good, bad, ugly?

[coastie]

So, I have a can of Hercules 2400, 1 pound.
Written on the cardboard side: SEPT. 1980.
So....garden fertilizer, or useful stuff?
Container is sealed.....[well, sorta.]

[joem]

See post above.

[Former Cav]

if it smells good (compare next to a NEW one) USE it.
it it smells bitter, it is fertilizer.
the old disclaimer applies. "REDUCE LOADS 10 percent (20 percent if using magnum primers) and work up from there" BUT, only if it smells good.

[da gimp]

great advice from frm cav............it ain't worth the risk........ I have old powder & I dare say older powder that is still good....... but it's been kept in basement storage at level temps.. nearly all of it's life.

[Timberwolf]

All of the above, but when in doubt, pitch it out.

[Former Cav]

Hey Gimp, if you ever get out to Phoenix, give me some advance notice so we can get together, have dinner, bust a few caps, and have some of my home brew beer when we are done.
I'll email you my phone etc back channel.
Cav

[da gimp]

cool, see my response to you PM.

[Tuna]

Heck I have powers from the late 60's and early 70's that are still good. Kept in a cool dry area. I have bought new cans of powder that 6 months later have gone bad in the unopened can. It all depends on how well the powder is stored. Hodgdon when he started was buy surplus powers from WW2. These were stored outside in huge piles but kept in shade and covered. These powers were OK years later and millions of rounds of ammo were loaded and fired with them. The same with surplus ammo. If stored properly the ammo with last for many decades but if not it becomes the POF .303 type. Click bang or just click. Proper storage is the key. Keep the powder away from heat like in a garage down south.