Old can of powder

[Xrperry]

Ran across this full can of old powder yesterday, thought it is kind of neat.

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[ageingstudent]

Ran across this full can of old powder yesterday, thought it is kind of neat.

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Oh gosh been awhile since I saw one of those

 

[CLT65]

I love the old pop-top cans, have used many of them. It's probably still good if it's been stored right.

 

[Xrperry]

It was in a box of other reloading stuff in the dry basement. No idea how old it is

 

[ageingstudent]

It was in a box of other reloading stuff in the dry basement. No idea how old it is

Gotta be pretty old I remember buying red dot in the cardboard pop top canisters in the mid 80s. I also remember older guys at the trap club having big cans like that.

 

[jrd541280]

It was in a box of other reloading stuff in the dry basement. No idea how old it is

call alliant they may be able to date it for you. just did the same with some old imr 3031 and 4227 in steel cans. sent the tech a few pics and he dated them to what i believe was very close. records were lost with acquisition of imr by hodgdon, but the tech consulted others (probably old farts like me) and gave me his best guess. as stated above, if properly stored, you can shoot it, or, put a date on it and leave it for the grandkids.

 

[Xrperry]

Good idea jrd

 

[quneur]

Cool find. But if you find primers it would be like finding treasure.

 

[Mikej]

Ran across this full can of old powder yesterday, thought it is kind of neat.

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The Hercules powder company has always been of interest to me. Growing up in a small community just south of Salt Lake City everyone was aware of the Hercules Powder Plant in the West Valley, known as "The Bacchus Works" in the community of the same name. The worlds largest open pit copper mine nearby and thousand of other smaller mines operating in Utah at the time would have used their powder. There was an an explosion at the plant in 1962 when I was seven. Not uncommon for people to have powder boxes labeled "Hercules" in their basements back then. I wish I had some of those boxes that grandma had in the basement.

Interesting read if you care...

Hercules Inc. - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

.

 

[jrd541280]

Cool find. But if you find primers it would be like finding treasure.

i did find some primers too. cci small rifle primers at 97 cents/hundred.

 

[JuglansRegia]

its probably 40-50 years old, is there any powder in it? what does it look and smell like?

 

[Dozer99]

I always check the bottom of the can for rust. If not and it was stored as you said in a dry environment, "choot it"!

 

[jrd541280]

yeah full sealed cans, just pulling the tin lid off it smells like the hospital where i had my adnoids removed as a kid. if you are responding to me.

 

[Xrperry]

its probably 40-50 years old, is there any powder in it? what does it look and smell like?

It's still sealed up.

 

[Mecanik]

I have a few old cans myself......The bottom three are still full......The top one is empty.

 

[Xrperry]

I have a few old cans myself......The bottom three are still full......The top one is empty.

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Pretty neat

 

[A2theK]

That powder is from circa 1968. I load it all the time. I also throw the cans in the recycle bin. If it has red (powder inside) it's dead. Dump it on the lawn if so. If it smells like a hospital, envelope glue, or ether use it. Acid smell or red/tan powder no good.

 

[Mecanik]

There's a few "can collectors" out there so I keep them till I find someone who collects them. I can fill them with lead shot or screws or small nails too.

 

[A2theK]

There's a few "can collectors" out there so I keep them till I find someone who collects them. I can fill them with lead shot or screws or small nails too.

Yeah Thanks. I will put them up with my old oil cans. I guess cans don't get old or collectable if no one saves them right?? . I have a bunch from that era. I specifically use the Red Dot shotgun powder to make some killer 165gr 9mm subsonic loads. A little dirty but 100% reliable - even with 1960s powder and primers. I have a bunch of older powder from the same "lot/source" but everyone snorts at it when I try and sell it.

 

[CLT65]

Every so often I accumulate a box full of vintage boxes and cans, various empty powder can, primer boxes, cartridge boxes, etc.. It's usually old stuff from the '40s through the '70s. I can't bring myself to throw it away, so I accumulate it until I have a MFRB full, and sell it on ebay. Depending on what's in it, they go for anywhere from $20 to $50. I don't throw anything away anymore that's "Vintage".