Figuring out what powder it is???

[djtjr]

A bit of a random question and yes i understand the safety side of the question but Is there a reliable (read safe) way to figure out what powder is if given sample? I don't mean visual inspection as that's a recipe for disaster but is there somewhere to send a powder to test it to see what it is? I got some custom loads that shoot well from a gentleman when i purchased a gun from him who couldn't recall the powder he used and if there was a safe effective way to discern what a powder was I would send it out to be tested, if not no big deal I'll just start from scratch. I know it's a bit of an odd one but curiosity got th Ernest of me as to whether or not there was a way to actually figure it out.
Thanks

 

[ebb]

I don't know who could do it but if you could test burn rate, you would know. If I was in this position I would look up what powders are recommended for that cartridge. Assume that it MAY be one of them. Then open one of your friends reloads up and weigh the powder charge and see if it is in the proper window for that cartridge and powder. Then I would look at that powder and see if it looks the same. If you come up with a likely powder then you could make one cartridge(it must be Less than the MAX listed in the reloading manual and more than the MIN listed for that powder and cartridge)and it would be safe as it is in the book as safe. You could then crono it and see if it is the same speed or close to the same speed as the cartridges your friend made. Maybe a trip to your friends reloading bench to see if he has a partially used can of the powder you like from volume and visual inspection. Just make sure what ever you make is a safe in the reloading manual load. A minimum load, if too low is dangerous also so look at the starting loads. I hope this helps and good luck, I know when you find some thing that works good it is hard to start over.

 

[gaboon]

My thoughts is that there are too many variables beside powder. I would just start over to be on the safe side.

 

[Preacher]

No need to take that much of a chance, rework the load with a powder that you know is safe !!!!

 

[M99]

+1 Ebb's solution. That's how I would recommend it be done as well, and I have been loading for competition for around 40 years without a blow up yet. As long as whatever you "think" it is from weight and visual inspection, is also below the maximum recommended loads in a reliable reloading manual, there is no danger from doing the testing that way and you'd save a lot of time versus starting from scratch. You should be able to determine the bullet being used pretty easily.

 

[Syncrowave]

What I might do, if I had all the time in the world and absolutely HAD to know, is take apart one of the handloads, weigh the charge, then get some reloading books and make a list of "possible candidates" based on charge weight, then get a micrometer and measure the average grain size, then get a loupe and look at the powder granules and compare what you see to pictures of various powders at

http://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/
http://www.precisionreloading.net/?page_id=2150

If I *didn't* have all the time in the world, I would do as others have said, and start over on my own.

 

[artbosco]

Feed it to your lawn. Keep everything well marked moving forward.

 

[amlevin]

Feed it to your lawn. Keep everything well marked moving forward.

Why do that? The OP said they "shoot well" so why not just use them up and then start over using the same bullet and cases with a recognized "good" powder for that caliber/case/bullet combination?

Why waste it on the lawn when there's some good shooting left?

 

[LHSmith]

Feed it to your lawn. Keep everything well marked moving forward.

+1.....First of all you have no idea how consistent the person who made the reloads was in maintaining his targeted weight of powder or how diligent he was in the reloading process ( did he always label and keep different batches separated?, etc.)
Also, have you any idea of the many transformations a single branded powder has gone through over the years. Just look at H-322 for example, over the last 30 years it's physical characteristics have varied greatly depending where it was made. Add to this the fact, there are some 300 + powders cataloged.