5yr old Goex still good?

[HardBall]

Ok guys,

I was cleaning out the closet and found some of my old BP stuff. 1lb of FFFg and 2lbs of FFg GOEX. It's got to be at least 5yrs old, probably spent 2 of those years in a garage. All three can's lids were still screwed on tight.

Would this stuff still be any good or should I chunk it? If I need to chunk it, what's a safe way of disposing it?

 

[Stumpkiller]

I've used older. I've been working on a 3 lb can of FFFg for maybe 15 years. :haha: I don't know about the stuff in the garage. Don't know what kind of temperature extremes it went through ("Earth" is kind of vauge), or even if or how it would effect the powder, if at all. I'd say shoot it.

Safest way to dispose of it is to soak it and bury it in your garden. The nitrates and carbon are good fertilizer

 

[Slowpoke]

Of course! If kept dry BP has an extremely long shelf life, maybe indefinately.

SP

 

what's a safe way of disposing it?

Shoot it, and have fun!! :haha: ::

YMHS
rollingb

 

[HardBall]

("Earth" is kind of vauge),

Good point... Location= Louisiana, USA (Earth)

The two years in a detatched garage were probably it's worst period of shelf life. Inside the garage it probably never dipped below 40F in the winter, but could have hit 100F in the summer. It's always humid here, but as I said, upon investigation, the caps were still screwed on tight- maybe the humidity never got to it?

The more I think about it, This powder is closer to 7, or even 8, years old. I guess I'll take Rollingb's advice and try disposing it properly ...by shooting it!

Thanks for the help, guys

 

[bsimardjr]

I just started shooting again after a looooong layoff from shooting. And my can of Goex FFG is over 15 years old and works fine. Just bought another can boy has the price gone up in 15 years.

Bob

 

[jdhiii]

I just finished a can of 2F from 1983. Worked fine. Keep your powder dry and it should be good. There isn't any chemical reason why properly stored BP shouldn't last a very long time. Now that I think about it, I don't have any powder that isn't at least 10 yrs old.
-d.

 

[leadball]

Well, if you are unsure, drop a lit match in the can. If it explodes on you, then you know the powder was still good :nono: :blah: :crackup: :crackup:

 

[flaming canvas]

Of course! If kept dry BP has an extremely long shelf life, maybe indefinately.

SP

Black powder is a mechanical mixture, not a compound. If anything, it will improve with age as the components continue to mix. Even if it is wet, all you have to do is dry it out and the moisture would only improve the mixture.

 

[BambiSlayer]

If you are still afraid to use it you, I'll send you my address and you can send it here. :what: :shocking: I'll be happy to dispose of the stuff for ya. :haha: :haha: :haha: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: As a ML form public service. Shoot I'll even let Claude and MM help. :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:

 

[headmark]

Heck! I'm still shooting Goex FFg that my dad bought 20yrs ago for the CVA Hawkens he put together.

I also live in the Inland Northwest and it hasn't seen the best of storage handling practices.

I'd say shoot it up, has to be the best way to get rid of powder you don't want.

Pete

 

[HardBall]

Just bought another can boy has the price gone up in 15 years.

Bob

Tell me about it! The price tag on my cans say $8 and this was from a local shop that is not know for low prices. They don't even carry it anymore. The only place that does is my local BassPro Shop and they want $15 / lb. After I shoot up my 3lbs of GOEX and my 2lbs of Pyrodex RS that I bought from WalMart, on sale for $11/lb, I'm going to start buying GOEX in 25lb lots from that place that Roundball talks about- (something-pyrotechnics?)

 

[musketman]

Would this stuff still be any good or should I chunk it? If I need to chunk it, what's a safe way of disposing it?

First off, there is still Civil War shells with active black powder in them being found after being buried in the ground for over 140 years, so the 5 year old stuff is just getting ripe...

If you want to chuck it, wait for the 4th of July, get a long length of cannon fuse and, you can guess the rest... :winking:

 

[jaybeach]

I see this thread is kinda old, but I'll ask a somewhat related question anyway.
I have a box of Federal 209 primers that were in a gun cabinet I bought about 30 years ago (prob'ly closer to 35). I just got an inline, and am wondering if they'll still be relaiable enuf for hunting - or should I just get some new ones. If so - how do I dispose of the old ones? :hmm:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Save the old ones for target shooting or soak them in old motor oil to kill the priming.

It's not worth the price to risk missing a deer over a 5

 

[roundball]

I see this thread is kinda old, but I'll ask a somewhat related question anyway.
I have a box of Federal 209 primers that were in a gun cabinet I bought about 30 years ago (prob'ly closer to 35). I just got an inline, and am wondering if they'll still be relaiable enuf for hunting - or should I just get some new ones. If so - how do I dispose of the old ones? :hmm:

FYI...some inlines specify a certain brand of 209 primer for a precise snug fit based upon dimensions...all 209's are not quite identical.

And FWIW, personally I wouldn't take a chance and waste my time even trying them...a $2.25 / 100 pack of primers will last an inline quite a while...

 

[Bob J]

I have a can of DuPont Ffg from 1923. It looks OK. Think it might still be safe to shoot?

 

[Rebel]

It should be. There have been cases of old original guns found with a charge left in them that still fired after more than 100 years.

 

[musketman]

I have a can of DuPont Ffg from 1923. It looks OK. Think it might still be safe to shoot?

Additional note: Save the can, old powder cans are becoming a hot collector's item in the shooters world...

 

[brushbuster]

i usually buy primers by the brick,i have some 209 primers that are 10 years old and are still fireing ,that being said ,i would throw away those 30 year old primers .thats too long a time for primers to sit on the shelf,by that time the priming compound is breaking down and dangerous.
as far as disposal call your local fire dept or take them over to them and let then dispose of them at their next practice fire :m2c: