Bullseye Container

[ancient-one]

My brother gave me a sealed, looks as if it just came off of the shelve,
eleven oz. metal can of Bullseye. Does anyone know the approximate date that the metal containers were discontinued? I was surprised at the eleven oz. bit.

 

[acl864]

Not sure but my Brother-in-law gave me a metal can of W231 a while back. The last time he had reloaded was the early 1990's. Shoots fine.

 

[thomashoward]

I have called the manufacturer before on this subject. just give them the lot number and they will tell you the born on date and whether to use it or not

 

[john traveler]

Hercules used the square appx 4"x4"x4" metal cans with the metal snap-on lids up to the early 1970s when I started reloading. Or, those may have been older cans sitting on store shelves and the cans themselves were discontinued in the late 1960s.

The were replaced by the cylindrical pasteboard & metal cannisters in 1 lb and 8 lb sizes.

 

[whuggins]

If you want to know if the powder is any good or not. Smell it. It will have a rotton smell to it. It will tell you right quick if it's bad or not.

 

[tbury]

I am still using bullseye in the 4x4 can purchased in the late 60s with no problem. If the powder has no strong acrid (acidic) smell it is fine. The major detriment to powder is moisture which allows nitric acid breakdown products to form.

 

[tgwillard]

Do the smell test as suggested, but unless that powder was subjected to some bad storage conditions, I bet it will be OK to use. I first reloaded in 1969 and then got started again this year. I had a metal can of Unique and a can of 700x. Both powders are working fine for my latest reloading efforts.

 

[HKSmith]

I started reloading in 1964 and those 11 ounce metal cans were what was available at the time, at least for Bullseye, Unique, and 2400. I think they continued in use until the 1970's. I still have an empty Bullseye can like that with the price on it - $1.80! Adjusting for inflation, that's not much different than the current price.

 

[ancient-one]

Thanks to all for the replies. I am not hurting for powder so I am going to leave it as is, at least for awhile. It is probably another one of those things I will keep because they are not making them anymore and it will end up to be something else my daughter will have to get rid of when I am gone.

 

[ajpelz]

I have 4x4 metal cans of both unique, and bullseye. Probably late 60's early 70's vintage. Both of them go bang every time.

 

[Homie]

Bullseye, in the snap top cans, goes back to the mid/late '50s. Prior to that it was in a similar can with a spout and screw top.

Good shooting.

 

[michael thornton]

its not wine its gunpowder! use it and buy more

 

[ajpelz]

its not wine its gunpowder! use it and buy more

Ha, true, but as you may guess, I don't reload/shoot all that often. Like wine though, it gets more expensive with age. The cans I have still have the price tag on them..... $2.19 per pound.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

Use the smell test.If it fails that,use it for fertilizer.Load a small batch of ammo and test it.Chances are,it's still good.I suppose it depends on just how bad the storage conditions were but if storage conditions were reasonably good.it should last a very long tame.I have some 4350 that was purchased about 40 years ago.It's still fine.

 

[buckbeans]

I heard the cans were worth something to collectors, so don't throw the can away!!!

 

[ancient-one]

The can is really what I am saving. If I ever need the powder and it passes the smell test I'll use it.

 

[Paul5388]

According to Alliant Alliant Powder - About Us the can pictured is from 1960.

The rest of the cans used after that are at the bottom of the link above.

This Unique can is the can prior to the Red Dot can in this picture. The labeling will date a can more than the style of can does.

Yes, I shoot both of them without a problem.

 

[swamprat]

It's unopened, for the time being anyway. Anyone got an idea when this stuff was made? I'm thinking 50's early 60's

 

[Paul5388]

If you look on the top shelf right next to the Reloder 22 is a can of Green Dot that's very similar to your can of Bullseye.

That can was bought in 1972 for shotgun shells we were loading at the time. The cardboard container next to the Green Dot is Alcan 7 we used for a little stiffer 1 1/4 ounce loads. On the next shelf down, there's a 4# cardboard container that had Green Dot in it and I think we bought it in 1973 or 1974.

 

[ajpelz]

dang Paul, looks more like a store inventory than a personal reloading setup. Consider me jealous....