16# of unknown powder? B.E. Hodgdon Shawnee Mission Kansas 9-9-61

[ssv1761982]

A guy just gave me 2 jars of powder. The only ID is a hand written note inside each jar.

B.E. Hodgdon
Shawnee Mission Kansas
9-9-61
27.50
50#keg

They are glass jars sealed with wax around the inside of the lid. It smells good and has been stored in a clean dry basement.

It is stick powder and the sticks are a little bigger than IMR 4895.

I hate to discard this much powder but I have no idea of how to identify it.

I don't want to blow up anything or have anybody get hurt.

Is there a way to get it identified?

What would you do?

 

[BoydAllen]

Get a hold of someone at Hodgdon and make arrangements to forward them a digital file of a picture of the powder, with something in it to indicate scale, like a known powder, and use your calipers to measure some of the grains, and include that information. I'll bet that they can help you out.

 

[stool]

they made their name selling 4831 post WWII....
call them and ask.....
but unless you are brave , i'd go with fertilizer

 

[savagedasher]

In 1963 I bought 100lb of H 4831 In 50*containers for $ 31.00 Each. 50 LB H 4350 Was $63.00.
That was when shooting was cheap. Two years ago I used my last H4831 . My advice would be to CALL Hodgon. They sold a lot of Surplus Military powders. Larry

 

[jonbearman]

I have alittle of the WWII 4831 left,maybe I could tape some to an index card and send it some how and you could match it up to see if it is the same size and shape.4831 from that batch was very coarse.

 

[Big Mc]

Jonbearman I would not do that. The mail man may scan your post card. With no HazMat label .. Well you know. Tommy Mc..

 

[WyleWD]

You can call to find out what it is if you're that curious about it...... but I'd pitch that stuff in a heartbeat. Gunpowder that old.... (52 years) stored under who knows what conditions sounds like 30 miles of bad road to me.

Safety first.... Go with the fertilizer route, it isn't worth getting hurt or ruining a firearm with. They sell gunpowder everyday... you can't replace an eye or afford to be laid up for who knows how long over trying to save a few bucks. JMHO. WD

 

[ballistic64]

What would you do?

The same thing Hodgdon will probably tell you. Dispose of it.

 

[fdshuster]

I also doubt Hodgdon would make any recommendations that would support using the powder. Just too many chances of a lawsuit should something "bad" happen. But it would cost nothing to contact them & put the question to them.

Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I have a rule: Never use any powder that is not in a factory sealed can.

I recently passed on a chance to buy some very hard to find pistol powder because the factory seal had been broken & part of it had been used. For me, not worth the risk. The fact remains that you have no idea of the history of any powder container that has been opened. This rule has served me well since 1960.

 

[expiper]

ssv,,,sell it at a gun show(it should bring 20$ per pound easily,,) and take the money and buy the powder that you want/need,,,,Roger

 

[ReedG]

That is their "factory sealed can", only they used jars. The last 100-lb. bag of H4831 I bought in 1964 came in individual 1-lb. paper bags with a plastic liner. 89 cents a lb.

 

[bheadboy]

I purchase some in 63 in the 1lb bags also,

my suggestion is to call them, ask if they would test it to see what it is, my guess is they would.

Bob

 

[M-61]

I would be amazed if anyone at Hodgdon would do anything except advice you to "dispose of it responsibly"
The age is maybe a concern but for me the "What is it" would mean fertilizer.