I have been sick for a long time. It has been three years since I did any reloading..
The powder measure on my Dillon has been filled almost to the top with W231.
Right after I filled it I had the attack.
The room is air conditioned.
I want to start reloading again.
Does anyone know how long the powder is good for or should I just sprinkle it on the lawn.
I did go to the gun show several weeks ago and looked for W231. It sold for thirty bucks. Could not believe my eyes..

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NRA Benefactor

3 decades might be a problem. I wouldn't think twice about 3 years.

i leave my powder in my four dillion machines all the time, about the longest i go without reloading is a few months, but i don't think it would be affected in an air conditioned room, just load a few and try them out.

Three factors come to mind. Humidity, heat and sunlight. As long as it has not been exposed to high heat, excessive light and humid air it should be fine. I've had opened containers of powder on the shelf for close to 30 yrs and it still goes bang. load up a few rounds and try it out. About the worst that could happen is you get bad accuracy from old powder.

Scoop some out and look at the color and the odor compared to some that's still in the factory packaging.

Some powders react with the plastic tube of the measure if left for a long time. You might check that.

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Common sense isn't so common.

First recommendation, DUMP IT. Second recommendation, load a FEW rounds and see if it goes bang. As noted by others above there seems to be some reaction between the plastic and the powder, even if you don't get a moisture problem in the powder. (I remember an article by Skeeter Skelton years ago about how he had this problem when he switch to a new powder measure with as plastic reservoir. Earlier one had been brass. He tried to put an injured cow down after a road accident and the cartridge went "poof" instead of "bang" and the bullet bounced off the cows skull. Disassembled cartridges showed a correct charge. Powder had gone bad, apparently due to long exposure to the plastic powder measure and no other obvious cause was known.

Heck.. light a match to a small scoop.. scorch a little hair good to go..

I will look, smell, and try. Then dump if I have to. All great suggestions. Thanks so much for your reply's..

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NRA Benefactor

Load a few rounds and fire it as a test. It should be perfectly OK. No idea where that "sprinkle on the lawn" came from, but many seem to think it is a fertilizer. Smokeless powder is not in any way a fertilizer as it is insoluble. Of course if you want to sprinkle it on your lawn, that's up to you.

Not to say it ain't so, but the cartridge in question was not available for examination..

Did others do the same and did he load some more and test the theory?

I have a plastic hopper and I've left powder in it for many months without using it. Never thought twice when I did and never had any problem.

Spokes, just a note. If you see some HP-38 it will probably be several dollars less than the W231. Both are identical so you can save some money on powder when you need to buy.

I'm glad you are on the mend and can get back to loading and shooting.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Thanks ArchAngel. I will do what you suggest..

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NRA Benefactor

It's probably fine. I'd dump it anyway.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I'd check to see if the powder measure throws even charges. If so, I'd load up a few cases and see how it performs. No reason to euthanize powder, just because it has aged a couple of years.

I probably wouldn't use powder setting out in the open for 3yrs. One way to check would be throw a charge with the old powder & compare it by weight to some from the sealed jug. If the same, then gtg.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

How much powder does a hopper hold? $10 or so?

Write it off.

I'd be more concerned about making sure the powder dispenser was alright.

How much powder does a hopper hold? $10 or so?

Write it off.

I'd be more concerned about making sure the powder dispenser was alright.

As a side note, there are many good reasons not to leave powder in a dispenser after you're done reloading. It takes two minutes--and sometimes not even a funnel--to pour it back into the jar.

I sympathize. Been there. I'm doing better now after almost 20 years.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

When you are low on powder and is on funds a $10 hopper full of powder is hard to dump for no good reason.

If it looks and smells good load up a half dozen rounds and you will know quickly if you can use the rest.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

...of the last few years, you couldn't pay me to dump powder I thought was good.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Smokeless powder is remarkably stable and it would take much more than sitting in a powder measure for three years to harm it. The main concern is that you are sure just what powder it is. Memories fail.

The only time in over 50 years of reloading I ever saw deteriorated powder was some WWII-surplus 4831 powder which turned into a brown rusty-looking dust inside its can. I tried to burn it, but it barely burned, and very slowly.

Thanks again for all the reply's and advice. It was all good...

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NRA Benefactor

I was under the impression you should not leave powder in a measure. The powder would etch the plastic tube of my all metal Lyman 55, if plastic parts were in one it might do something to them.

But the other reason was safety. Forget what powder is in the measure, think it is one, forgot it was changed, add more of the wrong powder....I was just reading on this site of just such an incidence.
Gary

Many years ago, I filled a plastic powder reservoir off a MEC shotgun shell reloader with I believe was Red Dot powder. Capped the container, put it away, and forgot about it, as I had spares. Maybe a year or so later, found it, and noticed the clear container had turned dark yellow, and the inside was rough and pitted. Didn't bother using the powder, so don't know if it was affected. Point being that some powder will react with some plastic.

Larry

My best pal passed away last year.I've inherited all his reloading components.Some powder we had purchased over 40 years ago(W760).Still looked good and didn't smell funny.When I shook the can,no fumes coming out of it.Long story short,I loaded a few rds,granted at way below max and tried them.
30-06_190gr match bullets;healthy kick and 3/4'' at 100yds.
Powder,like primers seem to age very well;way better than me I guess!
Qc

Even with shipping & hazmat this should come to less than $30/lb. Get a few friends together to defray the hazmat & it gets better.

Powder Valley - WIN231-08

If you have any doubts at all, then dump the powder.

I got sick too. Out of home 2 years. 3 years before I could use the press. It was half full of 231.
I used it after a good stir and it worked fine.
Jim