Keg of old powder
- Thread starter CWH44300
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Post a photo of the top of the can. DuPont made a lot of different powders. That's older than me!
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No idea what that is...
I wouldn't use that powder for anything.
There is something faint in pencil on the RH side of the label by "TYPE". ....?
ruggyh
Member
$2,50 per LB
Well, all that tells us is that it is REALLY old.
Alk8944
US Veteran
If there is nothing on the can to identify the powder number then dispose of it. It isn't worth the chance of guessing what it is.
1) Don't use it.
2) Send a copy of the photo to DuPont. They might find it amusing and be able to tell you what it is from an image, though probably not. They have a museum in Delaware.
2) Send a copy of the photo to DuPont. They might find it amusing and be able to tell you what it is from an image, though probably not. They have a museum in Delaware.
Is the color of the powder in the picture accurate? I can't even guess at what that is. The logo says that it was made between 1907 to 2013, if that helps.
I can't believe that there is a barrel of gunpowder with all that labeling and not one indication of the type of powder it is. Any idea if it's supposed to be pistol or rifle....or artillery?
I can't believe that there is a barrel of gunpowder with all that labeling and not one indication of the type of powder it is. Any idea if it's supposed to be pistol or rifle....or artillery?
I'd take a macro image of the grains. Maybe even send them a sample.
imashooter2
Member
That sort of pop lid was used in the 60s and maybe early 70s.
Outpost75
Member
Only a guess, but it appears to be the pre-WW2 bulk smokeless shotgun powder. Great fertilizer for your garden plots. Mix well 1 part powder to 4 parts organic compost. The empty can is a great display item having modest collector value.
In my old reloading manuals, it looks a little like SR7625, used in medium shot shellpistol loading.
With no "Name", I would not load it unless a sample was sent to the company, to find out if it was
still in good condition and load data received, from them.
Now that is a real,
"Oldie, but goodie".
With no "Name", I would not load it unless a sample was sent to the company, to find out if it was
still in good condition and load data received, from them.
Now that is a real,
"Oldie, but goodie".
That is an awesome time capsule of times by-gone. List it for sale locally, or if it were mine, display it and show it off. They aren't making that anymore..
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I would not give up on it just yet. The metal can is in great condition. The powder sample on top in the scale pan looks OK. The issue is identifying exactly WHICH powder it is. Keep searching on the can.
If you can identify it, it may take looking through older reloading manuals to find recommended loading spec's.
If it is really old powder, some of the solvent may be gone, hence it is "dried out". If that is the case, you will need to adjust weight used, likely downward, to stay within safe spec's.
If you can identify it, it may take looking through older reloading manuals to find recommended loading spec's.
If it is really old powder, some of the solvent may be gone, hence it is "dried out". If that is the case, you will need to adjust weight used, likely downward, to stay within safe spec's.
JRD
Member
The DuPont address on the side of the label lists a postal zone which predated a ZIP code. Postal codes were introduced in 1943 and ZIP codes started in 1963 so we can date the label to sometime between those years. My guess is sometime later in that time span.
The fact that the "type" line is blank with a hand written price per pound suggests perhaps it was used as a larger container in a retail setting to dispense smaller quantities for sale in smaller containers.
Be very cautious in identifying what the exact powder is.
Also, while it's not a shelf life like a loaf of bread, powder does not last forever. Nitrocellulose is a high energy molecule that wants to shed nitrate ions from the moment it's made. Powder manufactures put stabilizers into the chemical mix of powder to slow down the decomposition process. Depending on storage conditions the powder may still be usable for generations- but powder can break down, shed nitrate ions which combine with moisture in the air to form nitric acid and rust the powder canister out from the inside and can even chemically eat through a loaded brass case from the inside.
High temperature storage accelerates the chemical breakdown and is the worst thing for powder shelf life.
I've both loaded ammo with powder older than me if I'm confident in it's condition and tested cautiously during load development as well as dumped much younger powder that for whatever reason had not stored well and decomposed.
The bottom line is to be aware that powder does not last indefinitely and MAY go bad on the shelf and to be very wary of opened containers you don't know the origin of or unlabeled containers.
