Very Old 4831

[Old Navy]

I ran across this on our local shooters classifieds. The photo is of the lid of a 10 lb. keg of what is probably WW2 surplus 4831. I think the -43 is the year. Any old dudes here that know for sure?

 

[snert]

i can't say for certain.

However, I still shoot 3031 that was bought in a 32 pound keg in 1951.

 

[RegionRat]

Old dudes? LOL

I was in charge of the mil-spec packaging committee for a while, never thought it would come in handy...

That number on your powder can is the spec for the container, nothing to do with the contents.

 

[ShootDots]

I ran across this on our local shooters classifieds. The photo is of the lid of a 10 lb. keg of what is probably WW2 surplus 4831. I think the -43 is the year. Any old dudes here that know for sure?

If it were from the '40s, it would have come in (believe it or not) bags! I never had any come in bags, however, I knew a few "oldsters" that did! If I remember the first canister of H4831 I bought was (I believe) $6.99 or possibly $8.99 per pound, back in '74.. I can't remember what kind of canister it came in>>>weird>>I can't remember the canister but it sure seems like I can remember the price!

 

[lotech]

I've used H4831 since 1965 when it was all WWII surplus. If it's been stored okay, it should be fine. I'd use current H4831 data and work up (if necessary), but best bet is to call Hodgdon.

 

[areaone]

I have some 4831. Purchased in the early 70’s as surplus from i believe Korean era. Shoots great...smells normal.

 

[johara1]

If it were from the '40s, it would have come in (believe it or not) bags! I never had any come in bags, however, I knew a few "oldsters" that did! If I remember the first canister of H4831 I bought was (I believe) $6.99 or possibly $8.99 per pound, back in '74.. I can't remember what kind of canister it came in>>>weird>>I can't remember the canister but it sure seems like I can remember the price!

it would come in drums and was weighed and put in bags @ .50 a pound..... The stuff today is about 3 grains slower than it was.... jim

 

[lotech]

A comparison of new vs. old is hard to make on this powder. I began using H4831 in the wildcat .25-06. It was by far the most popular powder for the cartridge in the '60s, but few, if any loads were pressure tested before it was legitimized in '69.

 

[M-61]

Any old dudes here that know for sure?

I don't know what you mean by 'old' or 'dude'.
I do know I'm not using or buying any powders that I have any doubts about. Meaning I purchase from a retailer in a store.
As far as age of the powder and in particular 4831 I have a fair amount that I purchased sometime in the 70's. I have a few hunting rifles (25-06, 257WM) that I use it in with no problems. Don't use much as I am really a BR shooter and 4831 is not my choice of powder for any of them. ( If there is even a load for them I've not seen it)

 

[swd]

A good friend of mine used to order it in the early 60's. It came in bags delivered by the mail man. And we need hazmat now...

 

[Old Navy]

I don't know what you mean by 'old' or 'dude'.

By old I mean someone who was reloading Bruce Hodgon's military surplus powers in the late 50s and 60s. Dude is another name for a man or guy. Sorry if either offends you. I bought some of his 4895 in paper sacks and H4831 in paper containers. Don't remember what the 4895 cost but I can remember $.89 on sale for the H4831. I also remember bulk power coming in paper drums. Don't remember how much was in them. I have also found what was left of Hercules 20 LB. blasting power metal cans similar to the one I posted the photo of.

 

[M-61]

No offence taken.
And I'm old only by the calendar which means I did purchase it in paper drums!
Been a long run in a great sport.

 

[Old Navy]

I am 77 and started reloading in 1967 on a small scale. I can remember all that I posted above but not what I had for dinner yesterday. LOL

 

[Texas10]

I've got a 1949 loading manual. Give me your bullet wt and cartridge and I'll write back with their loading recipe from then. Or I'll post a pic of the page instead.

I guess that makes me a bonafide Old Dude.

 

[jasophil1]

I ran across this on our local shooters classifieds. The photo is of the lid of a 10 lb. keg of what is probably WW2 surplus 4831. I think the -43 is the year. Any old dudes here that know for sure?

Hey just pack it up send it to me. I will work up some real good loads fore it .

 

[Evan]

I ran across this on our local shooters classifieds. The photo is of the lid of a 10 lb. keg of what is probably WW2 surplus 4831. I think the -43 is the year. Any old dudes here that know for sure?

That's not the powder lot number. That's the container type. Shipping and Storage drum with a MIL-spec rating. Check this website out: https://www.goodwinrobbins.com/ms-drums

i can't say for certain.

However, I still shoot 3031 that was bought in a 32 pound keg in 1951.

Me too! I inherited my 32lb keg from my grandpa. His old 300 Savage loves it with the older 155 SMK and 1970s vintage RWS primers.

 

[johara1]

A comparison of new vs. old is hard to make on this powder. I began using H4831 in the wildcat .25-06. It was by far the most popular powder for the cartridge in the '60s, but few, if any loads were pressure tested before it was legitimized in '69.

How would say that about the pressure of the Creedmoe Back then 50,000 and 55,000 were tops now sky is the limit for the CM. and they compare it to a 6.5x55 at 45,000 .....
I shot .270's and 25-06 and the old 4831 was 3 grains faster than the new stuff. Like Sierra 130's when they changed to the bullets to the new double tapered bullet they went backwards. never had a deer even run when hit, new bullets they do. You can't get the speed with the new powder and the new bullets don't expand like the old ones..... jim

 

[Walt Schmidlin]

A friend gave me some ‘43 30-06 issue ammo last year. I pulled the bullets, ~47.5gr of something. Assumed it was IMR-4895, loaded 42.5gr in a .308 commercial case with a 150gr Sierra.
Powder was OK but I thought the powder may have lost a little bit of its power, recoil appeared lighter than expected but load was ~ 1.5MOA at 200yds (5 shots, irons, sling), bolt gun.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I had 1/2 a can of 4064 from late 70's on the shelf. After reading this thread I decided to load up a 1/2 dos, and a 1/2 doz with Varget for a new m700 30-06. Will shoot and clean shot to shot through the chronograph when I setup the scope for future load development. Raining today, and walleye opener weekend,so testing will have to wait a few days.

 

[wupterchook]

I think I've got some of the same powder "Bonanza 4831 Data". I resently started loading it since I was out of the powders I typically use. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. It gave numbers very close to H4831SC in my 6.5X47 with 150's. I'm shooting it in a local F-Class match tomorrow..