sauer06

Guys I did something stupid and I need your advice. I was reloading some RE 19 powder, the powder is in a green RCBS powder dispenser. My reloading room is in the basement were it is fairly cool, 3 months ago I had back surgery and the powder has been sitting in the RCBS dispenser all this time. There is very little sunlight comeing in this room and it has not been subject to direct sunlight, it appeared OK when I put it back in the container. My friend who is much more experenced than I says that this powder is no good, what say you?
Thx Doug Olwin

LaneNebraska

Dispose of it.

It's only one pound of powder($22.00).
Better safe than sorry :-)

Centaur 1

Last year my father in law gave me a 3 lb can of 20 year old green dot and I also was reluctant to use it. That's when a friend of mine told me that gunpowder makes an excellent lawn fertilizer. Spread it and water it in.

halcon

I have left powder in my dispenser before and it hasn't seemed to bother it any . I never take the powder out of my Mec shotgun loader , it might sit there for three or four months at a time and it still works fine goes bang and kills birds on the trap range . Bottom line if your worried junk it your not talking that big of a deal .

driftrider

Do the smell test... but when in doubt, throw it out. Eyepatches, hooks and peg legs only look cool on pirates.

Mike

hunter5325

why would there be something wrong with it...what am I missing.

I just shot up a bunch of "dupont"4350 from the early 70's with zero problems.

skb2706

If the lid was on the dispenser what would have happened to it. In smokeless powder life 3 months is nothing. I have Blue Dot powder older than some of the forum members.
If you are worried throw out in the yard...........

handloader1

I don't think anything is wrong with it unless it is discolored. Good luck.

Bernie P.

The real enemy of powder is moisture/humidity.If your basement is a damp environment there's a good chance it's toast.If not it should be ok.

Powerfisher

I have been loading my 30.06 cartridges with some ancient IMR 4831. Rectangle shaped orange tin can, pour hole on the side of the top of the tin can. It was never opened till I opened it. The powder has a orange tint to it. I thought at first it may be rust or something cuz when I poured it, orange dust came off, but I went ahead and loaded a few rounds anyhow and tied a shot out Savage to a tire. The rounds went off just fine. So, either the powder is sposed to be orange since the tin is orange or it is bad powder. Still dont really know but I have used up 3/4 of the tin with no problems. Ya think I should put it on my lawn? I dont need a glass eye or wooden leg.............