Old Hercules 2400 Powder

[martyd]

Any ideas on how old this powder is?

I purchased this at a local gun show in January 2022.
It was new and unopened.

When was this packaging was discontinued?

In the mid 1970's I reloaded 44 Magnum with this packaging.

A couple of weeks ago I loaded up some 41 Magnum with it --- it stills go Boom!
I expected it to go Boom.

I have never had an issue with old powder as long as it was still originally sealed. I would imagine there have been problems but none seen by me.

Note the price tag from its original store sale --- Oh! The good old days.

 

[ACORN]

I have a similar can I believe dates to the mid 80s.

 

[arjay]

I e still got my original bottle of blue dot in the same package with a similar price from the mid 80s

 

[StakeOut]

Alliant Powder - About Us

 

[Nevada Ed]

Ah yes, the old goose neck, pop up, plastic top, powder container.

I was actually glad to see them come onto the scene, to replace the
square metal top cans.

The only problem was, getting unused powder back into the container.
If you did not have a small funnel, things could get messy.

 

[arjay]

Ah yes, the old goose neck, pop up, plastic top, powder container.

I was actually glad to see them come onto the scene, to replace the
square metal top cans.

The only problem was, getting unused powder back into the container.
If you did not have a small funnel, things could get messy.

Stole one from my wife. I’ve still got it lol (but not the wife)

 

[Ruger 13]

I’m still using some Bullseye in the same packaging from 1973 that is priced at $3.14 for a pound!

 

[Bastogne71]

You want old? I’ll show you old! The Norma and the 2400 are still sealed! I know the Norma dates to 1974 because it was in a package deal for a 222 SAKO Vixen I bought in Germany just before I came back to the states. Still have the rifle too but it shoots better with H322.

 

[Geno44]

I have a very similar can to this which has a stamped date on the bottom of 8/25/93. Did you carefully look for a date on your can? I dated the top of the can 10/93 which was the month I purchased it. I am still shooting H4831 surplus powder from WWII and it works fine.

 

[StakeOut]

I’m still using some Bullseye in the same packaging from 1973 that is priced at $3.14 for a pound!

I bought many of the 8lb round cardboard containers of Bullsye,Unique and Red Dot for $15.00 in the late 60s and 70s.

 

[Skeet 028]

I have a very similar can to this which has a stamped date on the bottom of 8/25/93. Did you carefully look for a date on your can? I dated the top of the can 10/93 which was the month I purchased it. I am still shooting H4831 surplus powder from WWII and it works fine.

I still have and use about 7 or 8 lbs of that surplus I bought back in the 60s. 100 lbs for 70 dollars delivered REA. for the first one.. the 2nd cost right about 80 bucks. Someone gave me approx 30 lbs of the H4831 a couple years ago. It was stored in glass jars from instant coffee. I burned it in the lane in front of the house. Just didn't trust it after being stored in clear glass in an outbuilding all those years. Surprisingly it all seemed to burn as it should. The old fellow it belonged to told me he wore out a few rifle barrels with that powder...esp in the 264 Win Mag. His wife wanted it gone after he passed. The powder shown in the cardboard cans date fron the 70s to about 1990 or so I think. I still have 2400 Red Dot Bullseye Unique Herco and Blue dot in those cans. I also have Reloader 11 12 and Hi-Vel #2...in the unopened square metal cans. Still good of course.

 

[Geno44]

In about 1965 I ordered 50 pounds of surplus H4831 powder from Walter Craig, Selma, Alabama. They are still in business. The cost was $29.95 delivered to suburban Chicago. I still have about 10 pounds and am still loading it. It was stored in glass one gallon cider containers in a cool basement.

 

[martyd]

Boy, there are a lot of Old Farts on the Forum. Some of which have some good vintage powder who don't shoot much

I knew powder use to have the Mfg date stamped on the bottom but totally space it out.

Bottom: TF 495 I suspect the TF is the date and 495 is the lot.

And, thanks for the Alliant web link, it was very informative.

 

[imakmst]

I load 357 with a can of 2400 I got from an older gentleman, it's the small square can. Good stuff, still goes boom.

 

[Green Frog]

You want old? I’ll show you old! The Norma and the 2400 are still sealed! I know the Norma dates to 1974 because it was in a package deal for a 222 SAKO Vixen I bought in Germany just before I came back to the states. Still have the rifle too but it shoots better with H322.

I see you store your powder cans upside down so the air in them is unchanging. This keeps the powder fresh longer.

Froggie

PS I love me some 4759 for 32-40!

 

[Geno44]

OP-Did you look on the bottom of the can for a date?