My next door neighbor gave me a bunch of old powder for reloading. It is mostly in the original containers sealed cans. I have no idea how old it is ,or if it is any good use. My question is how can you tell? My son is just starting to get into reloading. I will give this stuff to him next time he comes home. I just don't know if this stuff is worth messing with. I also got a bunch of die sets and brass. Any info you would be helpful.

thanks Jay Pea

Mostly ??
I wouldn't monkey with it, let alone turn it over to my son.

Fast burning pistol powder mistakenly used in a rifle load will turn the weapon into a grenade, for example.
Old powder can deteriorate to a state where the burn rate is not reliable/predictable.

As far as the life span of the powder goes,kept cool and dry,it'll last a long time.

I've got some powder my father in law gave me thats 40 years old and is still producing great groups with normal velocity.

The powder should be dark gray/black and have a solvent like odor. IMO it smells like ether (starting fluid).

As far as using it goes,I'd likely dump all of it. Most releoaders would NEVER store powder in something other than the original can.

Being that your neighbor gave you some powder that wasn't stored that way,who knows what he did with the stuff in the cans.

The only exception would be if he gave you cans that were factory sealed.

Thanks for the response. What is the safe way to get rid of it? . Mix with water and trow in trash? thanks JayPea

I'd verify that your neighbor was the original purchaser and didn't do any mixing and matching. Read the link below. Properly stored GP should still be good to go. If there's any doubt or uncertainty, dispose of it or decline your neighbor's offer and let him deal with it.

If your son is just starting out on reloading, he should do some due diligence and seek out someone who *knows* what they are doing. Once savvy, it is easy, safe and rewarding to roll your own....

The best way to dispose of deteriorated smokeless powder is to burn it out in the open at an isolated location in small shallow piles (not over 1" deep). The quantity burned in any one pile should never exceed one pound. Use an ignition train of slow burning combustible material so that the person may retreat to a safe distance before powder is ignited. --

http://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/storage_handling.aspx

I've been reloading for just shy of 30 years. Properly stored I've never seen powder go bad. It is pretty stable stuff.

Rifle powders are usually "log", especially the older stuff out there. Shotgun usually "flake". Pistol usually "ball". Many shotgun powders double as handgun powders like Blue Dot, Red Dot, Unique, and others. There are exceptions to everthing above.

There should be a lot number on the cans. There should never be a combination of log, flake, and or ball powder in any single can. If you see this, dispose as directed above.

Have fun, always start out low on the weights, check the tare weight on the reloading scale every time. be safe.

Sprinkle it on your grass. It makes great fertilizer.

Yah, I've heard of that too. Just not sure I'd tell someone else to do it for a number of reasons.....

So what are the reasons?

BATFE

Safe ?? Well here's my way.

I took a couple of pounds of ancient H 4831 & poured it along the intersection of my walkway & a weed infested retaining wall. Fired off one end w/ a BBQ lighter.

Cool looking deep purple flame & a nice slow moving smoke show. My fellow shooting neighbor asked what the he!! was going on. I said "oh, just smoking some weed".

FYI, DO NOT DO THIS WITH BLACK POWDER.


Don't ask...........


c/22