Old primers/powder

[pnut]

Bought a ton of old reloading stuff off a guy this week.
He was just piling it all in boxes saying take it all.
With it I got 1# of IMR 4831 and about 2000 Winchester small pistol primers. This was all from the late 80's he said and kept in a spare bedroom with heat and AC.
The powder was sealed in a metal can and still has a nice ether smell. The primers were always kept dry and look nice and shiny still in their original boxes.

Should I not use them at all or just load up a few rounds and see each do?

Originally Posted by pnut

Bought a ton of old reloading stuff off a guy this week.
He was just piling it all in boxes saying take it all.
With it I got 1# of IMR 4831 and about 2000 Winchester small pistol primers. This was all from the late 80's he said and kept in a spare bedroom with heat and AC.
The powder was sealed in a metal can and still has a nice ether smell. The primers were always kept dry and look nice and shiny still in their original boxes.

Should I not use them at all or just load up a few rounds and see each do?

Your did all the proper things. Use me. Primers don't generally go bad. You can even dunk in water and let em dry and they can still go bang. Most of the IMR4350 on the market in the past 50 years was surplus powder from WWII believe it or not.

[Pawildman]

.........I've used primers that I had hid from myself for over 30 yrs. and recently discovered.They have worked fine. You may want to try a few of the ones you just got to relieve your own mind, but I feel sure they will work just fine......

[Ron Duval]

removed by RD

Originally Posted by Ron Duval

I understand that H 4831 is a WWII powder but I have never heard of IMR 4350 as a WWII powder. Is there an article somewhere that I can read to brush up on the military use of IMR 4350? I am a history buff and find these tidbits interesting.

IMR when they had thier own website used to mention it. IMR was the military powder company. 4895 was the goto garand powder. 4831 was the goto 20mm cannon powder.

I could be off. But fairly sure 4350 had its beginning of surplus WWII.

[longknife12]

Go for it.....you will have no problem with it. I stoe in 20mm cans....stuff will last your lifetime!
Dan

[pnut]

Thanks everyone.
I'm gonna load up about a dozen and go from there.