How to handle this....

D

Donald

Guest
Today I was at an estate sale and picked up 18 one pound containers of old powder. Some of the earliest Hodgdon that I have ever seen. One can of Herc HiVel 2, Several cans of IMR 4320, 4350 in the old blue white and red cans with the very small screw lid. One can actually still has the cello wrap around the container. 2 cans of Hodgdon Ball C, not 1 or 2 just Ball C. These are in the Yellow labled cans. Also some 4198 and 4831 in the old orange and yellow cans. Some still have the steel seal inside the cap. The cans that were opened, I checked and all powder smells fresh and not a hint of brown rust. Looks just like powder you would buy today. Also some 4064, Unique, Red Dot, etc. Not a lot of any one kind. Also a bunch of old primers. Mostly CCI in the green and white diamond boxes. Now the question. I know a lot of guys collect the old cannisters and I don't want to do anything to lessen their value. Some of the powder I will probably shoot as it seems to be in very good condition. Some of the dates go back to 1959. So If I empty a can I would like to not disturb the seal, etc. So would punching a small hole in the bottom and emptying the powder be the correct thing to do. Don't want to be bothered with trying to ship just one lb of powder with the has mat fee. This is some really neat old stuff for collectors. The cannisters are in pristene condition. Just like they had come off the shelf back in the 50's and 60's. So any suggestions. Anyone interested, email me and I will send you a detailed list of the powders. Also got and old Herters powder measure that is almost perfect, plus a case trimmer that if I remember is a K&M. There was also about 40 pretty rare 22 RF rifles that sold. Most went in the 500-600 dollar range. Many were unfired and still in the box. All in all quite an estate sale, one of the best I have ever been to. Course the relatives got all the nice centerfire stuff and some O/U shotguns.

Donald
 
If I was collecting powder cans, I think I would rather have a can with a top that had been opened, rather than a damaged can...
 
why not just keep them for yourself? Build a shelf and display them, then you can do whatever you want to the cans. Thats what i would do. Lee
 
Dennis and Butch,
Thanks, I am not interested in collecting anything else. I already have run out of room for another collection. I just thought it was pretty unusual that one of the cans of IMR4320 still had a cello wrap around it. Guess I will just open them and use what I can.

Donald
 
I have used a lot of older powder from the 50s and even older, primers too. If they have been sealed and kept cool they are usually OK.

If the powder smells flunky or has a rust like dust in it, it will have a faster burn rate.

Good Luck
 
Two of the old Hodgdon cans just say Ball C. It has loading recomendations on the back. But of course no PPC. Is the the old Ball powder that so many treasured and still do?

Donald
 
Donald I think that if it just says Ball C it's likely the surplus stuff known now as Ball C lot 1. All the Ball C i've ever bought over the last 40 years has been marked Bl-C(2). Two lb of it might be interesting to fiddle with, but wouldn't provide enough powder to really do anything.

Have fun!
 
Yeh, I know, 2lbs is just enough to prime the skillet. But heck, I just paid $80 for about 18lbs of powder plus the other oddities. Cans will be for sale if anyone is interested. Email me for pics. Sorry if this is a blatent advertisment Wilbur. Just kick me off if it is.

Donald
 
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