[Mr Mondragon]

I was loading my powder charger with an old can of IMR4895 when I noticed a fine smoke coming out as I was pouring. I've never noticed this before, is the powder too old?

 

[1886lebel]

If it was smoking like that I would flush it down the toilet, that powder is un-stable.

Patrick

 

[VA-Vet]

How old Mondragon???

 

[srinde]

Are you sure that you were seeing smoke and not some kind of dust ?

 

[kywoodwrkrII]

Lets think maybe graphite.
Refer you to srinde's post.
"Are you sure that you were seeing smoke and not some kind of dust ?"
If you reload very long you'll see more of this.

 

[Lyman1903]

pour some out on a large sheet of paper,

once done, do you see any off color particles?
or just some extra dust?

and how does it smell??

 

[Franz 1796]

Is it a metal can? Look inside and you might see rust. I've had older cans of IMR that rusted from the inside and when poured you would get this "smoke" affect from the fine rust particles. I took it outside and poured it back and forth between two containers (with a funnel of course) to let the wind blow most of the rust from the powder. Other than the rust, the powder smelled fine and burned fine. Yes - I did load it and had no problems.

 

[DocAV]

Rust on the inside of a Powder Tin is a sign of Nitric Acid Degradation of the Powder (Old). The Powder, being about 14% Nitrocellulose, the rest partially nitrate NC, and Cellulose, has been attacked by Moisture in the air, which causes the NC to break down into its original Nitric Acid and Cellulose degradation Products ( ie, reverse of NC Manufacture.).

The Nitric Acid will eventually rust through the can, and if there is sufficient Heat (internally by degradation, or externally by High Ambient Temperatures,) the caninster can spontaneously combust ( happened here in Aus, (Mackay, NQ) back in the 1990s...Farm shed destroyed by Spontaneous Combustion of very old NC powders.).

Even if it "burns" well, discard...you don't know what the changed NC content does to Powder Pressure development...Makes excellent Rose Garden Fertilizer. ( Nitrates, Cellulose, etc.)

Better Safe than sorry.

Doc AV
Down Under.

 

[Mr Mondragon]

I guess it could be a very fine dust, just never noticed it before. I've loading for 30 years This can had the rubber stopper in it, that's old!

 

[Franz 1796]

I used the powder with normal safety concerns. Used low end of loading range and checked for pressure signs. No problems.

I'm still shooting factory made 1939 German 8mm and 50's Yugo (as are many others) which have much older powder than my reloads (older by at least 30 years). Heck I even shot some 1918 303 Brit (WRA) and except for a few bad primers it shot just fine (yes I did pull a few bullets to check the powder first).

 

[Rapidrob]

Odor is now the question. It should have a slight solvent smell. If the odor stands your hair on end, get rid of it. A slight rust dust is not a problem.
When powder deteriorates, it is really obvious. The grains are discolored and the smell is very acrid.

 

[Coyote tracker]

Over thirty years ago I had a full can of IMR 3031 go bad. Of course it did not help that it was left in the attic of a house for about three years. When I opened it the can was full of flucculent red dust. Fertilizer.

 

[ireload2]

If the "smoke" has a purple- maroon- brown irridescent tinge to it you are seeing nitric acid fumes.

Get rid of it.

 

[45autorim]

Where there is smoke there is fire! Dust!

 

[Motor]

Is it a metal can? Look inside and you might see rust. I've had older cans of IMR that rusted from the inside and when poured you would get this "smoke" affect from the fine rust particles. I took it outside and poured it back and forth between two containers (with a funnel of course) to let the wind blow most of the rust from the powder. Other than the rust, the powder smelled fine and burned fine. Yes - I did load it and had no problems.

I'll second this one.

I've seen it a few times with older metal IMR cans. One was rusted so bad I had to dispose of it. I once poured the last 1/4lb of some IMR-4320 on to an old but clean white undershirt. The cotton shirt grabbed up most of the fine red dust. I used the powder. It worked just fine.

Motor