Friend bought a bunch of reloading items previously belonging to a shooter he knew that died.  He sold me two cans of Dupont IMR4227 - $10.  (I've been buying IMR 4227 in plastic containers, so I know it's old.

One can had no seal, marked $17.75 R21X on top, and was filled to the bottom of the spout.  It looks similar to 4227 but I figure it was an accident waiting to happen.  I plan to dump it in a bucket of water, let it sit awhile, then throw it out.

The second can of IMR 4227 had a seal, was marked 4227 on top, and appeared filled to the typical level (3/4s).  What concerns me is 1) age, and 2) there was some dust when I pour the powder out into the powder measure.  Should I toss the second can out?

BTW - Neither cans have a strong acrid odor.

Thanks.  First can dumped into yard.  Hodgdon said second can O.K., not reddish, doesn't have strong odor.

Yes, it was.  But I still had misgivings.  So I dumped the entire can into a clean container and there was some red dust forming.  Not much but some.   

Not wanting to ruin my budding underwear modeling career - the second can joined the first in the yard.

Bet the back yard will look great in the fall!

I have a can of Unique that I bought back about 1987. Would the red dust also apply to it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm pretty conservative when it comes to safety, but you've got me beat.   

In this case, given that anything that looks like 4227 is slower powder, I would have loaded a starting load of 4227 in my browning high wall .45-70 and 300 grain bullet with each can of powder, and a known can of 4227.  Then, would have fired them across the chronograph.  If they were similar in velocity, I would have blended all the cans and made one lot and been happy to have the bargain powder.  The browning 45-70 with a 300 grain bullet can easily stand a very stiff load of essentially any IMR rifle powder, so no safety concerns in this particular instance.  This is only the situation because of the lighter bullet weight and the expansion ratio of the straight case and large bore of the .45-70.   Using this procedure with any powder and cartridge and  rifle is not a good course, just in this particular instance it would have made sense to me, at least.  I have experience with this rifle/cartidge/powder developing very hot loads in the Browning, so had some personal experience to go from also.

Unless the powder is visually degrading and has a bad smell, it is good to use.  And, it doesn't get unsafe, just gets less consistent in velocity.

dave

I believe the better choice for the disposal of old degrading nitro powder would be to apply it to my tomato plants, rather than to apply it on the lawn.

I have visions of resulting Jumbo Beefsteak tomatoes on steroids that will wake up your Buffalo Burgers beyond your wildest dreams.
 

CMM