Is it just me or is it that the newer powders don't smell as good as the old suff?

I remember the smell of good old PB, 700x and a few powders used in my trap loads that just made the shooting expeience a pleasure, to be down wind.

A little less with rifle but it can be improved with revolvers & pistols if shooting indoors............. sometimes, not.
Get that smoke out of here !!

Does anyone have a favorite powder, that they like the aroma of?

My favorite burnt powder smell is from may years ago when I shot a lot of trap and skeet. I almost enjoyed shooting into the wind when I had a box of Federal papers in my bag.

The smell at the trap range on a cold winters night is still with me.Loved the smell of that smoke and I’m guessing most of it was red dot?

Nothing like the smell of an ejected paper shotgun shell on a cold morning.

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S&W Accumulator

I have a weakness for the old British cordite used in the .303
I suspect all of it is nasty and toxic of course but just can't help enjoying it.

I know the powder-coated bullets are cleaner and healthier than lead, but I do surely hate that burnt-plastic smell.

I love the smell of H-335 burning.

IMR Trail Boss smells like a small rotting corpse.

...REALLY get a feeling from the smell of the powder. I'm not sure what changed, but I don't get that feeling any more. Maybe my nose isn't as sensitive as it was. But I REALLY DID love the smell of gunpowder in the morning.

Another good smell. Coal burning locomotive.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

May be a difference in what they're being combined with too.

Different bullet lubes, etc, can make their presence known.

No favorite comes to mind, but as posted above Trail Boss is my least favored.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I second the paper hull shotgun shells. Brings back memories of cold mornings my dads beagles and rabbits running the circle. I go waaaay back on that memory.

Definitely!

I love playing with the new powders, but find it just weird that the change in smell, well, changes the reaction so much. I’d suspect it’s a “first impression” or “familiarity” thing. I don’t know.

it seems like shotgun shooting has the best aroma, with pistol and rifle next. I like the smell of it all, EXCEPT the old wolf ammo smelled like cat piss, I couldn't stand it. Maybe that's why I never buy it anymore.

Another good smell is diesel smoke and fresh turned dirt........From the tractor seat.

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S&W Accumulator

First time I shot Aguila 22lr last year the smell was totally different (stinky) than made in USA ammo. Took some Aguilla to the range last week and didn't notice the stinky smell. Might have been a different batch. ??????

The stinky part was probably bat guano...

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protocalldesign.com

Paper shotshells fired on a crisp morning absolutely the best.
The only thing that comes close is the smell of old Hoppes#9 cleaning that same gun when you got home.