powder shelf life

[freestylmx]

after my grandpa died my grandma gave me what he had left of reloading components. He had some H4831 from the late 60's. I figured it was probably no good or maybe had just lost some of its potency. He had some load data written down for his remington 721 270 win for 61 grains which is high according to modern load data, so I figured maybe its not as powerful as new podwer.
So I loaded up some 270 wsm with that old powder at what Hodgen would call a close to max load for H4831 and that load was HOT. The primers were pancaked and the lower case had slightly bulged.
So I guess, if kept properly, gun powder can last indefinitly. And also I think maybe powder back in the day was hotter

 

[DrMike]

I don't know about indefinitely, but if it isn't allowed to get overly hot and kept from moisture and kept closed in its original container, it will definitely last throughout our lifetime. As long as there is no evidence of deterioration or oxidation, it should be good. Burn rate may be decreased by a measurable degree, but it will still be quite useable. Good report.

 

[SJB358]

I don't know about indefinitely, but if it isn't allowed to get overly hot and kept from moisture and kept closed in its original container, it will definitely last throughout our lifetime. As long as there is no evidence of deterioration or oxidation, it should be good. Burn rate may be decreased by a measurable degree, but it will still be quite useable. Good report.

I have some H870 and H110 I had from about 20 years ago.. Keep it for my 7RM and 44RM.. I think if stored decent, it should last quite awhile. Man, I wished I could still get H4831 for the prices your grandad probably got them for!

 

[DrMike]

I have a number of discontinued powders, some quite old, that still give me excellent velocities and great performance.

 

[FOTIS]

Older H4831 was in fact slower than today's.

 

[Elkman]

Me thinks that the original 4831 was left over military powder from WW-II, am I wrong?

You can tell when it is has reached its end when you open a container and you smell and acid like oder, mybe kind of like ammonia. Good power smells sweet and clean, bad, smells bad.

Another scientiffic explanation from bill!!!!

 

[DrMike]

Bill is correct; as powder deteriorates, it develops an acrid odour. Bill is also correct that the first 4831 was mil sup powder that lasted an amazingly long time before a powder with a similar burn rate was manufactured and marketed as H4831 and IMR4831.

 

[freestylmx]

I don't know about indefinitely, but if it isn't allowed to get overly hot and kept from moisture and kept closed in its original container, it will definitely last throughout our lifetime. As long as there is no evidence of deterioration or oxidation, it should be good. Burn rate may be decreased by a measurable degree, but it will still be quite useable. Good report.

I have some H870 and H110 I had from about 20 years ago.. Keep it for my 7RM and 44RM.. I think if stored decent, it should last quite awhile. Man, I wished I could still get H4831 for the prices your grandad probably got them for!

She also gave me an old box of speer 130 grain bullets he had. I dont know how old they are but it still has the price tag on it of $5.75 for a hundred. I loaded a few up and they are just as accurate as any other hunting soft point Ive tried

 

[freestylmx]

Me thinks that the original 4831 was left over military powder from WW-II, am I wrong?

You can tell when it is has reached its end when you open a container and you smell and acid like oder, mybe kind of like ammonia. Good power smells sweet and clean, bad, smells bad.

Another scientiffic explanation from bill!!!!

It looks like brand new powder, no fowl smells. The container it is in is the original and pretty cool looking/nostalgic. Maybe Ill take a picture and show you guys if interested

 

[SJB358]

Me thinks that the original 4831 was left over military powder from WW-II, am I wrong?

You can tell when it is has reached its end when you open a container and you smell and acid like oder, mybe kind of like ammonia. Good power smells sweet and clean, bad, smells bad.

Another scientiffic explanation from bill!!!!

It looks like brand new powder, no fowl smells. The container it is in is the original and pretty cool looking/nostalgic. Maybe Ill take a picture and show you guys if interested

I would be very interested to see the pictures. 130 grain Speers and H4831 is about as classic 270 Win JOC as it gets!