OLD powder

Elkbow2003 · January 19, 2009, 10:17 PM

I have inherited some old powder from my Grandfather and from my Dad. The freshest powder would be about 20-25 years old, and some of it must be 40 years old. All of it is still in sealed containers, none has clumped or appears to have been damaged. I have numerous can that are in cardboard containers with metal tops and bottoms with a cork type metal plug to pour from. I remember one can that says Hodgdon "BL-C Lot 2". The lowest price tag I noticed that I can still read came from Furr's sporting good store in Lubbock, TX with a price tag of $2.86 on the pound of powder. Many of them are priced $4.00 to $9.00 retail. Some are from Gibson's, Howard's and even Walmart must have sold powder many years ago. There are exactly 50 one pound cans, most are full, but some are partially filled. It appears that they are all still good, but how can I know for sure?

I had gotten out of reloading around 25 years ago and started hunting with a bow, but now I have purchased an AR-15 and want to reload for it. I thought I might look in a few manuals and reload for the .223 using some of this old powder. I am not concerned with shooting the best group, I just want a safe load that I can punch paper with. I have also started shooting my pistols and rifles again and would like to reload for them.

Another question, I have some new CCI small rifle and some CCI small rifle Magnum primers. Should the load be adjusted at all if I use the magnum primers instead of the standard primers?

**Unclenick** · January 19, 2009, 10:32 PM

Unless the powder smells funny and acrid or sharp (not the normal faint ethyl ether smell) or has a reddish cast or reddish pollen like dust on it, it is probably good. Alliant keeps a glass jar filled with the first lot of Unique submerged in water. Periodically they take a sample and dry it and test it. After 90 years, give or take, it is still fine. As long as it was cool enough where the powder was kept, it may be just fine.

With a slightly heaver bullet, like 62 grains and up, the BL-C(2) should be a good powder. Keep in mind that some of the fourmlations have changed over the kind of time period you are talking about, so I would not trust current load data. I would knock the modern starting loads down 10% and work up.

T. O'Heir · January 19, 2009, 10:40 PM

The open cans have likely deteriorated over time. The sealed cans should be ok, if it has been stored in a cool, dry place. The open cans, I'd pitch. Makes good grass fertilizer, apparently.
"..."BL-C Lot 2"..." Old name for BLC-2. It'll do for .223, if it's any good. Hodgdon's site has data. Used in .308/7.62mm, et al, as well.
"...a price tag of $2.86..." Geez, that is old. Still more than minimum wage, up here, in the early to mid 70's.
Magnum primers are for lighting hard to ignite powders and cold weather shooting. You don't need 'em for any .223 powder. They do increase the pressures some too.

jdscholer · January 20, 2009, 12:15 AM

I've been doing a lot of loading and fun shooting for several years now with several powders that probably date back to the 30's. I wish I had a chronograph to check velocity sometimes, but as far as I can tell everything is fine. I don't use this powder to load "important" shells, but for gong shooting, squirrel shooting, and general off-hand practice, it's fine. I don't think I could bear to dump it; I'm too tight.

I need to post a few pictures of some of the old cans; I think they border on collectable. If not, they at least make for good decorations in the loading room.

On the primers, always kick back a ways and work back up when using mags instead of regular. I'd like to know if there are specific situations, cartridges, powders etc. where it is definately not advised to use magnum primers. Experts please respond. jd

Elkbow2003 · January 20, 2009, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the replies so far. I just loaded 100 rounds using 23.5 grains of 3031 with Winchester 6 1/2 SR primers and Winchester 55 grain FMJBT bullets with a Dillon 550B progressive press. It will be a month or so before I will be able to try them out. Depending on which chart I reference, it's about 1/3 to 1/2 way between a starting and maximum load. If I load this same load using the CCI Magnum primers, will I need to adjust the charge at all? Is there a rule of thumb (maybe back off 5-10%) when using a Magnum primer, or can I use the same data safely?

