Shelf life of APP ?

[Major 2]

I had a about an oz. of Shockley's Gold in pre- opened OEM plastic container packed away.
It was at least 7-8 years old, though its lid was tight it had laid on its side for several years.
The powder was clumped and kinda stuck to the inside of the bottle.

I know I loaded, several 100 44 special and some 44 Russian from that bottle.
The Russian were all fired, but I still have several boxes (50 each) of the Special.

I wonder about the storage life of the loaded rounds.

So, as a test and a lark I decided to sacrifice the 1 oz remained to a POOF test.
I had to kinda shake and rattle the bottle to loosen it up.
Poured it on paper towel and wrapped it up, then place it on a Newpaper page, lit the newspaper and backed off.
It took about 45 seconds to reach the powder pack and POOF    
no compression of course, so no bang, but plenty smoke.
Certainly, not scientific or even safe really, but I was 30 feet away.

I'm thinking it still had some life.
I have another un-open sealed can of Shockley's Gold, bought at the same time (7-8 years) 

I'm thinking my 44 Special are fine as is the sealed can... what do the sages say ?

[bear tooth billy]

I'd load 1 round and shoot a steel plate. 1. Did it go off and clear the barrel.  2. Did it ring the steel like
a fresh reload. Then either shoot em' or use your spare time pulling bullets.


                                        BTB

[Froogal]

The one container of Shockey's gold that I have used was clumped when I first opened it, making it difficult to measure out with a dipper. I closed it up again and shook the heck out of it. Problem cured.

[Major 2]

The one container of Shockey's gold that I have used was clumped when I first opened it, making it difficult to measure out with a dipper. I closed it up again and shook the heck out of it. Problem cured.

Yeah, that's the ticket

[Abilene]

 I posted in one of Mako's threads on BP shotshells about some old commercial shotshells made with Pinnacle (APP) in paper hulls.  I bought them from a retiring shooter, and they must have been 15 years old.  Anyway, the boomed just fine but the paper had degraded so it split badly and the heads tore from the hull upon extraction.  So I think it would be okay in properly loaded metallic cartridges.  Major, I did the same as you with some of this stuff - I dissected 4 rounds so I could reload a few of the paper hulls with BP (they disintegrated just like with the Pinnacle, so the paper was already degraded) - and the powder in those shells was like a rock which I chipped out with an ice pick.  Anyways, I took those 4 shells worth of powder and chunks and set it off inside a sheet of newspaper on the back porch.  It whooshed and smoked just fine!   

[Bunk]

Since APP, unlike nitro powders (ug) is made using stable materials that do not degrade then as long as it is kept dry it should last as long as standard
Gunpowder. Carefully break up the lumps and bang away.
Some I have that is eight or so years old loads and shoots just fine and cleans up a lot easier.
Hold Center
Bunk

[44caliberkid]

I have an unopened pound of Shockey's Gold, some open APP and loaded cartridges with APP that go back as far as 2005. I also have 3 cans of 777 that I don't know the age of. I would use any of it. I used to have to break up chunks of APP when it was new.

[Major 2]

Thanks for the positive responses 

[Coffinmaker]

Holy Smokes!!! 

How about that for a lead in hey!!  I are sitting here wondering how I managed to skip over, miss, ignore, bypass this topic??  After all, I have been the Universal Poster Child for APP.  A proponent extraordinary if you will.  Oh, Hey, but I digress (oops)

I actually don't know that there is a "Shelf Life" applicable to APP.  As previously commented by Bunk, the components of APP are individually stable.  Some Lustrum ago I stocked up on APP (lots of it) and sometimes it gets a mite clumpy.  Break up the clumps and it works just fine.  I don't have any that has been stored for "Decades" but I wouldn't hesitate to use it if I did/had.  I do have some cartridges that have been onna shelf for 5 - 6 years and they all go BANG just fine too.

[Major 2]

I bought mine, at Sportsmans Warehouse in Lady Lake, FL.
That was back when they advertised they were "closing the branch" 
I think that was in 2016, They had storewide bargain sales at close out prices.

They had 6- 1 lbs. bottles of Shockey's Gold, they said I could not buy all 6 (something about be fair to other customers) so I bought 4,
Anyway, I still have 2 bottles unopened, and one I have opened.

