Old Cans of Hodgdon 4895 - I wonder if this powder is any good

[Pat Riot]

I was at my gun range’s store today looking at their selection of smokeless powders. 
They have 3 pounds of Hodgdon 4895 in tin cans that I cannot even find photos or images of online. It looks like early Hodgdon packaging. I cannot tell if the cans are swelled from pressure on top or if the cans were made that way. They appear to be made that way. 
Would you try this powder?
Here are some photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spoke to the manager about this powder and he said it belonged to another member and he has no idea of the history of the powder or how it was stored. 
I considered buying a can, but if the can top is popped up because of powder breakdown that would be a big “NO” on trying it. 
Each can had mini rust on the outside. 
 

I am curious as to when this may have been made. Hodgdon started making powders in 1947.

[J-BAR #18287]

4895 is a terrific powder, I love it.  But the few bucks you might save over buying fresh powder are not worth the risk IMO.

 

Buy recently made powder and let the collectors have the ancient stuff.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

I seriously doubt only one end of the can would bulge from pressure. If there was pressure, the large slab sides of the can would bulge first. The other clue is the top of the cans appear to be identical, suggesting they were made that way. 
 

You’ll know when you break the seal on the lid. If it goes “phffft” when you do, I’d pass on using it. Even if it doesn’t, I’d still be hesitant. A call to Hodgdon would be helpful. 
 

BTW, I picked up a couple of bottles of IMR 4895 a couple weeks ago at my local Scheels for $62/lb. 

[Alpo]

I don't know if the bulgy top would bother me, but the rust on the can definitely would.

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

As old as that appears and the rust on the outside of the can..........

Even as inexpensive as it is, I think I'd pass.

[Three Foot Johnson]

That style can was used from the early 60's to maybe '71 or so. The domed top was made that way. I can't make out the number on that can, perhaps 69GS??

 

The one in my collection is marked 69JS?C - The 69 could very well mean 1969, with the next four letters being either a date code or lot number. 

[Pat Riot]

Thank you, Pards 

 

I appreciate the responses. I wasn’t seriously entertaining buying them, but it did cross my mind…more than once. 
The thing that baffled me was that I could not find a photo of that style of can / label. I figured they had to be old. 

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

BTW, I picked up a couple of bottles of IMR 4895 a couple weeks ago at my local Scheels for $62/lb. 

IMR-4895 is my favorite rifle powder. I cannot find it locally. I can get it online, but I have noticed lots of sellers jacking up shipping rates. Some are adding to Haz-Mat fees as if those fees have gone up. One company I recently bought from not only had high shipping prices, but on the final page of processing my order they added a $7 fee for “guaranteed shipment routing”.  WTH is that? The company? Sportsman Fulfillment Center, or something like that. They didn’t like my review so they wouldn’t post it. 
 

 

6 hours ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

That style can was used from the early 60's to maybe '71 or so. The domed top was made that way. I can't make out the number on that can, perhaps 69GS??

 

The one in my collection is marked 69JS?C - The 69 could very well mean 1969, with the next four letters being either a date code or lot number. 

I tried zooming in and looking at that number. 
 

[Pat Riot]

8 hours ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

4895 is a terrific powder, I love it.  But the few bucks you might save over buying fresh powder are not worth the risk IMO.

 

Buy recently made powder and let the collectors have the ancient stuff.

I forgot to mention that Hodgdon 4895 is getting scarce fast. If you need some you’d best get it soon. 
 

Only 2 vendors on AmmoSeek have it and LG Outdoors gets some really bad reviews. 

[Pat Riot]

I can’t find IMR 4895 locally anywhere. BPS’ website says they have in stock at my local Bass Pro, but they don’t. 
Sportsman’s Warehouse, who never has anything stock listed as “in stock” had 8 1-pound containers of Winchester StaBall Match on their shelves so I bought 4 of them. All the same Lot #.
This powder gets great reviews for .308 Win loaded with 147/150 grain bullets. 
Paid $50 per #. That beats $55 plus Hazmat & Shipping. 
 

 

https://shop.hodgdon.com/winchester-staball-match/

 

Now I get to ladder test some hand loads. 

[Rip Snorter]

You might try their loading website.  I have found it to be excellent.

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

I have been using 4895 since the 50's and still do. My Dad and a couple of friends bought 25# of surplus 4895 in the early 195o's and used it exclusively for their hunting loads. (I did too). My surplus 03 Springfield loves it. I still have some (about 3#) and use it for that rifle only. 

My experience is that powder, if stored correctly will last a long time. Powder doesn't like heat or moisture. Store it in a cool, dry place and it will last as long as my surplus 4895 has. One t5hing to remember, all 4905 is not the same. Military, H4895 and IMR 4895 all have different burn rates with the IMR being the hottest and you need to reduce your loads compared to the others.

 

If I bought a pound of this H4895 and opened it and the powder looked normal (no dust or white powder mixed in the powder), I would buy the rest and use it!

[Pat Riot]

14 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

You might try their loading website.  I have found it to be excellent.

I use the Hodgdon site all the time. I like it. I mostly use their powders for all my reloading. 

[Rip Snorter]

7 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

I use the Hodgdon site all the time. I like it. I mostly use their powders for all my reloading. 

They might be willing to give some info on the powder.  I have a can or two that are old, 5 - 10 years, but nothing like those which I suspect are ancient!

[Cholla]

Smokeless powder not stored in the proper temperature range can deteriorate and become unstable. Since you have no idea where it was stored, I recommend not buying it. Mr. Hodgdon was on a recent podcast and said their powder should be stored in a controlled environment, meaning heating and cooling. Storing in a garage, shed, barn, basement, or attic that is not a controlled environment can change the properties of the powder over time.

