Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

A friend of mine inherrited all of his grandfathers reloading supplies, i was helping him go through it to figure out was still good and what was bad. We came across a sealed container appears to have been never openned labelled Dupont lightning rifle powder dated 9/1906. this powder being nearly 100 years old would it still be good even if it is in its original unopenned container??? if it is still good is it a good powder?? is there someway to get load data for it??

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

It is an antique I would sell it on ebay. Any data you find for it will be so outdated it probably wont be a whole lot of help. Powders get better every year so, it probably isnt worth using anyway.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

I would e-mail www.imrpowder.com , and see what they have to say. Good luck.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

What's it smell like? Powder that is going/gone bad doesn't have that sweet smell of good powder, it's acidity.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

No way I would use it. Keep it for a cool antique.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

The only person that powder and container are worth anything to is a collector.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

well duh!!! ;) lol

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

Well DuH yourself.. before I was going to post what I said I thought to myself how could anyone in their right mind even contemplate loading something this old. .Question answered

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

Don't open it. Keep it as a collectible.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

LOL :D:D, I considered loading it because I read somewhere that powder in its original unopenned container can have a shelf life of up to 100 years depending on the powder not knowing if this particular powder fell in that category I figured I would post and maybe find out some more about this particular powder........... The container is rather large Id say its atleast equivalent to todays 8 lbs kegs. If its a useable powder hey its 8 lbs of FREE!!!!:):) powder. I dont really care for it as a collectors item I highly doubt the powder is worth a whole lot I did call a antique store though and they said the container alone could be worth 25 dollars to the right person, soooooooo great Ill sell the container to some smuck for 25 bucks but mainly I want to know is the powder useable?? does that answer your question elkhunter

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

pour it out into a thin line on your driveway, mark you name or something and light it. make for a cool show.

dunno if its a good idea, might be dangerous. ive seen it done and it looks kinda cool. really cool at night. but it might not be the best idea in the world, playing with powder.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

nope not around here anyway, with all the fires we are already having dont need another, especially one to start in my driveway.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

yea not a great idea....

load the powder.....least have some fun with it.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

Opening that can of powder will certainly reduce its collector value. However, IF it has not deteriorated, ie., it looks and smells OK and does not have any red dust or lumps in it, it is probably useable. You might find some data for that powder in Phil Sharpe's COMPLETE GUIDE TO HANDLOADING, Belding & Mull Reloading Handbook, or the Ideal Handbook from that era..

I have fired GI .45 ball ammo that was loaded in 1918, and it shot OK.

RE: Dupont Lightning rifle powder??
 

Dude you sound like some one that should not be reloading!!!!