old can of Bullseye

peddler

January 17, 2012 01:30

I purchased a old can of Bullseye at a local gun show just for the can. it has never been opened, what do you'all thank about the powder? Will it still be good? Thanks

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  perry shooter

  January 17, 2012 02:59

  more then likely still good unless it was stored in extream bad conditions . I used some 40 years old and never had problem .Just be aware the older powder was Slightly hoter I had to go down .2 grains to equal same FPS from cronograph.

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  XXCross

  January 17, 2012 03:55

  Those early powders (like bullseye, unique, sharpshooter, etc) seem to have a very good life expectancy if they are properly stored. I still have samples of propellants made in the early part of the last century (teen's and twentys) that still work as expected.

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  Rocky Raab

  January 17, 2012 04:53

  It is probably just fine. Double-base powders normally don't have the deterioration problems that single-base ones do. I have one or two of those little half-pound cube cans myself, and they are just fine.
  
  BTW, it isn't that the powders have changed over the years, it's the fact that they've dried out a bit. We dispense powder by weight, and with some of the moisture and solvents gone, you are actually weighing out more powder to achieve the same weight of charge. Replacing inert matter with powder will make the charge seem more energetic/hotter. A sealed can shouldn't show that difference, whereas a can that has been opened and exposed to air numerous times will.

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  cbyerly

  January 17, 2012 05:42

  If there is rust inside the can, it is shot (pun intended).

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  peddler

  January 17, 2012 05:52

  Thanks for all the replies.

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  Rocky Raab

  January 17, 2012 06:12

  Just a note to clarify what cbyerly said. "Red dust" inside a powder can isn't rust; that's deteriorated powder. In my experience, it only happens with single-base powders like the IMR line. At least I've never seen it in anything but an IMR can. After disposal, the inside of the can was shiny and perfect.

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  charliemeyer007

  January 17, 2012 06:18

  If the powder smells sweet, solvent like its good. If its acrid or bitter then I'd feed the grass with it. Sometimes the cans are rusty inside too as well as the red dust of dead powder.

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  dcs shooters

  January 17, 2012 06:52

  I have some Bullseye I got in the early'70,s.
  Still goes bang fine. It always has been in the house, never damp.

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  fastcarsgofast

  January 17, 2012 07:34

  I thought this was going to be about BBQ sauce.[:D]

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  Rocky Raab

  January 17, 2012 10:49

  Nah, that doesn't come in cans...

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