Powder shelf life

Ask questions and share information about reloading.
wyo
New Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:52 pm
Location: wyoming

Powder shelf life

Post by wyo »

Can anybody tell me what is the shelf life of gun powders? Does it degrade over time so that an old powder would perform significantly different than new/fresh? Iv'e got three old cans of IMR 4350 and I'm wondering whether they're any good.

Wyo
acloco
Senior Member
Posts: 1708
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:53 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: 12FV, 12BVSS -S
Location: Nebraska

Post by acloco »

Smell them. Should be a strong alcohol type smell (close...not exact).

Powder should not have a rust color to it.

Go to IMR's website - they have info there.

http://www.imrpowder.com

Or http://www.hodgdon.com
wyo
New Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:52 pm
Location: wyoming

Post by wyo »

Thanks acloco. The info was helpful. :)
acloco
Senior Member
Posts: 1708
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:53 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: 12FV, 12BVSS -S
Location: Nebraska

Post by acloco »

Forgot rule #1 on powder..."...if in doubt, throw it out".
Hawkeye Joe
Senior Member
Posts: 737
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:42 pm
Location: Pendleton,New York

Post by Hawkeye Joe »

:D
Hawkeye Joe (Mike)
Savage model 10 Predator, 3-9 Nikon Omega
07 LRPV, 35X45 Leupold Competition
Image

Image
Elvis1971
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:24 am

Post by Elvis1971 »

I had three partially full cans of IMR 4350 powder I had used to reload for my 30.06 and 7mm Mag and while I was cleaning I decided to combine all three cans to cut down on the space they were taking up. It still seems to shoot alright.
I am an avid hunter that doesn't bag as much game and fish as I'd like but I still enjoy trying.
User avatar
Rick in Oregon
Moderator
Posts: 4942
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Sako 75V, Cooper MTV, Kimber 84M, Cust M700 11 Twist
Location: High Desert of Central Oregon
Contact:

Post by Rick in Oregon »

I'm still shooting some H4831 in my .270 Win that I purchased in the early '70's. That batch has accounted for a truckload of mule and blacktail deer and coyotes. It is marked:

"This is WWII surplus powder"

It still shoots at the same level of accuracy and pressure it did when new. If stored properly, the above should say it all.
Semper Fortis
Rick in Oregon
NRA Life/OHA/VHA/VVA

Oregon, East of the Cascades - Where Common Sense Still Prevails

Image
User avatar
Silverfox
Senior Member
Posts: 937
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:51 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage 12VLP purchased in June 2004 + 2 other custom .204s
Location: NW North Dakota

Post by Silverfox »

DON'T JUST THROW OUT SUSPECT POWDER!!! Use it as a fertilizer in your flower beds or garden. Waste not--want not!!!
Catch ya L8R--Silverfox
WT
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 7:02 am
Location: Ham Lake, MN

Post by WT »

[quote="Rick in Oregon"]I'm still shooting some H4831 in my .270 Win that I purchased in the early '70's. .

Ditto that! I've just opened my second one pound can of W-W 230 Ball powder. It's been discontinued since about 1975. But 4.3 grains of powder = lots of .45 ACP rounds per pound! Next is that old can of W-W 540.
Wayne,

"Aim low boys, they're ridin' Shetlands"
NRA Life Member 30+ Years
Rugerdogdog
Senior Member
Posts: 188
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:57 am
.204 Ruger Guns: DPMS Panther Arms LR-204
Location: UT,Sanpete Co, !!!
Contact:

Post by Rugerdogdog »

WT, Are you sure it was 1975? They have a jug of it over at the Ace Hardware that looks like its been there a while but not THAT long. You like it for the .45acp? I believe it says shotshell powder on it so I havent really considered it. I'd go snatch it up if its good in the slabsides though.
DPMS Panther Arms LR-204 24" Stainless Fluted Heavy Barrel

There is a place for all of Gods creatures...RIGHT NEXT TO THE POTATOES AND GRAVY.
User avatar
Rick in Oregon
Moderator
Posts: 4942
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Sako 75V, Cooper MTV, Kimber 84M, Cust M700 11 Twist
Location: High Desert of Central Oregon
Contact:

Post by Rick in Oregon »

WT: I've been using WW-231 in all my .45 acp's for years with excellent results. H&G #68 200gr SWC over 5.8grs of 231 is a great combination. It meets major power, and drops coyotes in their tracks (probably two legged varmints too if needed, but that's why they make Hydra-Shocks.....)

Did you possibly mean 231 vs. 230?
Semper Fortis
Rick in Oregon
NRA Life/OHA/VHA/VVA

Oregon, East of the Cascades - Where Common Sense Still Prevails

Image
WHISTLEPIG
Senior Member
Posts: 281
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:09 am
Location: s. w. Idaho

Post by WHISTLEPIG »

Myself and many other IPSC shooters in the 80’s loaded 452aa shotshell powder with the HG 68. Very clean burning, and very inexpensive.
gunut
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: carlsbad new mexico

Post by gunut »

i am shooting some surplus powder h4831 that my grandpa bought in august 1968. i still have about 3lbs of it. works well in my 25-06 and 270.
WT
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 7:02 am
Location: Ham Lake, MN

Post by WT »

Rick in Oregon wrote:WT: I've been using WW-231 in all my .45 acp's for years with excellent results. H&G #68 200gr SWC over 5.8grs of 231 is a great combination. It meets major power, and drops coyotes in their tracks (probably two legged varmints too if needed, but that's why they make Hydra-Shocks.....)

Did you possibly mean 231 vs. 230?
Rugerdogdog (two dogs? :D )
I do believe it was about 1975. That was about the last time I saw it mentioned in the Winchester loading manuals (and others) that I have. Remember, I said 230 not 231. I think 231 replaced 230, but I've never been able to find out why. 4.3 gr. / 230 is a mid-range load that gives good function in my Colt '70 series National Match Gold Cup with a 16 pound Wolf spring.

Rick in Oregon,

Yup, it's 230 not 231. I'm loading a cast 200 gr. SWC and use it for an indoor combat league at 10, 21 and 50 feet, so it doesn't have to be too accurate, just reliable.
Wayne,

"Aim low boys, they're ridin' Shetlands"
NRA Life Member 30+ Years
WT
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 7:02 am
Location: Ham Lake, MN

Post by WT »

WHISTLEPIG wrote:Myself and many other IPSC shooters in the 80’s loaded 452aa shotshell powder with the HG 68. Very clean burning, and very inexpensive.
Whistlepig,
You must have read my mind! Probably didn't take too long. :roll: I have about 1 pound of 452 AA left in a 4 pound can and was going to track down a .45 ACP load using a cast 200 gr. SWC. Do you have any data that you could share?
Wayne,

"Aim low boys, they're ridin' Shetlands"
NRA Life Member 30+ Years
Post Reply