Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Old metal cans of IMR Powder, are they worth anything?

I was going through some of my reloading "stuff" today and I found some of my old cans of IMR have started to go bad. These are in the old metal cans. Are these cans worth anything or are they junk which need to be thrown away? BTW, I have already dumped the powder.

They are great for photo props

Great as mancave/gunroom decor especially the early red white and blue cans.

Yeah, which is the main reason I have some around, along with a few of the old Hodgdon cardboard powder "cans."

I still have a couple of the 8-pound IMR metal cans, but they're holding new powder. They fit better in my powder storage coolers than any of the new plastic containers, due to the rectangular shape. The plastic containers are either round, or at least rounded.

I had some 30+ ones I called Hogdon about before I tossed them, they said they have one of each can they ever made in the museum.

- I still got a bunch of 30+ year old primers I don't know what to do with.

Mule Deer,

Do you have any idea, what the cans are made from? I tried a magnet and it does stick to it.

That is what I was thinking, but my wife is having her fall cleaning mood. Looks like they may be headed for the trash or recycle bin.

I've always assumed they were steel, since a magnet sticks and they will rust!

If they've been stored properly then use them. Not that long ago I finished up a stash of 30+ year old primers and they worked great.

Thanks. I thought the same as well.

Glad this thread popped up; because I recently "rediscovered" an old metal 1 lb. IMR-4320 can, (empty) and was wondering what to do with it. Guess it can stay here for "interior decoration" purposes. It's the only metal can left around here so it could also be for that "retro" look.

Go bad? I have some powder that's been around for many a year including some in cardboard containers so what do I look for to identify "bad"?

Hanging around by the corner, always giving you the "eye" when you drive by....

Damn, I have a bunch still sealed.

and/or use the contents in a 7x57 load test.

I have primers from the 40's that are still good (FA-70 gov't primer).

My 86 year old landlord gave me a bunch of powders, DuPont and Alcan from the 60's. It was all good yet despite having been stored in a garage a lot of that time. As I emptied the cans I tossed them- have enough of that junk around! If I get anymore I'll post them here.

How about a 60 year old steel keg of Bullseye, round an red, with a bunch of powder still in it? It's still good yet too; I've been whittling away at it for years. Takes a while when your bites are only a couple grains at a time!

I remember when Hodgdon was still selling WWII surplus 4831 in cardboard kegs for around $.50/pound. My dad and his buddies would split a 20-pounder. I still have some of that powder decanted into screw top steel cans, which I use for "nostalgia" ammo now and then.

I've still got some that are sealed and full of powder. I also have some Unique & Bullseye from the 1930's that are full and still sealed from the factory.

ALL my IMR powders look like those. MOST are still sealed. SO FAR, I have not had any powder to go bad. SO FAR.

If you have metal cans of IMR powder, I'll be glad to get them off your hands. A simple PM will get the ball rollin.

Jerry

Look into the container and you will see what looks like rust mixed in with the powder. You may also see it along the walls of the container.

My IMR-4831 used to look like that isn't it just the coating of the kernels of powder? That stuff I used to burn sure wasn't bad!

Got some of this. Looks like rust mixed with the powder. It will kick up some air born brown dust when poured through the funnel. It's one of my IMR powders I still have but I don't remember which. I have been using Hodgden powders for the past five years. What am I dealing with?

Have 16 cans of IMR4350 Dad left. Says improved military rifle powder on the can. Not using it just sits on the shelf.

Seven years ago I got a case of Remington 9 1/2 primers marked 1956 on the box. They were packaged from Remington in a white cardboard box and the primers were packaged in little wooden boxes with cardboard sliders. I reloaded every one of those primers and they all went off and accuracy wasn't a problem.

As to the original question, I would say that the fact that I have a few is proof positive that they have no monetary value.

Not IMR, but interesting, nevertheless.



A good friend gave me two of those, probably bought them in 1960, and I spent one loading for a 222R and a friend's 444M. It smelled good, looked good, and performed almost exactly lime new N200.

I decided to keep this second can unopened and wearing its original seal.

Most are full. [img:center][/img]

Empty powder cans are regularly offered and sold on gunbroker and ebay, occasionally for good prices.
--Bob

Sealed cans, I would be interested in if not rusted on the outside.
Open cans, if the powder smells bad it makes good lawn fertilizer, if it smells normal use it.

Rug3,
That powder is decomposing. It is no longer safely usable. At some point in the future it can become unstable and dangerous. You should just sprinkle it out into the lawn or garden.

Here is an extremely informative link about the dangers of deteriorating powder, courtesy of DENTON:

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=157820

Sure glad this thread appeared. Looks like the lawn gets some nitrates.

Thanks men
Jim