Old powder?

[wildfnbill]

I found some old powder thats kinda "chunky".

What should I do with it?

fffg

I'm buying new powder, just wondering if anyone has ever busted up old powder or not.
Also wondering about a safe, maybe fun way of disposing of it.:eek:

Thanks, Bill

[tucker301]

Have some fun with it, but don't use in any loads.
Some PVC pipe fittings and some generic fuses can be shload of fun with old powder.

[riceducker]

Have some fun with it, but don't use in any loads.
Some PVC pipe fittings and some generic fuses can be shload of fun with old powder.

Just an FYI if anyone wants to have fun with this suggestion. Don't want to rain on anyone's parade,but putting the powder into pipe fittings with fuses equals pipe bomb / making. With the current climate, If you live anywhere in earshot of the explosion being heard, wouldn't recommend this. It could lead to a felony record if caught. Even if it is for fun and no I'll intent, but I do live in California.

[tucker301]

Definitely a CA thing.
Around here, if your neighbors hear an explosion, your cell rings - "Hey man, wait 'til I get there with some more beer before you do another one!"

[wildfnbill]

Thanks fellers, but you're too late. Went fishin with it last week. 7 nice bullhead floated up. Nobody heard a thing except some fish fryin'.

[MontefeltroPro]

Thanks fellers, but you're too late. Went fishin with it last week. 7 nice bullhead floated up. Nobody heard a thing except some fish fryin'.
Way to go, wildfnbill! I admire your "pioneer" spirit. Have you seen the movie "Second Hand Lions?" Robert Duval and Michael Caine were fishing with shotguns!...(not Benellis but they were getting the job done!)

[Novaking]

Definitely a CA thing.
Around here, if your neighbors hear an explosion, your cell rings - "Hey man, wait 'til I get there with some more beer before you do another one!"


That sounds like shooting a duck out of season.:p

[MontefeltroPro]

That sounds like shooting a duck out of season.:p
(Practically) no one on this forum would even think of doing that! ...know what I mean? ... (don't want to call names.) I'm a "peaceful" kind of guy.

[Novaking]

(Practically) no one on this forum would even think of doing that! ...know what I mean? ... (don't want to call names.) I'm a "peaceful" kind of guy.


I wouldn't eather. But I think he is your texan neighbor:cool:

[Gatofeo]

Putting powder into a pipe, adding a fuze and capping it constitutes making a bomb -- under Federal Law.
You just committed a Federal felony, doing so.
It's been this way for many, many years -- long before the Sept. 11 attack. Current climate has nothing to do with it.
Using an explosive for "fishing" is illegal in all states, and almost certainly is illegal at the federal level.
Such Tomfoolery can get you charged with multiple felonies. By the time you've paid for a defense attorney and posted bail and so on, you could very well lose your house, vehicle, possessions and perhaps a not-so-understanding spouse.
It's just not worth taking the risk of making one of these PVC bombs, even for fun.

You don't say whether you have black powder, modern smokeless powder.
It makes a difference as to what can be done with it.

BLACK POWDER
Now, if that black powder was clumpy then it may have been exposed to a little moisture. Spread it on sheets of newspaper, put in the hot sun, and dry it. It may lack a little of the original power but it would be okay for cap and ball revolvers, blanks in cartridge guns or a salute cannon.
I wouldn't use it for hunting, or target shooting, where powder freshness and strength is critical.
Or, sprinkle it over the lawn and turn on the sprinkler. It will leach down into the grass and become fertilizer.

SMOKELESS POWDER
Don't use it! That clumpiness is an indication that it's degraded.
Smokeless powder usually smells slightly of ether, and will look fresh and flow freely.
If it has a strong, acidic odor, has a red dust in it, and is clumped then it's bad.
Sprinkle it over the lawn, turn on the sprinkler, and it will become fertilizer.
Don't put it where any animal -- including humans -- might accidentally eat it. Many varieties of smokeless powder contain nitroglycerin, which can affect heart rate.

Don't throw it away where someone might flick a cigarette into it, though if sprinkled on the lawn this won't pose much of a danger if you water the lawn well after doing so.

The states and Uncle Sam take a very dim view of making your own pyrotechnics and bombs. It's not just a "wink and grin" offense, not since the firearms and explosives laws of 1934 and 1968, at the least.
Game departments will rack you up too, if you use it for "fishing." Doing so is illegal. Using it makes you a poacher.

[tucker301]

Are you an old thread revival tour?
He already used up the powder and I'm sure he's eaten the fish by now.

[BM4robbins]

Are you an old thread revival tour?
He already used up the powder and I'm sure he's eaten the fish by now.

More great fun on the revival tour; (substitute hot-dogs and fresh powder here since the fish are all gone)
I believe black powder is a tool, rather than a b**b when used for the likes of stump removal and solid earth aeration to name a few. An unfortunate waste of good plumbing components, but working smarter ought not be a felony.
Prudence and self determination with a pinch of discretion will prevail.

Blow it up!!!