shelf life of Unique powder

[adagna]

I recently got all of my reloading equipment out of storage. It was in storage in California for approx 3 years and now in my storage shed for approx another 2. I still have some primers and about a half a jar of Unique left over from before it went in. Should I chuck this and get some new primer/powder or should they be fine?

 

[Beans]

Storage??? was it stored in a climate controled space? If not IFFY

Primers should still be good.

 

[adagna]

No it wasn't climate controlled, just a standard outdoor mini-storage unit.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I don't know -just finished a 4lb can "paper" of Unique 15-20 years.
Finished up some primers 10-15 years.[I got a bunch one time]
If they still work- they work.
If making a SD round or tag hunting round I will try to use fresh
powder and primers but for paper the other is fine.
PS my stuff was stored in a shed for many years-hot in summer,
cold in winter- just dry and only lost one pound of powder that was dusty
and old,old,old given to me by an old fart.

 

[tbury]

According to the Lyman Reloading manual, if the powder does not have an acrid (acidic) odor, and looks like it is uniform and dry, it is alright. I have bullseye, 2400, unique and IMR powders from the 60s and 70s that have been stored in original but opened containers that are just fine. They have been stored in a detached non-climate controlled garage in KY for 30 yrs. If the powder does not look right or smells wrong spread it on your lawn or garden. Primers should not be a problem either, I am using Alcan primers from the 70 with no duds.

 

[n4zov]

I have powders older than a lot of the members of this forum, and have never had a problem caused by age. Back in the 60's tons and tons of GI surplus 4831 powder were sold, and it had been manufactured during WWII. I had a couple of large cans of the stuff and used it into the late 1980's, and there is no telling under what conditions all that 4831 had been stored over the years. I think your powder will be fine.

 

[butchkent]

I am still using Unigue that I have stored in my garage for the past 15 years. It loads great and shoots great. I think it improves with age like wine. After all, it is Unique.

 

[adagna]

Well that's great to hear, I will go ahead and load up with what I've got and see what the results are.

Where can I get a loading chart for unique? I doubt if I still have my old info at this point.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I agree with tbury, use your nose. It should have a chemical smell which reminds me of rubber cement but not as strong.

A buddy recently gave me some 4895 from 1971 that had been stored in mason jars. I shot a jars worth and it did great.

On the other hand, another friend was clearing out his shotgun stuff and gave me two gallon glass jugs of Red Dot that had an unknown date. One was fine and the other smelled really strong. I fertilized the back forty with the bad batch.

In both cases, the powder was stored in glass which according to my 4895 buddy, should make it last longer.

 

[H Richard]

I have a (paper) container of Unique that the price tag is less than $8.00. Believe dates to the early 80's. I loaded some 44 Specials using it in the past year, and it's fine.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Unique has an infinite life in my cabinet, because I quit using the stuff. Any left over will sit there permanently. I live in a tropical climate, where mold and rust are at each other's throats, trying to be first to ruin anything you have. The roof drips every morning, until the sun steams the moisture off. My powder and primers are stored without climate control and do just fine. My car is a rustbucket, my house looks like a toadstool, but the reloading components keep going and going and.....

 

[tops]

Used some 4895 about a year ago that had a $2.75 price tag and I couldn't tell any difference from new. I also have some Win. primers in yellow box with blue stripe and they are in the wood trays and they work. Shelf life is a long time. Larry

 

[tgwillard]

Was at the range today firing some 9mm reloads using new primers with old Unique that I purchased in early 1969. Used some then, but after that was stored in various indoor locations. Also have a can of 700X. Reloads fired with no problem.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

I recently got all of my reloading equipment out of storage. It was in storage in California for approx 3 years and now in my storage shed for approx another 2. I still have some primers and about a half a jar of Unique left over from before it went in. Should I chuck this and get some new primer/powder or should they be fine?

Only stored for 5 years?....It's still new.

 

[Paul5388]

According to this article, Alliant claims to have some 1899 vintage Unique sitting on the shelf. ARTICLE

Unique was first manufactured in about 1898 and was one of the first powders Du Pont turned over to Hercules. A jar of Unique powder sits on the shelf at the Alliant Powder plant in Radford, Virginia. The powder in the jar was made in 1899 and still performs to original specifications. "Unique is the oldest and most versatile powder on the market," Quesenberry says.

 

[adagna]

Unique has an infinite life in my cabinet, because I quit using the stuff. Any left over will sit there permanently. I live in a tropical climate, where mold and rust are at each other's throats, trying to be first to ruin anything you have. The roof drips every morning, until the sun steams the moisture off. My powder and primers are stored without climate control and do just fine. My car is a rustbucket, my house looks like a toadstool, but the reloading components keep going and going and.....

Curious why you dislike Unique. What do you prefer. The only reloading experience I have is with Unique. Its what my grandfather and dad preferred so I have never even thought to use anything else.

 

[2000Z-71]

I think the only thing with a longer shelf life would be a Twinkie. You're fine.

 

[kennyb]

check if there is an acrid odor...if nothing unusual...it's in all likelyhood fine...my powgers are stored in an unheated garage...all have always been fine

 

[pinkymingeo]

The arguments for and against Unique are the stuff of many threads. I razzed it not for any legitimate purpose, but just to cause a little hate and discontent. Unique works OK in a lot of applications, but meters poorly and burns pretty dirty at low pressures. After some experimenting I went with AA2 as my general purpose powder. About as versatile as Unique, meters much, much better and is a little cleaner. Other guys use powders like 231 or Titegroup for most of their loading. Matter of personal preference more than anything else, I guess.

 

[44forever]

I buy most powders a pound at a time. Unique I buy 8 pounds at a time. 'Nuff said.