Thread: Powder question

Hi all, I was sorting through some old tins of powder and discovered a near full tin of ar2207 that the tin lid was cross threaded on, so probably not sealed properly. The powder smells ok,might be a bit discoloured,a brown tinge on the top layer but under is normal grey. Do you think it is ok to load or stuffed? Could the burning rate be changed? Was going to load it for .222 my old load was 21 grains and 50 grain projectile from memory. Thanks Steve

If it has been stored in a cool dry area then there is a good chance it will be just fine.

Greetings Steverusty,
The brown discolouration is usually a sign that the powder has degraded. As this is on the surface it is, as you suspected, likely due to exposure to the air. The powder may be OK, or may not be. I would not take the chance. Powder is cheap when compared to rifles and faces for that matter.
Regards Grandpamac.

Put it into a hole and light it, you will see it's very powerful stuff. Something has changed in it and likely altered the burn rate in an unknown way.

The fire will be quite impressive. Here is a cinema storeroom of spare nitrocellulose film being burnt off, I hope it was not developed and we are watching priceless footage of the battle of the bulge going up. But go up it does. Now who really wants to be a fireman??? (-:

Agreed GPM.
Use it to fertilise your lawn.
Also, if it's in an old style tin have a look inside for any signs of rust on the walls.

Years ago I had a can of milsurp 4895 pop it's screwed lid off. It was fumin away like mad. That had been sealed and stored in good conditions.
Recently tossed some very old 3031 that, I felt, had a minor colour change and was on the verge of smelling "sharp".
It's just no worth messing around if there is doubt.

Yea Id get rid of it. Start afresh and then you know what youre dealing with

Originally Posted by Cordite

Put it into a hole and light it, you will see it's very powerful stuff. Something has changed in it and likely altered the burn rate in an unknown way.

The fire will be quite impressive. Here is a cinema storeroom of spare nitrocellulose film being burnt off, I hope it was not developed and we are watching priceless footage of the battle of the bulge going up. But go up it does. Now who really wants to be a fireman??? (-:

Be careful with it. I burned some in a 44 gallon drum once, having placed it in other rubbish and lit the rubbish.

I stood well back, and when it did go up it was really fast and hot, and impressive.

If I'd been looking in the drum at the time, I'dve had me face scorched pretty bad.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Be careful with it. I burned some in a 44 gallon drum once, having placed it in other rubbish and lit the rubbish.

I stood well back, and when it did go up it was really fast and hot, and impressive.

If I'd been looking in the drum at the time, I'dve had me face scorched pretty bad.

Yes definitely in a dug HOLE, in case something unpredictable happens involving a very fast burn rate.

That IS one scary fire though, is it not? Can a fire give you the shivers???

Originally Posted by Cordite

Yes definitely in a dug HOLE, in case something unpredictable happens involving a very fast burn rate.

That IS one scary fire though, is it not? Can a fire give you the shivers???

At the end, yeah. Being a projectionist in a cinema with a smoking habit must've been fun in the old days......

In the 1880s and 98s collars from formal shirts were made from "colliodion" a plastic made from nitrocellulose plasticized with camphor evidently a number of gentlemen smokers suffered unpleasant deaths before cause and effect were linked.

Greetings All,
No need to burn it. Rifle powder is high in nitrogen so it is excellent fertilizer. Just spread it thin and water it in. I believe that the Aussie powder is made out of gum trees so spread it under some of them and close the loop. Grew some rifle powder assisted broccoli at one time.
Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
No need to burn it. Rifle powder is high in nitrogen so it is excellent fertilizer. Just spread it thin and water it in. I believe that the Aussie powder is made out of gum trees so spread it under some of them and close the loop. Grew some rifle powder assisted broccoli at one time.
Grandpamac.

Ah, yes, but it's more FUN to burn it.... (<:

Originally Posted by Cordite

Ah, yes, but it's more FUN to burn it.... (<:

I'd gathered that. Not actually required though.

Yeah thanks guys I was thinking I should get rid of it ,it’s not worth the risk. I’ll chuck it on some rye that I am going to spread some urea on next week. Thanks again,cheers Steve

Originally Posted by Mauser308

What was the burn rate of the broccoli haha? Bet that made some interesting smelling farts. Not my favourite vegetable...

Congratulations Mauser 308,
I was hoping that someone would pick up on the broccoli. I did not test the burning rate. With all that water it would have been too slow for any my rifles although it might have been useful in some of today's behemoths. Farts were normal for brassica's as was pressure. As for taste, my late father was a dedicated vegetable gardener right up to his death. Growing up we ate vegetables I had not seen before nor since so broccoli is small potatoes compared to salsify, kohl rabbi and Russian comphrey.
Regards Grandpamac.