old powder
I have four pounds of Hercules 2400 that I recently picked up in a package deal for a Bisley 44. The cans are sealed but are obviosly old. Is this stuff still safe to shoot and if so where can I find some reloading info online.
Thanks
John
Thanks
John
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Hello depending on how it has been stored. I use some powder that is over 40 years old . If it smell like acid or is not the right color throw away .It should smell like acetone. 0 -
perry nailed it . . . the storage conditions are critical and where you don't know the history, you'll have to rely on your senses. But bad powder is pretty obvious in its odor and often in its appearance.
2400 is a product of Hercules Powder Co. (now Alliant); they list loading data on line here:
http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/
2400 is a very versatile powder which provides good loads - not necessarily the best, but usually in the top few - for a wide range of cartridges and bullet weights.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / demoRats" (me)0 -
What would bad black powder smell like? 0 -
HELLO EASTWOOD BLACK POWDER HAS A MUCH LONGER SHELF LIFE I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY GO BAD AND HAVE USED SOME THAT WAS OVER 50 YEARS OLD AND STORED IN A BARN THATS NOT TO SAY IT CAN'T GO BAD BUT BECAUSE OF LOW PRESSURES i THINK IT WOULD JUST NOT GO BANG.bLACK POWDER IS JUST A MIX OF 3 ITEMS. quote:"PRAISE THE HARDBALL GUN" 0 -
Eastwood, some fella with more dollars than sense did a study in the last decade or so, burning up a bunch of Civil War era Spencer cartridges to test their stability over time. Something like 90% fired; most of those which failed were produced by Joseph Goldman (these have a 'JG' headstamp) and the Federal troops had a high percentage of misfires with this particular loading when they were new! As I recall, the ammo used in this experiment was obtained more or less at random, so surely some of it had seen adverse storage conditions. Further, when I was a kid in the last century, every so often one would read of some farmer plowing up an unexploded cannon or mortar shell somewhere near a battlefield and having the unpleasant, often lethal, experience of having it go "boom!" . . . so unless the powder is damp, chances are the stuff is still functional. As perry noted, this is a simple chemical compound and it is not prone to breaking down.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / demoRats" (me)0 -
Hi Jonesj8,
All the previous responses gave good and correct answers to assess the stability of your powder.
The some of the powder manuals state a stable powder smells sweet and deteriorated powder has an acrid or sour odor. I have some smokeless that is going on 15 years and kept in the garage. It still smells sweet and on rare occassions when I use it works wells.
If in doubt burn it in small lots (no more than a pound at a time) according to the manuals. You can always look at a powder manual online, like at Alliant, Hogdon, IMR, Winchester and read about it there.
Heavy[:D]0 -
If it's in a can; look at the date of manufacture on the bottom. Always check your smokeless powder by smell; if it smells like vinegar, acid, matches, or anything but acetone, it's gone.
Hodgdon has some old black powder from the 1700's in a jar full of water-every so often they take some, dry it out, and burn it. I have no idea why.
If you know it all; you must have been listening.<br>WEAR EAR PROTECTION!0 -
Good responses all around. I have both reloads and bulk powder from about 40 years ago that are still fine. On those occasions when I have come upon some bad powder I have also noted, in addition to well discribed odors, a yellowish, almost toad stool like mist if you gently shake, then open the container.
Rob0 -
Hello R Crosby NEVER shake a can of powder THIS CAN CAUSE STATIC BUILD UP AND POSSIBLE BIG BOOM I know it has happened with BLACK POWDER don't know about smokeless but why take the chance. quote:"PRAISE THE HARDBALL GUN" 0 -
That's a new one for me. Very little experience with black powder other than a 12 inch scar on my right arm that taught me a great respect for the stuff over 40 years ago. Certainly wasn't suggesting that anyone pretend a can of powder be treated like an Etch-a-Sketch, but I've always had a hard time getting the powder out of the cans without a certain amount of disturbance to the contents.
Rob0 -
Black powder has a shelf life that doesn't quit. Oxidation will alter its stability but wont kill it. ANY deteriorated explosive is to some degree destabilized and will not have its original burn rate. If any question as to powder condition exists, don't use it. 0 -
I have heard of BP getting stronger over time and slightly unstable, any truth to that? "I havent really messed with real BP that much." 0 -
Over the centurie BP has had many different 'mix' compositions. Always the same basic three ingredients but in different quantities depending on who made it and where. Some folks added other ingredients, sugar comes to mind. Finally the composition we have today was settled on. As to it being unstable. Not any more so than normal. It's burn characteristics may change. It just has to be dry and granular. Just take the same precautions with it as you would with any powder. Do a test burn on a small amount if you wish. (about a half teaspoon would be enough). It should flash, Oh yea be careful, put it in a safe OPEN(i.e. a bowl) container and don't stand right over it when igniting.
DISCLAIMER: As always be safe, don't be stupid, use proper precuations. Handle black powder at your own risk. It will burn you and under the proper conditions (i.e. enclosed) it will explode.
When you wrestle a 'gator, there ain't no good end!!
"Molon Labe!" Spartan General-King Leonidas
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