Hercules Powder help please

[VM]

Can anyone date and put a value on these cans?
They are both full, unopened.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Rpg]

The Herco can is probably worth the price of a pound of Herco plus a small amount ($5-10) for the can.

The red dot looks like it's been repackaged from bulk. It's interesting, but unlikely to be worth a premium.

 

[rockquarry]

'60s or '70s for the Herco.

To narrow it down only slightly, when I bought my first can of Hercules powder (#2400) in about January of 1965, it came in a can like the one depicted. I don't know how long they had used that can up to that point, but I think they continued to use it until at least the early '70s. Some of the folks on here are far more knowledgeable and can give a better answer. The can would have no value to me, but I'm not a can collector. I've thrown away many of them.

 

[AJ]

I have several of those cans in my collection. Never gave more than $5.00 a can full or empty. Nowadays, someone who is starved for powder would probably go for $30.00.

 

[desi2358]

The square cans were in use for a number of years. 1950's into the early 70's I believe. The round can is interesting. I think it is a repack from larger bulk cans, probably done by a distributor who went to the trouble to make up labels for what he was selling. A couple places still sold from bulk when I started reloading years ago and used plain, unmarked cans, simply writing on them with a marker to indicate what was put in them. Older reloaders I knew often mentioned buying bulk powder in paper bags and having to find their own can for storage. I suspect it is no newer than the 1960's and may be a lot older.

As to value .......... Hercules powders seem to hold up very well over time and should still be useable. With supplies as short as they are and the market being a bit of a mess I think they would easily sell in the $20 to $30 range. They do hold some interest to collectors but many seem to prefer empties as easier to display, sell and trade

 

[DWalt]

The advice above is correct, 60s-70s for the can, the container on the right was never used by Hercules.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

As others have mentioned, the round can is most likely a product from a local or regional retailer that purchased bulk powders from Hercules (and others), then re-packaged for retail sales. Very common practice prior to about 1980.

When I started reloading in 1972 bulk powders were very commonly seen in sporting goods stores, including US military surplus. Most came in sealed barrels (various sizes) as used to fill contract sales to ammunition manufacturers and military ordinance plants. The store personnel would either re-package into retail-sized containers (paint cans were commonly used) or simply scoop from the barrel onto a scale, then dispense in a brown paper bag.

I used emptied powder canisters repeatedly, simply applying adhesive labels to identify the contents and date of purchase.

Purchased a lot of bulk surplus bullets and primers also. Bullets were weighed to establish a quantity based upon individual bullet weight. Primers were in cardboard sleeves and cartons, packed in wooden shipping crates, so easily sold by the thousand.

I recall IMR rifle powders for as little as $2 per pound, surplus bullets for about $15 per thousand, and primers were about $3 per thousand, back in those days.

Personally, I never intentionally kept powders for more than a couple of years, but I have occasionally used powders much older (properly stored in sealed containers) without issues. After my last change in houses I found a stash I knew to be nearly 20 years old, kept in a dry dark basement at moderate home temperatures.

Older samples like the OP's are probably of more interest for collectors or display purposes, although there may be some individual users ready to buy due to the recent years of shortage.

 

[ajgunner]

I have a decent collection of several old cans. All of them came to me at different times and all were sealed, so yes I still load them. I also use similar vintage data for loading these vintage powders. One quick and easy way to get a rough idea of date, is to check for a zip code in the address. Zip codes came into use in 1963, so no zip code would be pre 1963.

 

[AJ]

A 8 Lbs. Keg of Bullseye, not real old, maybe the 90's. The two smaller cans are 4 Lbs. cans from a bit earlier. Note the gallon can of Hoppes on the next shelf. Wish it was full!

 

[Skeet 028]

Just bought 2 lbs of Unique and a pound of Reloader 11 in the mid 60s cans . all sealed. With their 10% buyer's premium all three cost 33 dollars. The reloader 11 is good for 222 and 223. The Unique though the older iteration is still Unique. Cans from the 50s were I think cardboard with large tops and a spout under. I once bought 25 lb kegs of Red Dot and weighed it on the scale my parents had for weighing meats in their store. Heck I even got Solo 1000 in 25 lbs bulk plastic cans. Really good 12 ga powder. Sold it bring yer own container or it went out the door in a paper bag

 

[DWalt]

Just bought 2 lbs of Unique and a pound of Reloader 11 in the mid 60s cans . all sealed. With their 10% buyer's premium all three cost 33 dollars. The reloader 11 is good for 222 and 223. The Unique though the older iteration is still Unique. Cans from the 50s were I think cardboard with large tops and a spout under. I once bought 25 lb kegs of Red Dot and weighed it on the scale my parents had for weighing meats in their store. Heck I even got Solo 1000 in 25 lbs bulk plastic cans. Really good 12 ga powder. Sold it bring yer own container or it went out the door in a paper bag

The earlier Hercules cans were rectangular cardboard with steel ends. In the 1980s Hercules went to round cardboard cans. When I was a clay bird shooter, I used a lot of Red Dot in 4 pound red steel kegs. I wish I had kept a few of them.

 

[Skeet 028]

The earlier Hercules cans were rectangular cardboard with steel ends. In the 1980s Hercules went to round cardboard cans. When I was a clay bird shooter, I used a lot of Red Dot in 4 pound red steel kegs. I wish I had kept a few of them.

Got a few of the cardboard with steel ends here. A lot of the little square metal cans and a few Metal Red Dot cans. I bought loads of 15 lb cardboard kegs. I used the empties to put empty shotshells in. Still have a few. Dupont had metal 12 lb cans with 700X and other powders. Have one or two of them. Some Alcan Powder came in metal cans and later cardboard kegs. I have a 3 kilo AL-8 out in the garage

 

[intouchorg]

Never seen these cans before. I used to pass by their plant every day for years while driving to work. Also poured concrete onsite there many times into the 90's. Were some good people working there. Was sad to see it close.

 

[DWalt]

Never seen these cans before. I used to pass by their plant every day for years while driving to work. Also poured concrete onsite there many times into the 90's. Were some good people working there. Was sad to see it close.

I assume you mean Kenvil NJ? I worked for Hercules, but not at that location. I was at the Allegany Ballistics Lab in Maryland. But I was there at least a few days every month. Kenvil shut down after I left Hercules, I think it was about the time ATK took over. The Kenvil plant was fairly close to Picatinny Arsenal. I was often a visitor there also.The last time I heard, which was not recently, the Kenvil plant was in ruins. For all I know, it may have been demolished by now.