Powder Question

[JOHN COOK]

I have a can (metal) of IMR 4350 with the metal seal still in tact. No rust. Opinions on are suggestion on using this powder. Reloads will be for shooting on range only. Think it?s still functional ? Or should I junk it..

John in SC

[Allen]

I don't think anyone can give you a yes or no on this. I've shot 80 year old ammo that performed well.

Open the can and see how it looks.

Load up a dozen or so and see how they do at the range. Since it is going to be range ammo your life won't be dependant upon it so a missfire or 2 shouldn't hurt anything. Obviously you don't want to load up a bunch and then have to scrap it.

[lyman]

I have 30 yr old 748 in the 8lb paper jug as well as some of that Talon 4895 that was pull down powder,

it all shoots well,


and I have had Vit Vouri go sour , less than 10 yrs,


the tell will be when you open it,
check the smell, check the color when you pull out and go from there

[JOHN COOK]

check the smell, check the color when you pull out and go from there

What would I be looking for in the smell?

John in SC

[nf1e]

I have quite a bit of IMR-3031 and IMR-4198 in metal cans that I paid $14.95 per sometime in the last century. Still works fine.

[JOHN COOK]

Thanks guys for the input. Actually I have two pounds IMR 4350. Local guy passed away and his wife called me to remove “explosives “ from her basement. 5 lbs of Green Dot and the two cans of IMR 4350. One was open and almost full. I loaded 6 rounds using the open can and will run them through Remington 1903-A3 from CMP. Will advise the results..

John in SC

[tmark]

If it has a fowl smell to it, it has deteriorated. If so, discard it.

[lyman]

the vit vori stuff I had smelled like clorox

powder has a smell, I'll say kinda ether like, hard to describe, but you know it when it is good

[JOHN COOK]

No stink on the two cans, just a pleasant odor not obnoxious, almost medical. It is hard for me to describe, as Lyman stated.
John in SC

[nf1e]

Maybe ether? That's a good thing.

[lyman]

sounds good

[PWC]

I've never had powder go bad but what I have read described a "bad" is a acetone smell.

When I open my powders I usually get the medical smell, and yes it could be an ether smell.

All my powder is black or dark grey, so I don't know....if it turns rust color ot's probably bad.
Dump the can into a glass bowl to check for any below surface differences and look onto the can to see of there has been any interaction between powder and metal.

[dryheat]

Nasty powder smells "musty".
I used to keep a lot of ammo boxes in the closet. Some of it was 1930's Mauser and not from nice countries. I moved it all out to the shed. 110 degree heat (Arizona) isn't good for it, but better for me.
It doesn't smell like victory, per R. Duvall.
Split necks (for no reason) is a sure sign of trouble. A little red rust on the case hasn't caused me any trouble. Green doesn't mean go.

[togor]

When powder starts to go, what I notice is a bit of a acrid smell when the cap is removed, it bites the senses just a bit. But then it dissipates quickly unless the powder is really bad.

But one might see grains starting to act "sticky" and clump to other grains. That's a sure sign that things are changing.

God, I have so much WW2 stuff that I know won't last forever, and is a job waiting for me :)

Some of it is in nice sealed cartons and probably the thing to do with those is sell them down the road, unless I want the projectiles. But if projectiles are the game, then better to pull too early than too late.

[milboltnut]

Compare it to another canister. I think I remember reading about a rotten egg smell. If stored in a dry and cool place you?d be surprised how long it lasts

[M1Tommy]

When powder starts to go, what I notice is a bit of a acrid smell when the cap is removed, it bites the senses just a bit. But then it dissipates quickly unless the powder is really bad.

But one might see grains starting to act "sticky" and clump to other grains. That's a sure sign that things are changing.

God, I have so much WW2 stuff that I know won't last forever, and is a job waiting for me :)

Some of it is in nice sealed cartons and probably the thing to do with those is sell them down the road, unless I want the projectiles. But if projectiles are the game, then better to pull too early than too late.

I'd agree there, all counts.
I once had about 2 1/2 , eight pound jugs of pulldown 4895-ish power go bad. It was just as described, poured clumpy, a smell very different from other 'fresh' powders, and some reddish dust all present. I had some really, really green grass around the house that year............

Tommy