Hodgon 4831 Powder

[rc50cal]

If you found a 1 lb can of Hodgdon 4831 powder in your garage, what would you do with it? I should mention that it is World War II surplus! Safe to reload?

[EmmaGoldman]

if it doesn't smell funny (like ammonia) and the inside of the can isn't rusty, use it!

Are you sure it isn't IMR 4831?

[FLIGHT762]

I'm still using the old Hodgdon WWII surplus 4831. It's packaged in the 1lb. rectangular cardboard cans. My cans have a price sticker of $1.64 from "White Front". Probably from the late 60's.

As long as the powder was stored properly, it will be fine. The color of the powder should be dark gray with no rusty color to it. It should have a light solvent smell to it, similar to acetone.

If it has a rusty color and smells acrid, it has gone bad.

Powders will last a very long time if it has been stored well.

IMR 4831 was introduced as a handloader canister powder in 1973. It's burning rate is a little faster than the Hodgdon 4831. Any reference to 4831 before 1973 refers to the slower Hodgdon product. The loading data for them is not interchangeable.

[pdq_wizzard]

I'm still using the old Hodgdon WWII surplus 4831. It's packaged in the 1lb. rectangular cardboard cans. My cans have a price sticker of $1.64 from "White Front". Probably from the late 60's.

As long as the powder was stored properly, it will be fine. The color of the powder should be dark gray with no rusty color to it. It should have a light solvent smell to it, similar to acetone.

If it has a rusty color and smells acrid, it has gone bad.

Powders will last a very long time if it has been stored well.

IMR 4831 was introduced as a handloader canister powder in 1973. It's burning rate is a little faster than the Hodgdon 4831. Any reference to 4831 before 1973 refers to the slower Hodgdon product. The loading data for them is not interchangeable.

Also, I have noticed some of the new books only show H4831SC, the SC stands for Short Cut, but per Hodgdon's website you can interchange them. (the old H4831 and the H4831SC) but with all powders from a difr lot start at the bottom and work up.

[subijitsu]

If you found a 1 lb can of Hodgdon 4831 powder in your garage, what would you do with it? I should mention that it is World War II surplus! Safe to reload?

I have recently loaded with some old Hodgdon 4831 and it shot the tightest groups out of my 30-06 thus far. Its in the rectangular cardboard cans as well, probably from the late 60s judging by some of the stuff I got with it. I am pretty new to handloading but it has given me great results so far.

[rc50cal]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't opened it yet, but when I do I'll let you know what it smells like. My father bought it at a little store in Nebraska in the 1970s.

[old-trapper]

I will never use old imr powders ( I had a batch go bad) but hodgdon seems to last a long time