I've had a cardboard box of powder thats been stored in a garage here in the S.E. Idaho climate for about four years now. Always dry but has been through the temp. swings of summer/winter. Should I throw this stuff away or is still good?
Is my powder junk now?
- Thread starter 264highlandhunter
- Start date
Re: Is my powder junk now?
If it smells like acetone and looks shiny and clean it is OK dokay. If it smells acrid and looks dirty, red dust is an indicator, it is dangerous. I have kept powder at times in less than ideal conditions for several years and it was fine. The real killer is moisture and heat.
If it smells like acetone and looks shiny and clean it is OK dokay. If it smells acrid and looks dirty, red dust is an indicator, it is dangerous. I have kept powder at times in less than ideal conditions for several years and it was fine. The real killer is moisture and heat.
Re: Is my powder junk now?
Metal or plastic or older cardboard containers? If I remember correctly, if you dump some of the powder into a measure with clear plastic tube, and it has a rusty look on the surface of the grains or rust colored dust, it has started to break down. My experience is the plastic containers seem to work better in storing the powder. In addition, it may have a funny odor if its breaking down, but I can't remember exactly what that odor is. If it's rusty looking inside your powder container, I'd probably use it to fertilze the flowers. Not worth taking a chance with if we aren't talking pounds and pounds of it. You might google powder breakdown as well for additional information.
Metal or plastic or older cardboard containers? If I remember correctly, if you dump some of the powder into a measure with clear plastic tube, and it has a rusty look on the surface of the grains or rust colored dust, it has started to break down. My experience is the plastic containers seem to work better in storing the powder. In addition, it may have a funny odor if its breaking down, but I can't remember exactly what that odor is. If it's rusty looking inside your powder container, I'd probably use it to fertilze the flowers. Not worth taking a chance with if we aren't talking pounds and pounds of it. You might google powder breakdown as well for additional information.
Re: Is my powder junk now?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 264HH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's in plastic, one pound containers in a cardboard box. </div></div>
Ye gads, is that ever a relief!
Four years is nothin' so long as the heat was not high enough to totally consume the stabilizers.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 264HH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's in plastic, one pound containers in a cardboard box. </div></div>
Ye gads, is that ever a relief!
Four years is nothin' so long as the heat was not high enough to totally consume the stabilizers.
Re: Is my powder junk now?
should not be a problem.
My father-in-law gave me some Pistol powder (Bullseye) that was stored in his garage in Houston (not air conditioned) since the early 1960s. I am still using it in my .45ACP. Runs a touch slower than new powder of the same type (I tested it over a chronograph to see). But it burns fine.
Jeffvn
should not be a problem.
My father-in-law gave me some Pistol powder (Bullseye) that was stored in his garage in Houston (not air conditioned) since the early 1960s. I am still using it in my .45ACP. Runs a touch slower than new powder of the same type (I tested it over a chronograph to see). But it burns fine.
Jeffvn
Re: Is my powder junk now?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armorpl8chikn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it smells like acetone ... </div></div>
Ether actually.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armorpl8chikn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it smells like acetone ... </div></div>
Ether actually.
Re: Is my powder junk now?
Bad powder smells a lot like muriatic acid working on rusty metal. If you've never smelled that, and if you question your powders stability, you might buy a gallon of the muriatic acid and let it do some work on rusty metal. That "acrid" smell is what bad powder smells like.
Good powder has a more sweet smell, like that of solvent. Bad powder is really "pungent" to the nose.
Bad powder smells a lot like muriatic acid working on rusty metal. If you've never smelled that, and if you question your powders stability, you might buy a gallon of the muriatic acid and let it do some work on rusty metal. That "acrid" smell is what bad powder smells like.
Good powder has a more sweet smell, like that of solvent. Bad powder is really "pungent" to the nose.
Re: Is my powder junk now?
It's better to have your powder turn to junk than your junk turn to powder, I always say...
It's better to have your powder turn to junk than your junk turn to powder, I always say...
Re: Is my powder junk now?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gene Poole</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armorpl8chikn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it smells like acetone ... </div></div>
Ether actually. </div></div>
Whatever.....lets just call it a sweet smell(good) as opposed to a sour smell(bad)...ok.
Mr Johnson has described better than any of us what his nose smells, I will default to his response, its the best most accurate yet.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gene Poole</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armorpl8chikn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it smells like acetone ... </div></div>
Ether actually. </div></div>
Whatever.....lets just call it a sweet smell(good) as opposed to a sour smell(bad)...ok.
Mr Johnson has described better than any of us what his nose smells, I will default to his response, its the best most accurate yet.
Re: Is my powder junk now?
Still shooting up some 20 yr old IMR4831 in the metal cans that lived in my dads shed for about 10yrs then his basement for 5...shoots just fine in the 25/06 though
Still shooting up some 20 yr old IMR4831 in the metal cans that lived in my dads shed for about 10yrs then his basement for 5...shoots just fine in the 25/06 though
