I've got several part-pounds of old powders that were stored in my parents basement in high humidity for about 2 years. Has anyone used powder before thats been exposed to these conditions? My gut says garbage it.
Crack it open and smell it - if it has an ether type smell and an even colour it’s probably alright.
If it smells acrid and has flecks if reddish stuff in it, it’s trash- use it for fertilizer
Cat
__________________
Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
What Cat says.
Solvent smell, normal colour - good to go.
Acrid acid smell or red flecks in powder - burn it by spreading a thin trail on bare soil, or use it as fertilizer.
Don't try burning it in a pile - it flares pretty high. Don't ask me how I know this.
Crack it open and smell it - if it has an ether type smell and an even colour it’s probably alright.
If it smells acrid and has flecks if reddish stuff in it, it’s trash- use it for fertilizer
Cat
X3
__________________
Trades I would interested in:
- Sightron rifle scopes, 4.5x14x42mm or 4x16x42mm
especially! with the HHR reticle. (no duplex pls.)
- older 6x fixed scopes with fine X or target dot.
"Probably all right", but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Ether smell means it's evaporated, maybe changing the burn characteristics.
Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
I left my chargemaster full of powder when we went on holidays, when we got back I noticed rust on my Lyman die that was in my press and when I went to drain my charge master I noticed my powder was stuck together in a clump, I had to use a pen and stir it in order for it to drain. I’ll have to give it the sniff test and look for flakes.
Using old powder exposed to humidity
Linear Mode
