Powder with a strong sharp smell

[ergonsdad]

I am reloading some Winchester 351 SL ammo and was planning on using VV N110. When I opened the can it had a strong sharp smell.
Has anyone had that problem.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Throw it away. It will ignite on its own when it gets to this point and is useless as the original powder. It will be faster than pistol powder

 

[MGYSGT]

Sharp smell like ether or something else?

 

[Engrbill]

Dump on your lawn. Dusty is correct.

 

[dc.fireman]

If it smells like pepper:

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dump on your lawn. Dusty is correct.

It will kill your grass like it was roundup. I just went thru this and its not like regular powder fertilizing the grass

 

[TrxR]

What should powder smell like? It looks fine

 

[Dusty Stevens]

What should powder smell like? It looks fine

Sweet kinda smell. If you take a whiff and it hurts dont use the powder- thats actually some kind of poisonous gas they say

 

[ergonsdad]

Sharp smell like ether or something else?

 

[ergonsdad]

Strong smell that is not either more like nitro but a bad smell. The powder is going into the garden. Unfortunately it was a good powder for the 351 WSL loads.
Thanks for all the advice
Jim

 

[JMayo]

Every one of The varget jugs I have gone through gave off a strong smell . Not water your eyes but enough that I don't breathe it ...
Some ppl sense of smell is different.
I personally have a "sensitive nose"
Lmbo !

 

[la-shooter]

I’ve had two jugs of v133 go bad in the last few years. Everything dusty said is spot on even down to it killing the grass in your yard!

 

[DirtySteve]

It should smell like Acetone...

 

[Pwc]

Pour it out on a non flamable surface snd make a powder train to lite it. It will make a black spot on concrete, but it wears off easily. Keep your face back when you light the train.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The smell you should get from a fresh container of powder is diethyl ether. To me it has a fairly sweet and pleasant smell for an organic solvent; I would not call it "sharp", but everyone's nose registers smells differently. I would characterize "sharp" smells as more likely to be something else, an acid, ketone, aldehyde, peroxide, etc. Such a smell could possibly mean a a toxic and/or unstable breakdown product as has been mentioned, but again, it's difficult to describe such a smell in a meaningful way over the internet as people can perceive smells very differently. If you have a fresh container of the same powder, I'd suggest opening it and taking a whiff. If the old container smells markedly different to you, it may time to get rid of it.

 

[Ron Blain]

The following quote comes from here. You may wish to give the link a read.

You can tell if a can of powder is good or bad by giving its contents a sniff test. If the smell ranges from no detectable odor to resembling alcohol, ether or acetone (from its solvent content), it is okay. If you get a terribly unpleasant, acidic odor that fries your nasal passages, extreme deterioration has taken place. The odor is difficult to describe, but my nose says the experience is quite a bit like taking a strong whiff of the fumes produced by muriatic acid.

While "acrid" is a hard odor to describe you will know. Additionally inspect the powder for any color changes like reddish or rust colored flakes in the powder. Keep in mind that VihtaVuori N110 is a fast burning powder if you try a burn test.

I am still loading VihtaVuori rifle powders I have had since the mid to late 90s and properly stored the stuff works fine.

Ron

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Most smokeless powder smells similar. Hard to believe you don't have other powders to compare it too.

 

[D-4297]

Another warning sign that powder might be turning bad is the container , ( plastic , round or rectangular ) may be start to bulge a little , or a lot . This thread made me check my stocks , and I just spread five pounds of A-4064 in the back yard weed patch . When I opened them , they "Popped" , like a soda being open ..And they stank something awful .

 

[Nature Boy]

Another warning sign that powder might be turning bad is the container , ( plastic , round or rectangular ) may be start to bulge a little , or a lot . This thread made me check my stocks , and I just spread five pounds of A-4064 in the back yard weed patch . When I opened them , they "Popped" , like a soda being open ..And they stank something awful .

How old were they?

 

[D Coots]

I’ve had two jugs of v133 go bad in the last few years. Everything dusty said is spot on even down to it killing the grass in your yard!

What lot #?