How to get rid of black powder?
Question:
: > >I have some old black powder that I doubt is safe to use, it’s 7-9 years : > >old. How is the best way to safely dispose of it, I have an amount that : > >would fill a mayo jar 3/4 full? Black powder lasts a LONG time if stored properly. You powder is most likely fine to shoot. : or if in doubt, light it out in the yard.. YEAH but make sure to pour it into a deep pile and then bend over and get REAL close before you strike the match! One less fool doling out "advice". Best way to get rid of black powder is to use it to fertilize your lawn or garden. Make sure to water afterwards. :) Gunpowder is full of nitrogen and makes a great fertilizer but is a TAD expensive to use regularily. — Peter Cronhelm ZX-7 Carbon Fibre Racing Machine SBKracer YSR/YZ80 The Little Beast "I’m not the man you say I am, not radical nor mentally deranged." -Sons of Freedom- "No rights were ever given by the grace of god. No rights were ever given by some United Nations clause. No rights were ever given by some nice guy at the top. Our rights they were bought by all the blood and all the tears of all our grandmothers and grandfathers before us." -New Model Army- 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:
Hi folks, I have some old black powder that I doubt is safe to use, it’s 7-9 years old. How is the best way to safely dispose of it, I have an amount that would fill a mayo jar 3/4 full? Thanks, Joel 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:
>Hi folks, >I have some old black powder that I doubt is safe to use, it’s 7-9 years >old. How is the best way to safely dispose of it, I have an amount that >would fill a mayo jar 3/4 full?
Joel, if its been stored in the original cans, it’s more than likely still good. Fred 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:
> >Hi folks, >I have some old black powder that I doubt is safe to use, it’s 7-9 years >old. How is the best way to safely dispose of it, I have an amount that >would fill a mayo jar 3/4 full? > Joel, if its been stored in the original cans, it’s more than likely still > good. > Fred > –
A week ago, I took a nice deer with some 7+ year old pyrodex. Been kept dry in the original container, only opened once a year to refill the powder horn. — Views expressed are my own. 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:
Thanks guys. I think I know how I’m going to get rid of it now! 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:
I still have black powder that is 12 to 13 years old that was stored in its original can. I recently took out my black powder rifle which I haven’t shot in that time and used the old powder with the same loads as I first used and did not have any problems. Shot right where I aimed at when I sighted in the rifle 12 years ago. 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:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >= > >I have some old black powder that I doubt is safe to use, it’s 7-9 years >= > >old. How is the best way to safely dispose of it, I have an amount that >= > >would fill a mayo jar 3/4 full? >= > >= > Joel, if its been stored in the original cans, it’s more than likely still >= > good. >= A week ago, I took a nice deer with some 7+ year old pyrodex. Been >= kept dry in the original container, only opened once a year to refill >= the powder horn. >Correct me if I’m wrong, please: Isn’t one of the reasons for the >existence of pyrodex that it is more stable than black powder? >If so, I should think that one would not want to use experience >with pyrodex as evidence that old black powder is safe. Note that >that is not the same as saying that old black powder is not safe; I >simply don’t think that the two substances should be thought of as >equivalent. Comments?
Howdy, ya old buzzard.<g> I’ve never had black "go bad," but if not stored in a tight container, it will over time, draw moisture and therefore not be usable as intended. Pyro., however, is a modified black powder. In fact, it’s been "messed with" to the extent that the real definition is a "fence sitter" between a "replica powder" and modified black. Possibly the best description is a pyrotech mixture. It contains Dicyandiamide, a common rust inhibitor in industry, and will release cyanide at sub-combustion levels. It also contains potassium perchlorate. One formula in the Pyrodex patent shows the use of dextrine as a binder, and may be used it in their "pellets." In tests I’ve done, Pyro. (in all forms) is MORE corrosive than black. There’s a problem combining chlorates or perchlorates with elemental sulfur. The two together are fairly reactive and a self-accelerating "souring" action sets in when traces of moisture are present (ref: Tenny L. Davis’s, "The Chemistry of Powder & Explosives"). Once you open a bottle of Pyrodex and remove the seal you have a wide variation in shelf life, depending upon the humidity in the air getting into the container, and a much wider variation than with any black I’ve tested. Regards, Fred 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:
[...] = > >I have some old black powder that I doubt is safe to use, it’s 7-9 years = > >old. How is the best way to safely dispose of it, I have an amount that = > >would fill a mayo jar 3/4 full? [...] = or if in doubt, light it out in the yard.. Not in a pile, I hope! — Best regards, Charlie "Older than dirt" Sorsby Los Alamos, NM "I’m the NRA!" 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
