Old cans of powder Dupont 4320 and 4759

[flyfishinjunkee]

I recently picked up these old cans of powder. Anyone know approximately how old these are? Both are in good condition, no rust inside with about 75% full. Any value to them?

 

[AJ]

I recently picked up these old cans of powder. Anyone know approximately how old these are? Both are in good condition, no rust inside with about 75% full. Any value to them?

With no ZIP codes on the addresses, they could be early 1960's. With writing on the can it hurts the collector value. Collectors are usually looking for unopened stuff.

 

[rockquarry]

Those were sometime prior to 1965, the year I first bought IMR powders. Cans were the same but labeling was slightly different as I recall.

 

[flyfishinjunkee]

A few more these are sealed

 

[rockquarry]

With no ZIP codes on the addresses, they could be early 1960's. With writing on the can it hurts the collector value. Collectors are usually looking for unopened stuff.

We can always learn something here. I was unaware anyone collected unopened powder containers. I would guess these are incredibly difficult to locate. I've bought a few, very few, and that was some years ago, but I bought them to use the powder.

 

[AJ]

We can always learn something here. I was unaware anyone collected unopened powder containers. I would guess these are incredibly difficult to locate. I've bought a few, very few, and that was some years ago, but I bought them to use the powder.

Most collectors that I know prefer unopened items. Empties in some cases will be used as place holders until they can find like new items. These folks have more funds than this old boy. I usually take anything that is old and in decent shape for my collections.

Check here: Ward's Auctions | Welcome You may find something like you are looking at.

 

[6string]

Those old DuPont powders are classics.
SR4759 is still unmatched for reduced/cast bullet loads.
It has an almost legendary reputation, as its only application is for reduced loads. Over many decades, it was discontinued and reintroduced a number of times.
In the early 1970s, Handloader Magazine did a “Propellant Profile” on SR4759 for the express purpose of generating enough interest to have it reintroduced by DuPont. (Their effort worked!)

If you notice, with the SR4759, what appears to be a 1lb can is actually 8oz! This is due to the extra bulk of the powder. Yet, the 8oz can was typically priced the same as a 1lb can of any of the IMR powders.

Here’s my treasured 5lb can.
I had to special order this from my distributor. I don’t recall the exact price, but it was relatively expensive.

 

[243winxb]

1950s. Cast Boolits

 

[Green Frog]

The 4759 powder was a long time favorite for Schuetzen. I’ve burned a bunch in various 32-40 high walls. You don’t say where you’re located, and the HAZMAT on small amounts of powder would be prohibitive, but I’d be interested in a FTF on the both cans of 4759.
Froggie

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Those old DuPont powders are classics.
SR4759 is still unmatched for reduced/cast bullet loads.
It has an almost legendary reputation, as its only application is for reduced loads. Over many decades, it was discontinued and reintroduced a number of times ...

I used the SR 4759 to make Reduced Loads so my children can learn how to shoot centerfire rifles. The light recoil was similar to 22 LR.

 

[Green Frog]

I used the SR 4759 to make Reduced Loads so my children can learn how to shoot centerfire rifles. The light recoil was similar to 22 LR.

It was one of the very few powders that retained its accuracy when loads were reduced to near extreme. What the end of the day, I would push a dry patch through the bore of my high wall and it would come out black with unturned powder, yet accuracy remained good. I love that powder!
Froggie

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

The two cans of 4320 in the middle look like the containers I bought when I first started reloading in the mid 70s. But I know I didn't pay $6.50 for a pound of powder back then. It was almost half of that.

 

[old tanker]

Another fan of SR4759. I use it for reduced velocity cast bullet loads in .30-40 Krag, .30-06 and .375 H&H. After Hogden announced they were discontinuing it, I snatched up every can I found languishing on bottom shelves in backwater gun stores

 

[Igiveup]

A friend gave me some 4320 a few weeks ago. Hard to find that powder anymore and Unique is also hit and miss.

 

[max503]

I'm still working through a 6 or 8 pound jug of military pull-down SR4759. I believe it is what they used to propel grenades.

I shot an M-14 at the rifle range at Great Lakes as an eagle scout in the 70's and the ammo we used seemed like it was loaded down, so they might have used it there, too.

 

[AJ]

My Father gave me these cans in a bunch of reloading equipment in 1974. They were at least 20+years old then. He stopped reloading in the mid 1950's. I tried some of the powder in 1975 (have the loading data in my records). He had also given me about 10,000 primers in plain cardboard boxes and with cardboard and wooden trays holding the primers. He said they were Army surplus.

 

[Jmp50]

I use 4759 for 35 rem, 38-55 and even 30 carbine with cast....cases just dribble out of the action. One time I was shooting my xp100 in 35 rem 4759 loads and a couple shooters a few benches down asked if I minded if they took a picture while I was shooting, they couldn't believe the size of the fireball coming out of that short barrel...lol
Great powder

 

[Iggy]

Is powder that old any good?

 

[desi2358]

Is powder that old any good?

It can be, I have used some very old powder at times. Not hard to determine if a can has gone bad, usually develops a nasty smell and tries to consume the can from the inside, resulting in the powder being full of rust particles. You can see a similar issue with old lots of ammo sometimes that go bad. I have only had a couple cans go bad in all the years I've been reloading (started back in the mid 70's) and one of those was only a few years old.

I suspect the quality and stability of the original production as well storage conditions have a lot to do with the life span of the powder. Many seem to last a very long time with no problems while occasionally a batch just seems to go bad suddenly.