Help identify old powder from a barrel.

[jk80]

No powder is worth destroying a gun, or worse hurting life or limb. I agree with dusty, dump it and go fishing.

 

[JMayo]

Id pour equal amounts on to the drive way, light em and see if they burn the same ....

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Id pour equal amounts on to the drive way, light em and see if they burn the same ....

You think you could see the difference in the burn rate?

 

[wagonman]

use the 357case lead 158gr. swc 3.0 gr expecting it to be as fast as bullseye test fire work up to herco data. if you feel uncomfortable or lack the knowledge to understanding what your tying to achieve dont use it sell or give to a reloader who will find a use for it. I've used my shotgun powders in my wheelguns. Finding what burn speed your mystery powder should not nearly as hard as a rifle powder. I was given a un labled jug of flake powder suspected it was unique and it proved to by treating it as the fasted burning in load development in 357mag case.

 

[JMayo]

You think you could see the difference in the burn rate?

If drastic ... He's talking shotgun ...

 

[ormandj]

This one is super easy; dump it.

 

[0.1 Aggregate]

Life is about risk management. Some risks you can manage, some you can’t. The OP can manage his risks from the mystery powder, although comparing velocities with a known powder is a fool’s erand since burn rates can change with differing pressures. His best management option is to get rid of the powder, but it’s his firearm/eyes/life. Only he can make the decision, I just hope that in the near future we can say “he chose wisely”.


.

 

[beemanjohn]

I have some Herco that is over 50 years old and it does not have the holes in it.

 

[Joe Maisto]

No powder is worth destroying a gun, or worse hurting life or limb. I agree with dusty, dump it and go fishing.

and if you do, try your hand at the elusive and best tasting fresh water fish. That would be Walleye...

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I am partial to my fingers, hands and face. I wouldn't you that powder for anything but the grass. There are still plenty of powders available that will do the job. Do you really need to do this?

 

[chuckshooter]

I just finished loading 220 rounds of .284 with WW2 military surplus 4831 that I inherited from my dad. the big difference here is, a had a good idea of what it is. I did work up slowly and I'm very impressed with the accuracy. old powder can work, but fast burning powders can make thinks go boom, more boom than you want.

 

[edwardware]

I would do approximately what @riflewoman describes, and have in the past.

I'm an incorrigible experimenter, and I do something similar for a living. If you aren't a data-driven experimenter who's used to taking calculated risks. . . don't.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Another vote for fertilizer. The potential for serious safety issues outweighs any value it might have other than in your garden.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Last time i poured powder out it killed the grass for a whole year. It was bad powder though

 

[Joe Maisto]

Last time i poured powder out it killed the grass for a whole year. It was bad powder though

I been hearing about dumping "old powder" in the garden, etc..etc.. In theory... good for the ground and veggies. Well...I got 3# of RL.11 mixed with 1# of 133. It burns well in my fire pit and that is where it will all end up. Cant beat grass clippins & ground up leaves for the veggies. Ask any farmer.

 

[Bob2650]

IMR 700X is very close but not quite as close in appearance as Hercules Herco.

 

[ARK]

National Center for Forensic Science

It's simple, measure the flake, search database by physical description and then run your sample though spectrophotometer to confirm

 

[ebb]

Joe that would be speckled perch.

 

[Bob2650]

Back when I went to Camp Perry every year the speckled perch was one of the highlights of the trip.
Unfortunatly that resturant is probably out of business by now with the china virus problems. The china virus is a big driver in my desire to figure out this powder. I don't have much other powder in that burn rate area.

 

[Joe Maisto]

Joe that would be speckled perch.

Never heard of speckled perch. But up North here, speckled fish usually mean some type of trout. Our perch certainly are not speckled , but then...I worked with a guy from down south on a Nuclear power plant in the 70's , that used to call "blugill"...Chic a pin brim !