Funny thing Sportsmans Warehouse in Lady Lake, FL. its still open for business, what's the deal about final closing was about I don't have clue 

[Coffinmaker]

Major 2 

Ah Yes.  The old "Truth in Advertising" scam.  Oft described as "Bait and Switch."  They are in FACT going to "Close" but the actual or proposed time line is carefully omitted.  Probably projected for a nebulous point in time around 2040 or 50.  Just don't hold yer breath.  Dead Blue and all that.

[Hair Trigger Jim]

I wish the Sportsman's in Grand Island would do the same kind of bait and switch.  Maybe every year or so.

[Major 2]

That SW branch is about 60 miles from my 20, so a round trip is a road trip.
I called them way back then, to be sure there was Shockey's Gold in stock, and a wasted trip did not ensue.
That's when, I was told they had just 6 cans left.
I tried to hold all 6 on my debit card but was refused and such no hold guarantee, I was told I just needed to come in, in effect take my chances.

I won't use Sportsmans Warehouse, or for that matter DICK's Sporting Goods (since their anti-gun policy)
but in fact, still carry shooting supplies. hypocrites...

Won't patronize, Starbucks (anti CCW) and other such establishments and sadly my favorite Catfish Restaurant    as they now post no CCW on the door.

OK off my soapbox....   
 

[Professor Marvel]

Sportsmans warehouse regularly advertises "stuff" on their interactive website as available in specific stores, yet
When one arrives one finds it has vaporized. Calling them (and lowes or home depot) is useless as no one answers the phone anymore.

I spent nearly two hours weekend before last waiting for an idiot studying to be a moron
Gun counter employee since primers all used to be behind the counter. He (lone employee) was too busy trying to puzzle
Out and fill in 2 purchase forms. SOB would neither make eye contact nor pause to answer a question to anyone.
Lil sob kept runing to the back room to chat consult with someone eles.  No large pistol to be had, whilst the web site stil shows them available in that store.... No percussion caps either, nor any loose sub powder. Only pellets.
I had gotten a LOT of black mz and 777 from them years ago before covid.
Now they are , as Mrs Marvel says, "tits on a boar" ... aka utterly useless.
I am  finally giving up on them entirely.

I will try cabellas, the only other big place. If i fail there i will order online as Coffin suggested in my other complaing thread lol.


Welcome to the 21st century, where everything is done via the WEB
And the WEB always breaks, cuz the kids dont know how to code or test.

I Think I will go buy myself a printing press, a wagon, and some mules....
And a field piece.
Take the traveling apothecary show on the road and add Cloud Seeding via artillary.
It worked for Capt. George Baylor didnt it?

Ohhhhh

Topic is shelf life of app
My black mz from the now pathetic sportsman warehouse is still good after... ummm
10 years?

As others have said, just bust it up. As a citric powder based propellat, it has a tendency to clump, but
Stirring up or gentle grinding with a wooden pestle seems to do the trick for me.

Prf mumbles

[Abilene]

I used to hear that if APP goes bad, it develops a rank smell.  But it smells pretty rank to me all the time, so I'm not sure how I would tell. 

[Professor Marvel]

I used to hear that if APP goes bad, it develops a rank smell.

Rank? ....    Captain? Major?

There are some powders that either turn color or stink as they degrade. But I am not sure that app degrades in that manner

[Coffinmaker]

WELL, well . . . 

Perfesser

To some, APP smells funny alla time.  I have never actually heard of APP "goin bad."  Clumping Up??  Shurley (Shurley who).  As before, just bust up the clumps and load away.  Black MZ??  Same stuff, Different name, different granulation.  Doesn't meter well thru a DILLON measure.  Scoops just fine.  Absolutely, your 10 year old Black MZ will be just fine (coarse).

Shoot Luke!! You got the Ammo!!

PS:  I've never needed Mortar and Pestle.  Stick has work'd just fine.

[Professor Marvel]

My Dear Coffin

thanks for the olfactory input!

but no need for  a mortar, just a smooth stick (pestle).

yhs
prof

[AntiqueSledMan]

I purchased a case of Black MZ from the Sportsmans Warehouse when they were closing it out.
I sure hope my cartridges still go bang when I pull the trigger.
As far as the clumping goes, I noticed some and just crumbled it in my hand into a dish.

AntiqueSledMan.

[Bunk]

Unlike that fad nitro stuff (ug) APP in any label is composed of stable chemicals that do not degrade.
My guess it will last as long as real black Ggunpowder if kept dry.
load it and shoot it I do.
Bunk