Do your research and use great prudence in making your decision.
The fact that the "type" line is blank with a hand written price per pound suggests perhaps it was used as a larger container in a retail setting to dispense smaller quantities for sale in smaller containers.
Be very cautious in identifying what the exact powder is.
Also, while it's not a shelf life like a loaf of bread, powder does not last forever. Nitrocellulose is a high energy molecule that wants to shed nitrate ions from the moment it's made. Powder manufactures put stabilizers into the chemical mix of powder to slow down the decomposition process. Depending on storage conditions the powder may still be usable for generations- but powder can break down, shed nitrate ions which combine with moisture in the air to form nitric acid and rust the powder canister out from the inside and can even chemically eat through a loaded brass case from the inside.
High temperature storage accelerates the chemical breakdown and is the worst thing for powder shelf life.
I've both loaded ammo with powder older than me if I'm confident in it's condition and tested cautiously during load development as well as dumped much younger powder that for whatever reason had not stored well and decomposed.
The bottom line is to be aware that powder does not last indefinitely and MAY go bad on the shelf and to be very wary of opened containers you don't know the origin of or unlabeled containers.
Do your research and use great prudence in making your decision.
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Use a little bit of it on your wife's potted plants. When she comments on how well they look show her and say gun powder is good for several things….Oh yea, the can is very collectable.
Be careful, looks like kitty litter. If it's used, that stuff will knock your socks off!
John
John
DO NOT MAIL THEM A SAMPLE. Major potential legal problem. The post office will hate you.
He thinks it's 16 pounds
He also thinks he's found some data
More to follow tomorrow
And just so everyone can relax a bit, neither of us has any intention of loading it
Thanks for all the responses
chris
DADS44
Member
I wouldn't use it to be honest....I have a bottle of old Tequila that was gifted to me by my grand father 40 years ago and was also gifted to him...never opened it. Thou this doesn't have the same sentimental value, it's history! Who knows what's it seen!
Lou_the_welder
Member
Kinda looks like some vihtavouri that I bought during the last powder scare. I forget what # it was, but it was a white grain color. A little more uniform looking.
It was a great ( expensive) powder. With no discernible smell to it.
Just curious as to what that powder is.
It was a great ( expensive) powder. With no discernible smell to it.
Just curious as to what that powder is.
Do a web search on "Dupont Smokeless Bulk Powder". There's lot of info on different forums including info from Ned Roberts and sieving the powder for different size particles for different burn rates. I doubt there is any safe use for it in reloading.
75Vette
Member
I bet there's a crazy coyote living in the desert that would take it off your hands!
Take a small amt and touch it off. Make sure it's gun powder first.
It looks a lot like fertilizer to me. Maybe it's just the pic.
W/O any Powder ID on the keg, and it looks like there never was,,I'd suspect it was just that, an un-used empty container, never filled with any powder by the mfg'r.
Why would any powder maker fill, seal up and then sell a keg of 'gun powder' labeled as just that.
Only in a RoadRunner cartoon.
Surplus containers from the factory?, walk aways,?
They'd be good for somethin' even if you never used 'em.
Then the old guy used it to store what ever he decided he wanted to put in it.
Maybe it's powder, even if it is what kind is it.
Wanna load some 30-06 up with it.
Doesn't look anything like 7625 that I use for low pressure 12ga loads.
I just emptied a 12lb steel keg of it and have another that's still sealed.
It looks a lot like fertilizer to me. Maybe it's just the pic.
W/O any Powder ID on the keg, and it looks like there never was,,I'd suspect it was just that, an un-used empty container, never filled with any powder by the mfg'r.
Why would any powder maker fill, seal up and then sell a keg of 'gun powder' labeled as just that.
Only in a RoadRunner cartoon.
Surplus containers from the factory?, walk aways,?
They'd be good for somethin' even if you never used 'em.
Then the old guy used it to store what ever he decided he wanted to put in it.
Maybe it's powder, even if it is what kind is it.
Wanna load some 30-06 up with it.
Doesn't look anything like 7625 that I use for low pressure 12ga loads.
I just emptied a 12lb steel keg of it and have another that's still sealed.
