30 Year Old Black Powder

[ShootistJack]

Friends,

In my closet I have found some Goex FFg in its original can, and an additional amount in a brass flask.
It looks normal. I'd say that I bought it around 1990. Is it usable in a flintlock or should it be discarded
for safety reasons?

 

[Bob McBride]

Use it. I’ve shot a lot of powder from the 1800’s. If it looks fine it is fine.

 

[duca]

Use it!!!

 

[garypl]

Use it - I've shot powder that had to be over 50 years old - worked fine...

 

[ShootistJack]

Thank you all for the Good News !

 

[david w]

Friends,

In my closet I have found some Goex FFg in its original can, and an additional amount in a brass flask.
It looks normal. I'd say that I bought it around 1990. Is it usable in a flintlock or should it be discarded
for safety reasons?
View attachment 143243

It is very dangerous! I will come and pick it up for proper disposal. All kidding aside, black powder does not decompose. Use it, and hang the can on the wall for display. Everything is in plastic cans these days. I still have a few cans of Goex that was made in the 70's. I have no qualms of shooting 50 year old powder. The only reason the Goex was set aside is, I switched to Swiss.

 

[ohio ramrod]

As David stated it is dangerous and could explode. I will dispose of it if for some reason David can't.

 

[david w]

As David stated it is dangerous and could explode. I will dispose of it if for some reason David can't.

Oh, I think I can handle it!

 

[deerstalkert]

the only way black powder can degrade is if it gets wet and the kno3 is absorbed by the container. it would have to be wood, paper, etc to absorb enough to make a difference.

 

[Bassdog1]

I have at least 20 cans that are that old or older. Shoots great.

 

[springfield art]

Friends,

In my closet I have found some Goex FFg in its original can, and an additional amount in a brass flask.
It looks normal. I'd say that I bought it around 1990. Is it usable in a flintlock or should it be discarded
for safety reasons?
View attachment 143243

 

[springfield art]

It's as good as new. Whenever they find black powder-loaded cannon shells from the Civil War, they still handle them as though they're still explosive. It's as safe as the day it was made. I'm sure many will agree with my post. (As long as it was stored OK, as you appear to have been. )

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Dixie Gun Works sold Rev War and Civil war black powder for decades.

 

[DTCoffin]

Gosh , I hope it's ok, or else I'll be throwing out about 12-15#'s of it .
Seriously though, if it's been stored properly- dry and stable temperature environment it's good to go.

 

[gunnyr]

Black powder or any gun powder , if stored in other than ideal situations, has a green tint or acid smell
it has started to deuterate. Just use it as fast as you can. You will probably get haphazard function of
said powder, Cool , dry , dark place is the ideal place for storage , just try to control temperature swings.
gunny

 

[hanshi]

Black powder, unless kept in wet storage, does not deteriorate as does smokeless. Two hundred year old BP is still as good as ever. I've used BP that's at least 40 plus years old.

 

[ShootistJack]

Thank you all again!

 

[david w]

Thank you all again!

You're welcome! I have stored BP for almost 50 years in a shed (non-controlled environment). It is still as good as the day it was purchased. I just tried some on Monday.

 

[gvandersluis]

A friend gave me 2 tins of goex 3fg powder in identical tins to yours the tins were marked 1958 on the bottom. It shot beautifully in my TC Patriot and Seneca. I wish I had more

 

[smoothshooter]

Friends,

In my closet I have found some Goex FFg in its original can, and an additional amount in a brass flask.
It looks normal. I'd say that I bought it around 1990. Is it usable in a flintlock or should it be discarded
for safety reasons?
View attachment 143243

Black powder has the best shelf life of all powder.
A lot of smokeless powder is good for 100+ years if it has not been stored in a prolonged, high temperature environment. Heat can cause the nitrocellulose to break down some.
Black powder is good for much longer than that. Almost indefinite shelf life.
If there are clumps in it, shake the container well to break them up. A wooden stick breaks them up good too.