Sport45 · January 20, 2009, 07:18 AM

If and when you empty the cans don't throw them away. The vintage containers are probably worth something on eBay, Gunbroker, or at your neighborhood gun store.

jdscholer · January 20, 2009, 08:52 AM

Elkbow,
It looks to me like you are plenty safe using mag primers with that load, and still have room to go up if you want. jd

January 19, 2009, 10:17 PM	#1
Elkbow2003 Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3	OLD powder I have inherited some old powder from my Grandfather and from my Dad. The freshest powder would be about 20-25 years old, and some of it must be 40 years old. All of it is still in sealed containers, none has clumped or appears to have been damaged. I have numerous can that are in cardboard containers with metal tops and bottoms with a cork type metal plug to pour from. I remember one can that says Hodgdon "BL-C Lot 2". The lowest price tag I noticed that I can still read came from Furr's sporting good store in Lubbock, TX with a price tag of $2.86 on the pound of powder. Many of them are priced $4.00 to $9.00 retail. Some are from Gibson's, Howard's and even Walmart must have sold powder many years ago. There are exactly 50 one pound cans, most are full, but some are partially filled. It appears that they are all still good, but how can I know for sure? I had gotten out of reloading around 25 years ago and started hunting with a bow, but now I have purchased an AR-15 and want to reload for it. I thought I might look in a few manuals and reload for the .223 using some of this old powder. I am not concerned with shooting the best group, I just want a safe load that I can punch paper with. I have also started shooting my pistols and rifles again and would like to reload for them. Another question, I have some new CCI small rifle and some CCI small rifle Magnum primers. Should the load be adjusted at all if I use the magnum primers instead of the standard primers?

January 19, 2009, 10:32 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Unless the powder smells funny and acrid or sharp (not the normal faint ethyl ether smell) or has a reddish cast or reddish pollen like dust on it, it is probably good. Alliant keeps a glass jar filled with the first lot of Unique submerged in water. Periodically they take a sample and dry it and test it. After 90 years, give or take, it is still fine. As long as it was cool enough where the powder was kept, it may be just fine. With a slightly heaver bullet, like 62 grains and up, the BL-C(2) should be a good powder. Keep in mind that some of the fourmlations have changed over the kind of time period you are talking about, so I would not trust current load data. I would knock the modern starting loads down 10% and work up. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 19, 2009, 10:40 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	The open cans have likely deteriorated over time. The sealed cans should be ok, if it has been stored in a cool, dry place. The open cans, I'd pitch. Makes good grass fertilizer, apparently. "..."BL-C Lot 2"..." Old name for BLC-2. It'll do for .223, if it's any good. Hodgdon's site has data. Used in .308/7.62mm, et al, as well. "...a price tag of $2.86..." Geez, that is old. Still more than minimum wage, up here, in the early to mid 70's. Magnum primers are for lighting hard to ignite powders and cold weather shooting. You don't need 'em for any .223 powder. They do increase the pressures some too. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 20, 2009, 12:15 AM	#4
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	I've been doing a lot of loading and fun shooting for several years now with several powders that probably date back to the 30's. I wish I had a chronograph to check velocity sometimes, but as far as I can tell everything is fine. I don't use this powder to load "important" shells, but for gong shooting, squirrel shooting, and general off-hand practice, it's fine. I don't think I could bear to dump it; I'm too tight. I need to post a few pictures of some of the old cans; I think they border on collectable. If not, they at least make for good decorations in the loading room. On the primers, always kick back a ways and work back up when using mags instead of regular. I'd like to know if there are specific situations, cartridges, powders etc. where it is definately not advised to use magnum primers. Experts please respond. jd __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher

January 20, 2009, 07:18 AM	#6
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	If and when you empty the cans don't throw them away. The vintage containers are probably worth something on eBay, Gunbroker, or at your neighborhood gun store. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

January 20, 2009, 06:27 AM	#5
Elkbow2003 Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks for the replies so far. I just loaded 100 rounds using 23.5 grains of 3031 with Winchester 6 1/2 SR primers and Winchester 55 grain FMJBT bullets with a Dillon 550B progressive press. It will be a month or so before I will be able to try them out. Depending on which chart I reference, it's about 1/3 to 1/2 way between a starting and maximum load. If I load this same load using the CCI Magnum primers, will I need to adjust the charge at all? Is there a rule of thumb (maybe back off 5-10%) when using a Magnum primer, or can I use the same data safely?

January 20, 2009, 08:52 AM	#7
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	Elkbow, It looks to me like you are plenty safe using mag primers with that load, and still have room to go up if you want. jd __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher