What's happened to my Tubal 3000?

[lpreddick]

I have about 6# in the original 8# jug and 1/2# in an old Vhitavouri 1# container. I have not shot any in 4 years. I lifted the large jug to my bench and noted a slightly sticky liquid on the jug's neck onto the jug's shoulder...not good. I carefully opened the jug with my face averted. A reddish fume came from the jug and it was acrid. The jug was full of reddish fumes. I shone a light into the jug and the powder was red! I poured some into a plastic container and the reddish kernals fairly quickly faded to a normal grayish propellant color. I emptied the jug into a large plastic bowl and the reddish color vanished. There was no liquid in the jug. The kernals flow, look and sound normal.The acrid smell dissipated quickly and the powder smells "normal". I checked the Vhitavouri 1# container and found the same condition. A chemical/physical reaction has occurred and I suspect everybody will say "dump that s_ _ t!". I read about powder doing this and assume it is unsafe to use as it's burn rate might be drastically different. What say you?

 

[lpreddick]

After posting, my old brain recalled I asked about it's use on Benchrest Central years ago when I got the 8# jug. There were comments re it's use AND a few regarding it's behavior...buldging jug, fuming and somebody reference a house fire blamed on it. Surely, Nobel is aware of this product's behavior. Has there been a warning or recall? Powder storage and safety has been discussed on occasion. I have a jug of N135( I'm the third owner) , production date 2001 and it smell good and shoots great.

 

[Thud]

I will say dump it.
Use it in your yard to fertilize some flowers.
Don't even think of shooting it.

 

[Ggmac]

Be sure to trash any old loaded ammo with that powder . Of course trash loaded ammo appropriately. I had some old powder go the same way and found a half box of loaded ammo a year or so later . Good thing it was I a military ammo box !!!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I feel your pain. I just dumped out like 45lbs that had the exact same issues so its not nobel. Red fog and all

 

[bobm]

This topic has been discussed here recently. Get rid of it. Read and heed......

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/powder-with-chlorine-smell.3955817/

 

[lpreddick]

Be sure to trash any old loaded ammo with that powder . Of course trash loaded ammo appropriately. I had some old powder go the same way and found a half box of loaded ammo a year or so later . Good thing it was I a military ammo box !!!

Yes, I have very few loaded cases, but will pull their bullets and expect to find a mess.

 

[Catfur]

The red fumes are Nitrogen Dioxide (and other oxides of nitrogen) and are toxic as hell. The powder has broken down and released the genie (the nitrate ion). Do not use, do not keep. When smokeless gunpowder goes bad it can catalyze the same process in nearby powders (the NO2 fumes can initiate the reaction). It can also corrode the heck out of anything nearby.

 

[lpreddick]

Yes, I have very few loaded cases, but will pull their bullets and expect to find a mess.

Interesting...I pulled bullets from 223s loaded 4 years ago and powder was normal color, no odor and bullets base was not corroded. Kernels of powder were adherent to case wall and came out by scraping...not sure but thus might be normal. I can't buy this powder as it's shelf life is unknown.