Need Powder ID

[DeanD]

Picked up some .44 mag hand loads and would like to ID the powder. I normally don't buy random hand loads at a gun show but these were new Starline brass and 240 gr. SJHP bullets so at 30 cents each the price was good just for the components. The powder charge is 20.5 grs. but don't know what it is, you old timers got any idea? It is the one on the left, W296 on the right for comparison:

 

[Nevada Ed]

Being smaller in dia, it might be a faster burning powder than the 296 but there is really now way to tell with all the companies out there that make ball powders.......................
due to the chemicals used today and back 20 years ago, just in case that powder is that old.

You are just going to take the chance that the guy that loaded that ammo knew what he was doing and did not mess up..........
or even worse...............
double dip on purpose !!

Good luck with that non-factory ammo.

 

[venomballistics]

Grain size puts accurate arms #9 up in the list of probables.

 

[gboling]

Picked up some .44 mag hand loads and would like to ID the powder. I normally don't buy random hand loads at a gun show but these were new Starline brass and 240 gr. SJHP bullets so at 30 cents each the price was good just for the components. The powder charge is 20.5 grs. but don't know what it is, you old timers got any idea? It is the one on the left, W296 on the right for comparison:

The best you can expect is a W A Guess.

 

[scooter123]

Based on appearance my guess would be it's Accurate #9. Looking at Accurate's data the maximum charge for a 240 grain Hornady XTP is 20.5 grains. So, #9 is potential. However I don't typically load right at maximum and guessing at what powder was used could lead one to make a major mistake. I would advise that you consider the powder as garden fertilizer and recycle the components into your own personal load.

 

[daniel lawecki]

He stated he bought the ammo for components he's wondering what the powder could be.

 

[SLT223]

You got primed Starline brass and jacketed bullets for 30 cents. Thumbs up! Now kindly place the mystery powder in the toilet.

...But my guess is No.9 as well....

Seriously throw it out, please.

 

[zonker5]

Toss the powder out in the lawn, the nitrates make great fertilizer.

 

[Damol]

That powder would make good lawn food, myself I would put it on my roses and pick up a pound or two of 2400 and feel good about the whole
thing.

 

[THEWELSHM]

I load that load all the time. I would shoot a couple especially if it's from a Ruger or an N frame?? But thats me. Let me get some popcorn

Thewelshm

 

[murphydog]

For curiosity purposes, I suspect the posts above may have already answered your question. It will make good plant food .

If you have earned a Silver Star, you may ask as many questions here as you like.

 

[Rule3]

Looks more like Di-lithium Crystals to me. Might as well be, as there is no way for anyone to know unless scanned with a
Tri Corder,

Break the ammo down and get rid of it.

No, powder really does not make good lawn fertilizer as all it can add is maybe some Nitrogen and too much in one place will chemically burn your lawn. It is more fun to put in a little pile and burn it.

 

[MDaly]

You cannot tell from looking what powder that is. To guess would be foolish. I never shoot someone elses reloads, period. Especially gun show reloads. Salvage the components and dump the powder.

MD

 

[alwslate]

You should have been able to predict what kind of responses you
would get by posting a question like this on here. Good looking
handloads in new brass? I vote with the poster above who said to
try a couple in a strong gun.

 

[DeanD]

I am going to try a couple and go from there. One thing is that 20.5 grs. fills the case just about to the bottom of the 240 gr. bullet so it would be impossible to double charge. I tend to have confidence in the old timer who loaded it and it looks perfect, OAL is right on, etc. He also had some rifle ammo he had loaded and it looked perfect as well, nice crimp, etc.

Thanks for all the replies guys. The Silver Star is from 1968, thanks for the kind words Alan.

 

[Decker]

If I came across several 8#'ers of a powder that I didn't know what it was, it would be worth it to VERY CAREFULLY do some research and then VERY CAREFULLY work up some loads and VERY CAREFULLY test them. Once determined how well it worked by using a chrono and seeing no unsafe indications, I would then use it.

However, that's a lot of work, and I wouldn't even consider spending time doing so for just a few cases worth of powder.
Put the powder in the garden where it will work wonderfully and re-use the other components.

 

[jag22]

I have both 296 and #9. I put them side by side and they look almost identical from every angle so my guess is that is not #9 based on the size differences in your pic. Actually, are 100% sure that is 296? Mine is very small and looks like the powder on the left. The grains you label as 296 look more like 231 to me.

 

[murphydog]

You're welcome, and thanks for your service.

Two other late thoughts - perhaps reduce the charge by 10% for the usual safety margin if you are set on trying them out, or contact the ammo seller if you have their contact info or business name and ask for the powder ID directly.

 

[gwpercle]

I can I.D. most muscle cars from the 1960's by looking at them, but not gun powder. Stuff like Red Dot, Blue Dot and Green Dot , with the different color dots that are meant for identification, but I would still not bet my life on a visual I.D. Just too risky....too many powders out there to be 100% certain.
Gary

 

[mikld]

Without a lab analysis it's all a WAG. Will you be able to go back to the feller that sold you that ammo if you blow up your gun? A .44 magnum generates a whole lotta pressure just inches from your hand and face, wanna risk that with unknown loads? The ammo prolly is good and I doubt anyone would purposely overload a cartridge, but how confident are you in a stranger's ability to produce safe reloads?