old gunpowder

[tamarack]

How can you tell if gunpowder is good ? I havent been reloading for a while and am felling like starting again i have lots of different powders they all were stored in a waterproof box in unheated room in the house and are aprox 5 years old what does one look for if its no good. thanks ,tamarack.

[catnthehat]

Look for tiny red flakes and an acidic smell fr bad powder.
if it's god powder it will have an ether type of smell.
Cat

[32-40win]

You can pour some into a clear glass and check for the dust it leaves on the glass. Good powder won't leave red dust. And the powder when compared to good powder will usually be a different colour, it looks like it is deteriorating.

[Faststeel]

As powder goes 5 years old shouldn't be a problem. FS

[Dean2]

Improperly stored powder can go off so Cat and 32-40 are spot on as to how to check. Stored in an unheated part of the house, in closed containers and out of sunlight, Faststeel is right, 5 years is young powder. I am still using bulk 4831 that was produced just after WW2. That makes it over 70 and it still shoots fine.

[catnthehat]

Improperly stored powder can go off so Cat and 32-40 are spot on as to how to check. Stored in an unheated part of the house, in closed containers and out of sunlight, Faststeel is right, 5 years is young powder. I am still using bulk 4831 that was produced just after WW2. That makes it over 70 and it still shoots fine.

It is simply amazing just how long powder will last!
I don't think I have any that is seventy, but I do have some that is forty or more years old and it is still very good!:)
Cat

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

Heard yesterday on an American broadcast on the internet that the US govt is trying to pass a bill that will make powders and primers expire within a year by putting an additive into them at the factory......maybe its just hype but I did hear it.:mad0030:

[Dick284]

Heard yesterday on an American broadcast on the internet that the US govt is trying to pass a bill that will make powders and primers expire within a year by putting an additive into them at the factory......maybe its just hype but I did hear it.:mad0030:

Fo F's sakes that was floated back in the early 1990's.

BS, ever wonder how that would effect potential stockpiles of military ammunition, if the civilian brand of powder or primers got mixed into the supposed military lots. The outcry and death toll would be in excusable.

Just more furvor to incite hording.

[32-40win]

Can't say as I heard of the expiry idea, marking it for tracing is something I have heard of.

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

I'm just saying what I heard yesterday on an internet talk show from the USA.

[tamarack]

thanks guys looked over some and appears ok going to try on weekend.