large quantity of old powder in lately from a customer.  He used it for lawn fertilizer.  I told him he was lucky that a customer didn't throw a cigarette butt onto the lawn.  Unfortunately he also threw the cans out too.  There was some really old stuff there.

I too happen to have some of the yellow cans of 4198 from many moons ago... It still works wonderfully @ sending speeding 400 gr 45cal slugs where ever I point the gun! 

 There is little to no danger in throwing powder on the lawn. (Unless your in a super dry climate) In very short order the powder sucks up any moisture it contacts. Even if a spark should ignite some, it was merely be a flash in the pan. 

CW

[45-70.gov]

a cop freind  gave me 2  4lb kegs  of bullseye
he  said  it was  too  old....i  called the manufacturer  they  said it shoule be ok

2 months  ago  i opened the 2nd keg

my freind  has been dead  for over 10 years
i  feel  like  i am shooting  it for  him

i  am  trying  to use it up before it does go bad
the keg will   make 9000 38  or 4500 357 or  about  3500  44 mags
got grown kids now helping burn it up  the 38s

[1 farmer]

At $2.99 a can it makes me wonder what it would have cost to reload a round back then?
I did some quick math for what I'm reloading: 22/250
1lb rifle powder @ $23.00  7000grains/lb 38grains P/load= 184loads per lb= .13 per cartridge
1 box 100count bullets @ $18.00= .18 per cartridge
1 box 100count rifle primers@$4.25= .04 per cartridge
100 rifle brass @$38.00 reloaded 3 times=.13 per cartridge
                                                Total .49 per round
                                                       X 20 rounds per Box= $9.80
This could be higher or lower if you buy quantity or add in the cost of equipment to reload.

What do you think it would have came to if powder were only $2.99???
       

[calvon]

I have some 4831 that I bought from Hodgden for fifty two cents a pound about forty five years ago. It behaves today the same as it did when I bought it. So long as it is stored where it is cool and dry it will last nearly forever.