old powder?

Crankgrinder · November 27, 2011, 09:13 PM

I was reading the labels on some of my powders and the dates on some were from 08 and such. I want to ask a question how long should powder be kept? opened and in its original can of course. when should powders be disposed of?

gunsrtools · November 27, 2011, 09:17 PM

You are probably going to get lots of different answers.
But I can tell you that I use Unique powder that has been stored in its own container for 18 years and it works as well as it did when brand new. Never had any problems.

I suppose I should explain that I bought a huge quantity of the stuff and have some 8 lb containers un-open and one currently open and in use ...but all are the same age.

PawPaw · November 27, 2011, 09:32 PM

I've got some powder that was packed in the '60s. IMR 4895, I bought a bunch of it bulk and surplus from gummint stocks. I'm down to my last couple of pounds and dreading having to buy more. However, it's still good and I still use it. Powder from '08 I wouldn't worry about it, all other things being equal.

Now that I think about it, I've got a jug of Unique and a jug of Reloder 15, both from about '08. I consider it new stock.

William T. Watts · November 27, 2011, 10:58 PM

I have been using H4831 that is dated 1993, I still have one 8 pound jug that I opened a few weeks ago that is also dated 1993. Powder has a long life providing it is stored in a low humidity/cool environment. I have seen powder go bad in as little as 10-12 years that was improperly stored. William

Buzzcook · November 27, 2011, 11:02 PM

As long as it hasn't gotten damp, it should be good for a very long time.
From what I've heard Dupont powder from WWII was still being used up till just recently.

hk33ka1 · November 28, 2011, 12:31 AM

Check out this recent thread for some advice on checking older powder;
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469963

I would not consider 2008 powder old. It's still fresh as the day it was made, and likely will be for a long time yet. When I go into a smaller shop and see older powder packaged in the metal cans I always buy it, and it always shoots fine.

Mike38 · November 28, 2011, 01:12 AM

Good thread! I found a half can of Accurate #5 on a shelf in my gun room. It’s at least 8 years old. I opened it and the smell about knocked me over. Kind of an ammonia smell, maybe? I’m thinking about sprinkling it out in the corn field behind my house on a rainy day.

caz223 · November 28, 2011, 05:00 AM

Yeah, the sniff test will tell you if the powder's still good.
Not all powder smells the same, but if you got a can of x powder from 1998, and another can of x powder from 2007-they should smell the same. If they don't-one of them is probably bad.
Powder from as recently as 2008 I wouldn't even bother smelling it-it's fine.

Crankgrinder · November 28, 2011, 08:51 PM

thanks folks. and im sorry it didnt occur to me that somethig similar to this was aready posted on another thread. probably shouldve looked before post. great news anyhow.

medalguy · November 28, 2011, 10:23 PM

Oh I thought you meant 1908. Yeah 2008 powder is probably about the same stuff as found on my LGS shelf today.

**Brian Pfleuger** · November 28, 2011, 10:30 PM

I've got a can of Unique from the late 50s that still works fine. 2008 is not old powder in any way. It's all but brand new.

Nosparetime · November 29, 2011, 12:57 AM

I just loaded 1000rds of 45 with Winchester 452AA. I don't think that has been made for 25 years. Shot great. I have 8 lbs of it.

Now for some old powder I have. I don't intend to shoot these.

1 can of Dupont 4227 Lot #26
1 can of Dupont 4320 Lot #30
1 can of Dupont Bulk Smokeless from the same era.

Anyone have a guess on how old these are. They have never been opened. I am guessing they are over 50yrs old.

November 27, 2011, 09:13 PM	#1
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 532	old powder? I was reading the labels on some of my powders and the dates on some were from 08 and such. I want to ask a question how long should powder be kept? opened and in its original can of course. when should powders be disposed of?

November 28, 2011, 05:00 AM	#8
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,344	Yeah, the sniff test will tell you if the powder's still good. Not all powder smells the same, but if you got a can of x powder from 1998, and another can of x powder from 2007-they should smell the same. If they don't-one of them is probably bad. Powder from as recently as 2008 I wouldn't even bother smelling it-it's fine. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

November 27, 2011, 09:17 PM	#2
gunsrtools Member Join Date: July 5, 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 64	You are probably going to get lots of different answers. But I can tell you that I use Unique powder that has been stored in its own container for 18 years and it works as well as it did when brand new. Never had any problems. I suppose I should explain that I bought a huge quantity of the stuff and have some 8 lb containers un-open and one currently open and in use ...but all are the same age. __________________ Bob ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

November 27, 2011, 09:32 PM	#3
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 2,634	I've got some powder that was packed in the '60s. IMR 4895, I bought a bunch of it bulk and surplus from gummint stocks. I'm down to my last couple of pounds and dreading having to buy more. However, it's still good and I still use it. Powder from '08 I wouldn't worry about it, all other things being equal. Now that I think about it, I've got a jug of Unique and a jug of Reloder 15, both from about '08. I consider it new stock. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

November 27, 2011, 10:58 PM	#4
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 612	I have been using H4831 that is dated 1993, I still have one 8 pound jug that I opened a few weeks ago that is also dated 1993. Powder has a long life providing it is stored in a low humidity/cool environment. I have seen powder go bad in as little as 10-12 years that was improperly stored. William

November 27, 2011, 11:02 PM	#5
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 5,207	As long as it hasn't gotten damp, it should be good for a very long time. From what I've heard Dupont powder from WWII was still being used up till just recently.

November 28, 2011, 12:31 AM	#6
hk33ka1 Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2010 Posts: 275	Check out this recent thread for some advice on checking older powder; http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469963 I would not consider 2008 powder old. It's still fresh as the day it was made, and likely will be for a long time yet. When I go into a smaller shop and see older powder packaged in the metal cans I always buy it, and it always shoots fine.

November 28, 2011, 01:12 AM	#7
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 932	Good thread! I found a half can of Accurate #5 on a shelf in my gun room. It’s at least 8 years old. I opened it and the smell about knocked me over. Kind of an ammonia smell, maybe? I’m thinking about sprinkling it out in the corn field behind my house on a rainy day.

November 28, 2011, 08:51 PM	#9
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 532	thanks folks. and im sorry it didnt occur to me that somethig similar to this was aready posted on another thread. probably shouldve looked before post. great news anyhow.

November 28, 2011, 10:23 PM	#10
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 950	Oh I thought you meant 1908. Yeah 2008 powder is probably about the same stuff as found on my LGS shelf today.

November 28, 2011, 10:30 PM	#11
Brian Pfleuger Staff Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Central, Southern NY, USA Posts: 14,522	I've got a can of Unique from the late 50s that still works fine. 2008 is not old powder in any way. It's all but brand new.

November 29, 2011, 12:57 AM	#12
Nosparetime Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 100	I just loaded 1000rds of 45 with Winchester 452AA. I don't think that has been made for 25 years. Shot great. I have 8 lbs of it. Now for some old powder I have. I don't intend to shoot these. 1 can of Dupont 4227 Lot #26 1 can of Dupont 4320 Lot #30 1 can of Dupont Bulk Smokeless from the same era. Anyone have a guess on how old these are. They have never been opened. I am guessing they are over 50yrs old.