How old is this powder?

[Flint1]

The powder is still good. That's why Civil War artillery shells are still a danger when unearthed today. Shoot the powder and keep the can. I have several cans like the one on the right I bought in the 80's over my kitchen cabinets. If you have other old cans that can will make a great display.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I picked this estate sale stuff up for $100. From all of the other parts it appears to be from the 60s or 70s.

I wonder what the 30-06 cases with what appears to be cast lead tops were for, the tops don't come off.

The price tag says $4.98

 

[desi23]

I like the old Hodgdon can. I think they were getting their powder from a British company back then. As to your 30-06 cases, could the lead be a plug that has gotten stuck? I have known people to use a fired cartridge case to carry pre-measured powder charges.

 

[springfield art]

Got 1,200 caps and a few cans of powder at a probate auction a while back, was wondering if anyone would know how old this can of Dupont FFFG is. Can was full and powder appears ok.

Wow! Goes back quite a ways. They say BP doesn't deteriorate if kept dry. Look at the Civil War shells that will still blow up! Can is worth good money as an antique. Nice find!

 

[Marshhawk]

My last cans of Goex are at least 41 years old. Still sends the lead downrange with a thwack!

 

[Gorloff]

I was buying DuPont black powder in 1971 / 1972 at Jenson's Custom Ammunition, Tucson, Arizona for $1.95 per pound. I shot my old Trapdoor Springfield a lot back then, and it also had a .45 caliber muzzle loading barrel that would drop right into it. So I went thru a lot of powder. Seems cheap now, but my minimum wage job back then was $1.65 per hour working at Arby's

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I have a couple of those blue plastic cap tins and they say navy arms on them. I see you have a T/C breechplug removing block and other nice BP accessories. The horns look nice. As long as that powder has been sealed, it will shoot. I'm sure that can has collectors value.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[waarp8nt]

Anyone would know how old this can of Dupont FFFG is. Can was full and powder appears ok.

I love old powder cans, both blackpowder and smokeless. I've been after an older Dupont Black Powder can for quite sometime. They come up on auction from time to time. Sometimes they can be found at antique stores or fleamarkets. Anyway, congratulations on the find!

I have a few powder cans, some not all that rare Elephant, Hodgdon, Goex and a newer Dupont. Plus several smokeless cans. Below is the oldest black powder can I own.

 

[sheriff john]

Not to burst bubbles, but the oblong DuPont cans were what we bought in at least the early part of the 1960's. The labels say "1924", but they all say that. One of several I have left has $1.60 price written on it. Hogden metal-cap cans I still shoot from were $3.00. Plastic-stoppered cans are not antique. Neither is anything with a "zip code". While, in my experience, old black powder still burns after many years, old caps I've had become more "disappointing than devastating".

Then again, to old guys, much of our stuff is ...just old stuff to us. Can't see the fun in coil spring locks, plastic anything, 209 primers, nor much else on store shelves. But, for every pot, there's a lid and money talks. Old stuff has one thing new stuff don't --memories. Priceless.

 

[reddogge]

I have one of those too but have no remembrance of when or how I obtained it.

 

[Texcl2]

My dad used to buy black powder from some guy out of his garage, he packed it in a paper lunch bag if you didn’t bring cans, lol. Think it was $5 a pound if that tells you how long ago it was lol. Shooting was a hoot back in the 80’s and 90’s, guns and powder/caps were much more affordable and readily available.

 

[French Colonial]

 

[Eric Krewson]

I tested the Italian and older CCI caps in my picture above, not duds but they barely go bang, the ones in the blue plastic tins were especially weak.

 

[erk]

Have no idea but MAN what a great find!

I bet that powder will go bang like it was born yesterday.

Black powder is magical. It just lasts and lasts.

when i use to scuba dive i would somtimes find old ww2 ammo at ft adams with some brass missing but still had powder after it dried out it would still fire after being under water 70 plus years

 

[Mulebrain]

Powder from the Civil War still kills!