Inspecting 'hand me down' powder and primers

[Kokopelli]

I was given a bunch of reloading supplies. Lead, bullets, brass, powder, 6,000 primers and lead casting tools. Unfortunately, the powder and primer age and storage conditions are unknown. It was located in the high desert, where humidity is usually low but garage temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit during summer. Again, that's a worst case scenario as I have no idea how they were stored.

I inspected the powder in three opened containers and there is no clumping, no red dust and no acidic spell. I did not inspect the unopened can of Bullseye yet. The primers have been vacuum packed. The white paper label on the can of 231 is slightly yellowed. It appears that the previous owner was conscientious with their supplies.

What else, if anything, should I be cautious about in using these hand-me-down powders and primers, with an unknown history and storage environment? I plan to test the powder by loading some 38 Specials and firing them in a 357 magnum revolver.

[sargenv]

They should be fine.. as usual, start at 10% below max and work up.. Dry environment is better than damp even if there was some heat involved.. The old paper cans were likely better insulated than the modern plastic cans we have now.. I'd test it, then work up to a good load and shoot it all.

I've bought older stuff than what you have there in unknown storage conditions and had no issues. Modern canister grade powder tends to be very stable.

[Kokopelli]

Thanks, sargenv!

[Divernhunter]

I would use them. You should be fine as stated above.

[Meety Peety]

This is what glocks are for. Load up some test rounds and put them through the gun you care about the least (Glock). In all seriousness though, I'd be very surprised if they weren't perfectly fine..

[mjmagee67]

I'd use it all.

[pacrat]

Choot it.

[robert101]

I would not hesitate to let my ex-wife shoot that stuff. In all seriousness, I'd load and shoot that stuff. Heck some of my supplies might even be older.

[Kokopelli]

Okay then. Consensus it that I'm good to go. Today, I'm prepping some 38 Special cases and will load up some starter loads using cast lead projectiles. At ranges of 3.2 (Bullseye) to 4.9 (AA#5) grains per load, I'll likely blow through all of my 8,000 primers.

[Full Clip]

Nice haul.

[Scota4570]

Never seen double base or ball powder go bad. Old IMR stick powders definitely decompose. I have been given many pounds that were full of red powder and fumed when I opened them. All the Hercules flake and ball powder have been fine.