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, Cholla said:

Smokeless powder not stored in the proper temperature range can deteriorate and become unstable. Since you have no idea where it was stored, I recommend not buying it. Mr. Hodgdon was on a recent podcast and said their powder should be stored in a controlled environment, meaning heating and cooling. Storing in a garage, shed, barn, basement, or attic that is not a controlled environment can change the properties of the powder over time.

Oh, I am definitely not buying it. 
 

A few years back I was given some powder that I did not trust. It was in tin bottles with surface rust on them. A pard said he was interested in having it so I gave it to him. He said it was okay, but I would not use it. My friend was moving to Hawaii and coukdn’t take powder with him. He gave it to me to dispose of. 
 

 

[Cypress Sun]

13 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

Oh, I am definitely not buying it. 
 

A few years back I was given some powder that I did not trust. It was in tin bottles with surface rust on them. A pard said he was interested in having it so I gave it to him. He said it was okay, but I would not use it. My friend was moving to Hawaii and coukdn’t take powder with him. He gave it to me to dispose of. 
 

 

 

Old, untrustworthy smokeless powder is best used on fire ant mounds. Stir the mound with a stick to get them real pissed off, sprinkle powder on top and toss a match. Repeat if necessary.

[T.K.]

The cans appear to be made that way. The lack of any substatial surface rust on the cans indicates they were probably stored properly.

As long as it was stored in a cool, dry place it should be fine.

[Three Foot Johnson]

10 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

 

You're looking at it upside down - the string of characters starts with 69.

[Cholla]

2 hours ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

Old, untrustworthy smokeless powder is best used on fire ant mounds. Stir the mound with a stick to get them real pissed off, sprinkle powder on top and toss a match. Repeat if necessary.

I singed my hair in 1989 doing that with blackpowder. I thought my wife was going into labor from laughing.

[Cypress Sun]

Just now, Cholla said:

I singed my hair in 1989 doing that with blackpowder. I thought my wife was going into labor from laughing.

 

That's why I highlighted smokeless. I have my own experiences with blackpowder.

[Pat Riot]

2 hours ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

You're looking at it upside down - the string of characters starts with 69.

[bgavin]

Both IMR and Hodgdon versions of 4895 can be downloaded.

[El Chapo]

$35 a pound for 50+ year old powder?  No.  If it was $3.50, I might load a few cartridges and see what it could do.

[Pb Mark]

IMR is not temperature stabilized chemistry.  H4895 is temp stabilized.  At least that is how it used to be before all of the powder chemistry began changing a few years ago.  

 

At this moment, IMR4895 is in stock at: Mile High, Natchez, Mid-South, Powder Valley, Hodgdon, Midway, Graf's, Blue Collar.

 

The H4895 shows no stock on the up to the minute database that I use.  Kind of find that strange.  

 

Looks like from your picture posted, you have an old paper can of Winchester 231 sitting behind those antique cans of H4895.  I am still using W231 like that from maybe 40? years ago but would donate those (empty) cans of H4895 to those who collect that stuff and use the powder on my lawn.  Opinion only.

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, Pb Mark said:

IMR is not temperature stabilized chemistry.  H4895 is temp stabilized.  At least that is how it used to be before all of the powder chemistry began changing a few years ago.  

 

At this moment, IMR4895 is in stock at: Mile High, Natchez, Mid-South, Powder Valley, Hodgdon, Midway, Graf's, Blue Collar.

 

The H4895 shows no stock on the up to the minute database that I use.  Kind of find that strange.  

 

Looks like from your picture posted, you have an old paper can of Winchester 231 sitting behind those antique cans of H4895.  I am still using W231 like that from maybe 40? years ago but would donate those (empty) cans of H4895 to those who collect that stuff and use the powder on my lawn.  Opinion only.

Thanks. Yeah I found IMR 4895 on AmmoSeek. I just didn’t want to pay a high price then tack on shipping and HazMat costs. 
There is an old can of W231 behind the H4895. I actually didn’t look at it so I don’t know what the price or condition is. 
H4895 has been out of stock on Hodgdon’s website for quite some time. So has another favorite pistol powder of mine, Universal. 
About 4 months ago I sent Hodgdon an email asking when Universal would be back in stock. Their response was essentially “At this time we do not know.”

Perhaps Universal is being used for military applications. Who knows. They didn’t say.  

[El Chapo]

23 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

Thanks. Yeah I found IMR 4895 on AmmoSeek. I just didn’t want to pay a high price then tack on shipping and HazMat costs. 
There is an old can of W231 behind the H4895. I actually didn’t look at it so I don’t know what the price or condition is. 
H4895 has been out of stock on Hodgdon’s website for quite some time. So has another favorite pistol powder of mine, Universal. 
About 4 months ago I sent Hodgdon an email asking when Universal would be back in stock. Their response was essentially “At this time we do not know.”

Perhaps Universal is being used for military applications. Who knows. They didn’t say.  

 

Universal is discontinued along with the entirety of the "clays" line.  Or at least its production is suspended indefinitely, so it'll be a miracle if it ever comes back.

 

Try Accurate #5 or CFE Pistol as alternatives for pistol.  You may see Ramshot Silhouette or Winchester WSF as well. 

 

All of Hodgdon's Extreme powders are hard to come by when times are tough.  That includes Benchmark, H4895, Varget, H4350, H1000, etc.  They are among the most sought after rifle powders on the market.  Lately they've been available here and there, but if you're a high volume rifle shooter, you need to keep 1-2 8 pound jugs of those on hand at all times.

[Sam Sackett]

I have a couple of cans of IMR 4895 from back in the late seventies. They are in the newer pink cans with the screw on cap. I still am using that powder with no issues. I don’t know when the cans changed, but your powder is older. No way I would pay $35 per can for that. 
 

Sam Sackett