Alcan AL-5 powder
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > As was stated, this powder is probably decades old. But IF IT HAS BEEN > PROPERLY STORED, i.e. cool and dry, it will more likely than not > be okay. I have a few pounds of AL-7 which I am using for some > .44 Mag reloads and it works fine, prior to this I used some AL-5 > for both 12 ga. and .44 reloads with no problems. > If the powder has an acidic aroma or strong smells (other than the > ether based solvents used in manufacturer) or it is showing any > orange, red or other color dust, (do not confuse this with colored > grains of powder which as I recall was white in AL-5) or clumping > together tendency, then it is best to destroy that powder. > If you are fortunate enough to live in a setting where the neighbors > don’t go all crazy if you have a three or four foot high flame in your > backyard for a few seconds, you can take small handfuls (no more than > a half-pound at a time would be my recomendation) and place it on > a fire-safe surface and run a fuse or trail for a few inchs then > light the fuse and let the powder burn out.
Another option to get rid of old powder is to spread it over your lawn. It is mostly nitrogen compounds and makes a pretty good fertilizer. I have done this with some old powder; no problem. Association (www.isra.org); The Wildlife Society; USPSA/IPSC - – - – Illegitimi Non Carborundum – - – - THOSE who trade essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin The dinosours died because they didn’t have a space program! Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
As was stated, this powder is probably decades old. But IF IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY STORED, i.e. cool and dry, it will more likely than not be okay. I have a few pounds of AL-7 which I am using for some .44 Mag reloads and it works fine, prior to this I used some AL-5 for both 12 ga. and .44 reloads with no problems. If the powder has an acidic aroma or strong smells (other than the ether based solvents used in manufacturer) or it is showing any orange, red or other color dust, (do not confuse this with colored grains of powder which as I recall was white in AL-5) or clumping together tendency, then it is best to destroy that powder. If you are fortunate enough to live in a setting where the neighbors don’t go all crazy if you have a three or four foot high flame in your backyard for a few seconds, you can take small handfuls (no more than a half-pound at a time would be my recomendation) and place it on a fire-safe surface and run a fuse or trail for a few inchs then light the fuse and let the powder burn out. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
