Old Bullseye powder, OK to use?

[O2HeN2]

Background: I'm not a noob to reloading. Been doing it for probably 25 or more years. But that doesn't mean I know everything; hence, I'm looking for opinions.

My neighbor gave me an old, and I do mean old 8lb cardboard canister of Bullseye (similar to the picture below).

He's had it in his house in a temperature controlled environment (yes, I trust him when he says this). The powder is perfectly dry and not clumpy. It looks like and smells just like my [relatively] new Bullseye.

In other words upon careful inspection it appears perfectly fine to me.

I think it's OK to use, thoughts?

O2

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1035/5433/products/il_fullxfull.763476615_g28x.jpeg?v=1464365995

[TFOGGER]

If there's no sign of degradation, I would not hesitate to use this. Make sure your load tables are for the actual manufacturer of this powder, as the Bullseye brand has changed hands a few times and there are minor differences.

[bobbyfairbanks]

Heck you should just trade that to me for some brass of some sort and not worry about it

[ray1970]

I say go for it.

Oh, and maybe take some video when you shoot it. Just in case. We usually only get pictures of the aftermath when something blows up. Would be cool for an actual video of the explosion.

[izzy]

Is there actually a kaooom thread in here someplace?

[spqrzilla]

Well, this is really a case of how much you trust the person you got the powder from. I don't use opened cans of powder from strangers because you never know what got dumped in it.
I once looked at an opened can of powder at an estate sale that was supposed to be a Winchester Ball powder that was clearly Red Dot inside.

That said, if not contaminated or mixed, old powders can be just fine. My not-so-reliable recollection is that the manufacturer has an example of Bullseye that's been stored in water for a century and is still good. I once had a 8 lb can of Red Dot that was three decades old from the lot number that ran fine for me.

[whitewalrus]

That said, if not contaminated or mixed, old powders can be just fine.

+1 to this. I am running some old 700X and its just fine.

[Jamnanc]

Pour a little on apiece of paper if there is rusty dusty stuff mixed in, its bad. If no, should be good.

[gta_spec]

For what it's worth, I read recently that the high nitroglycerin powders, like bullseye (40%), are more shelf stable than the single base powders.

[ChadAmberg]

That has to be old, duPont hasn't made anything in Delaware since I was a kid. Any manufacture dates on it?

[O2HeN2]

That has to be old, duPont hasn't made anything in Delaware since I was a kid. Any manufacture dates on it?
That wasn't a picture of my can, just one similar to it. My can doesn't have anything on the lid. But it still lists Delaware as where it was manufactured. No date. Bottom half of my can is spray painted silver for whatever reason. But yhea, this container configuration is from before my reloading time.

My reloading started in the cardboard era, but with that awful plastic spout. So that means I do have reloading manuals for the correct manufacturer. :)

Yes, I really, really trust the guy I got this from. Right-next-door neighbor for decades, really great guy. Plus I grilled him as to storage, etc.

Thanks for all the feedback! I'll cautiously load up a few 38s and fire them in a .357 just to be on the safe side.

O2

[Camperdavid]

Its not that old. It has a zip code!
Just kidding, I have one just like yours that I haven't started using yet, but it smells fine and looks great. I just don't shoot that much bullseye. I bought some 2400 from the same guy, in a red steel keg that is even older. It has no zip code, so pre-1964, but I have been using it, in .357 and .410 bore, with no issues. Definitely check it out very well before using, as your results may vary, but I would shoot it!

[thedave1164]

They still use samples from the original lot to test new lots for burn rate.

If you feel the need to dispose of it, I can pick it up and take care of it for you

[O2HeN2]

I want to thank you all for the numerous offers to dispose of the powder for me.

Since i've come to the conclusion that it's highly dangerous, I think I'm just going to burn it. A little bit at a time in a confined space. For safety reasons of course!

:)

O2

[RANGERRON72]

I am working off the last of two 8 lb kegs from 1994, bought at Dad's Wholesale......... works fine, big cardboard keg like you showed. Load a test batch and run the chrono and you will surely be good to go.......

[O2HeN2]

...works fine, big cardboard keg like you showed.
You might get good money for those kegs when you're finished with them -- don't throw them away!

O2

On edit: Does yours have a plactic spout or a lid? Back in the 90s I got a few that had a plastic spout.

[RANGERRON72]

You might get good money for those kegs when you're finished with them -- don't throw them away!

O2

On edit: Does yours have a plactic spout or a lid? Back in the 90s I got a few that had a plastic spout.

Lid......


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