looking for some surplus 4895

[Parashooter]

IMR 4895 is a single-base powder. No nitroglycerin in it! See the source information at http://hodgdon.com/PDF/MSDS%20Files/...-%20Canada.pdf

[slamfire1]

Parashooter: You are right! My Lyman loading manual classifies IMR 4895 as a single base powder.

According to the expert, the Army scraps single based powders after 40 years, so the shelf life is twice that of double based powders.

I will have to ask the expert about the mechanism of deterioration for single based powders. The molecular structure he outlined were the Nitric Oxide bonds in nitrocellulose. He described how NG broke the NO double bonds in nitrocellulose. But I don’t know why the NO breaks off in the absence of NG. Maybe NC just takes longer to break down to a lower energy molecule in the absence of NG.

I have no doubt that single based powders break down releasing nitric acid. I have experienced it. The worst lot of surplus IMR 4895 turned red, smelled horribly bitter, and ate holes in cotton underwear! (Don’t ask)

So I have more to learn.

Don't we all

[Pattern14]

I'm using salvaged Turkish powder from WWll and have not had any problems. All my powder is stored in a cool very dry location.

I also am using Turkish powder from 1943 with no problems at all. The powder seems to have lasted much better than the brass!