reloading with unknown components

[fallfornoone]

hey guys
My grandpa just gave me a shotgun reloader he has had, with it came sealed but unknown powder and primers. The only thing about the powder I can say is it has a few green flakes in it. Per the back of the wad box it gives some loads for various shot weight so would I be safe loading the min on the box, looks to be 19.5gr per 1-1/8 shot? I would hate to throw all the stuff I have away.
Thanks

[CK_32]

Hah no.


I would not reload that powder until you find out what kind it is. Being shot it's not as dangerous but unknown is unknown. As for the rest the primers and shot don't matter but loading unknown powder is dangerous.

[Full Clip]

Negative. Powder isn't that expensive.

[stilly]

Hah no.


I would not reload that powder until you find out what kind it is. Being shot it's not as dangerous but unknown is unknown. As for the rest the primers and shot don't matter but loading unknown powder is dangerous.

The books ALL tell you this is a big NONO!

Toss the powder, buy new fresh powder and keep the rest. If you do not know what the powder is then NEVER use it unless you have terminal cancer and go shooting alone and don't care about life. Then you have permission to take your life carelessly into your hands and mabe become a pioneer or maybe just kill yourself.

[fallfornoone]

cool, thanks guys. any particular 12ga powder i should look for?

['ol shooter]

Load a couple primers and see if they go off okay. Lots of good powders out there, if you can find them. Look here for the suppliers list.

[Broccoli Killer]

For shotshell reloading, PLEASE FOLLOW THE LOAD DATA EXACTLY!!
DO NOT SUBSTITUTE COMPONENTS... EVER!

Unlike rifle or pistol reloading, you cannot 'work up' loads while reloading shotshells.
Doing so can result in unsafe pressure spikes that can damage your firearm, or you in the worst case.

Do yourself a favor and buy yourself a shotshell reloading book. You'll thank me later.

[JagerDog]

Ask Gramps what it is.

I'm curious how it's "sealed, but not labled".

Sounds like Green Dot. Got pics?

[Sky_DiveR]

Broccoli Killer is right. It's nice that you got all this free stuff but it's not worth the possible damage and/or injury... or worse. Don't guess at what the powder is (makes great fertilizer, tho). Get a reloading manual and start reading. If you don't want to spend the money, try the library.

Shotshell reloading is not like cartridge reloading.

[Audredger]

Not worth trying to save... put it on the garden. Powder, primers & wads are cheap; eyes & hands not so cheap!

[uhlan1]

I'd be spreading that on my lawn.
You be crazee man to use a powder you are not 1000% sure of.