I've been doing a lot of cleanup around my loading area and yesterday, I found a new can of IMR 4350 that is no less than 30-35 years old. I couldn't resist and unscrewed the lid expecting to find the typical degraded powder odor and maybe crumbly grains. NOPE but I'm still not going to use it. Sadly, I have a use for this burn rate powder but not looking to cause problems later.
Old powder
- Thread starter Mobuck
- Start date
Help Support Ruger Forum:
You know best, for your own situation & purposes!
callshot
Blackhawk
I stocked up on powder back when you could even get some. Hope I live long enough to use it up. I have used some 4831 from WW 2 era that worked just fine.
bigbillyboy
Buckeye
I recently finished a can of DuPont IMR 3031 from 1984 , it was still good . 
I wouldn't even hesitate to use it. I have powder older than that I bought new.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2018
- Messages
- 329
Unless it smells like cat piss.....it should be good to go.
Agree with all the "use it," and " I have some older" answers.
Storage is what makes or breaks old gun powder. Properly stored I don't know of an age limit.
The older reloaders might remember the Hodgen gun powder start after WW2. The owner selling paper bags of 4831 or 4350. My grand dad had a glass pickle jar of some of that. He passed away in 1963. My dad keep it until he died in 2011. As far as I know dad never used any of it. It smelled bad and looked rusty color if I remember right. I poured it across the yard. Thinking back, I should have tried to light some and see how it burned.
The older reloaders might remember the Hodgen gun powder start after WW2. The owner selling paper bags of 4831 or 4350. My grand dad had a glass pickle jar of some of that. He passed away in 1963. My dad keep it until he died in 2011. As far as I know dad never used any of it. It smelled bad and looked rusty color if I remember right. I poured it across the yard. Thinking back, I should have tried to light some and see how it burned.
This can has been in basically sealed storage sitting on a basement floor. Cool and even temperatures.
I'll get someone who has a sense of smell to 'sniff test'.
I'll get someone who has a sense of smell to 'sniff test'.
IKE
Single-Sixer
I've still got a partial one pounder of Winch. 452AA and two unopened one pounders of Trap 100 (same as 452AA) that was purchased back in the late 80's or early 90's that has always been stored inside that I use for 45ACP and it still works just fine ....5.2 grs. under a 230 gr FMJ ball works well in every 1911 that I've ever shot it through.
Winch. 452AA / Trap 100 and 230 gr. FMJ ball....Speer # 11 page 438;
Min. 4.7 grs. 760 fps.....Max. 5.3 grs. 825 fps.
Winch. 452AA / Trap 100 and 230 gr. FMJ ball....Speer # 11 page 438;
Min. 4.7 grs. 760 fps.....Max. 5.3 grs. 825 fps.
Last edited:
Pál_K
Single-Sixer
I'm still using a can of W231 I bought in 1989 and it's performing well. When reloading for .38 Special, a pound of W231 powder is good for well over 1500 rounds.
The can, along with all my other powders, is in my Gun Room. Throughout the year, temperature there will vary from a 62F nightime low in winter through an 82F daytime high in summer (taking both heating and A/C into account). The cans are in constant shade.
The can, along with all my other powders, is in my Gun Room. Throughout the year, temperature there will vary from a 62F nightime low in winter through an 82F daytime high in summer (taking both heating and A/C into account). The cans are in constant shade.
buckeyeshooter
Blackhawk
I use 4831 and others from the 80's. As long as you have properly stored it, it is fine. Same with primers by the way, I have cci's marked $19.99 a thousand.
You can tell I don't use a lot of small pistol magnum primers LOL These would be from the 70's.
After a quick burn rate test I would use data from the era of manufacture.
Pál_K
Single-Sixer
I like those old primer boxes. I tend not to use them and just use newer ones instead - not because I distrust the older ones, but just because I want to save them.
MZ5
Bearcat
The Brits (military) surplus or destroy double-base powder after 20 years, regardless any testing. Single-base they keep for 40 or 45 years, last I saw. I've seen figures for the US Military in open sources, but I can't seem to find the figures at the moment.
I wouldn't keep stuff much longer than that. Powder degrades even if it doesn't get smelly or colorful, and both speeds and pressures change further than one would like to think.
I wouldn't keep stuff much longer than that. Powder degrades even if it doesn't get smelly or colorful, and both speeds and pressures change further than one would like to think.
I remember Bob Bell doing some testing years ago with original WW2 surplus 4895. The powder was around 50 years old at the time, IIRC. It delivered pretty much exactly the expected velocities in several different rifle loads. I have that article in an old Guns Digest somewhere, I think.
I have powder that I bought in the mid 90s that I still use. Stored in a garage or shed 0° temperatures to summertime highs of probably 110 in there. So totally not what you were supposed to do and I have never had a problem high humidity. Also, it's been 20 years in either Arkansas or Mississippi.
AZ10X
Bearcat
The only powder that I exercise extreme caution using when it gets older is the 500 series of Vihtivouri. It is a dual base powder and when it gets older the nitro migrates to the surface of the grains and the burn rate and pressure increases.
