Powder shelf life

wyo · Post by **wyo** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:28 pm

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 · Post by **acloco** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:01 pm

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 · Post by **wyo** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:29 pm

Thanks acloco. The info was helpful.

acloco · Post by **acloco** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:47 pm

Forgot rule #1 on powder..."...if in doubt, throw it out".

Hawkeye Joe · Post by **Hawkeye Joe** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:37 pm

Elvis1971 · Post by **Elvis1971** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:27 am

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.

Rick in Oregon · Post by **Rick in Oregon** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:53 am

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.

Silverfox · Post by **Silverfox** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:18 pm

DON'T JUST THROW OUT SUSPECT POWDER!!! Use it as a fertilizer in your flower beds or garden. Waste not--want not!!!

WT · Post by WT » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:45 am

[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.

Rugerdogdog · Post by **Rugerdogdog** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:06 am

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.

Rick in Oregon · Post by **Rick in Oregon** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:07 pm

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?

WHISTLEPIG · Post by **WHISTLEPIG** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:20 pm

Myself and many other IPSC shooters in the 80Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s loaded 452aa shotshell powder with the HG 68. Very clean burning, and very inexpensive.

gunut · Post by **gunut** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:16 pm

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 · Post by WT » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:56 am

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?

)
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.

WT · Post by WT » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:59 am

WHISTLEPIG wrote:Myself and many other IPSC shooters in the 80Ã¢â‚¬â„¢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.

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?