I have ten pounds of various pistol, rifle, and black powders in unopened cannisters labeled with manufacturer's addresses that don't have ZIP codes; I'm guessing they were manufactured between 1955 and 1965.
I checked the contents of one can which had been opened: seemed fine.
What to do? Load it up? Pour it on the tomatoes? Find collectors who want the cans?
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If is has not deteriorated, use it, then sell the cans to the collectors. They don't want the powder anyhow.
If the powder does not look rusty or smell of acid, it should be fine. The smell of acetone or solvent is OK.
Black powder is OK pretty much forever.
Jack
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It's probably still good. I think collectors will pay more for cans full of powder than empty ones.
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If you can't or don't want to use the powder, sprinkle it on your flower bed/vegetable garden/potted plants. Excellent source of nitrogen. Won't hurt the plants. I've done it for years with spilled powder and unknown powder from questionable pulls, etc. Just sprinkle it - don't get carried away and pile it.
Wes
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I am a pretty miser fellow,from Genoa,Italy,were
we actually pride ourselves in being much more careful in spending money than Jews or Scots ,
When people give me old boxes os shotgun powder,if it not obviously deteriorated,and the tin cans are not too rusty,
I SHOOT it,with prudent charges ,three or four grains, in 38sp brass in my sturdy model 27 S&W revolver,
not in a rifle,because the rifle chamber is too near to my face.
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Giorgio
Nothing wrong with your ideas on powder. I would do the same.
Stephen Perry
Angeles BR:fire
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Like everyone has been saying if it looks good and doesen't have a acidic smell it's good to go. I have some H 4831 that I know has to be 45 to 50 years old and it shoots just fine. I have also read articals in gun magazines that said to through out old powder no matter what the case. I am quit sure they have a libality clause conserning recomending the use of such powder.
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The basic danger with old powders is mis-identification. Since the OP mentioned these were unopened cans of powder, then the above suggestions to use it, with care, would seem to be in line with proper procedure...
Me? I would shoot it without question after verifying that it was not deteriorated.
Dale53
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Powders and Research
Companies like Thunderbird and Hodgdon are still finding bunkers of powders from as far back as the Spanish American War. Treat the powder, establish a burning rate, put in new containers and harvest them. Be confident the Powder companies can identify the burning rates and call them something. How bout Blue Jay or Round Robbin powder. Got to be careful those names might already be taken.I like to have some of the powder they called Sharpshooter and the other called Lightning.
I'm sure this Veral guy is a nice old man but you guys ought to be hunting down some of the Classics. My Complete Guide to Hanloading by Philip E Sharpe answers most of your pondering questions. Mines a 3rd edition so I have all the supplements up till 1949. My 'the Bullet's flight' by Franklin W Mann with Pope notes is another worth seeking out. Harry M Pope along with Mann collected and compiled all the Cast bullet info to be able to spoon feed those that will listen. Few listen today that is why we have a Cast bullet forum to display the misleadings of Cast. Forums OK but a true purveyor of any shooting Sport knows what starts in the garage must be verified in the field.
Stephen Perry
Angeles BR:fire
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I knew it was too good to last.
If someone who's been into casting for more than 2 years doesn't know who this Veral guy is I'd be tempted to say they have a lot to learn. Nothing wrong with “Old School” ideas but like the girly's used to say “We've come a long way baby".
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