What would you do with a Mystery bag o' 30-06

[Yondering]

What did you do with the leftover powder from your batch?

I just wrapped it in a paper towel and set fire to it in the driveway. Kinda fun to watch stuff burn. 

[BT8850]

H STAMP   CASE LENGTH   BULLET WT   BULLET LENGTH   POWDER CHRG     COAL
SL53   2.483                  150.1                  1.067                  ?                ?
SL53   2.482                  150.1                  1.067                  ?                ?
SL53   2.485                  150                     1.0665                  48                ?
SL53   2.483                  150.2                  1.0395                48.8            3.266
SL53   2.479                  150.3                  1.034                  49.3            3.3125
SL53   2.483                  150.2                  1.0375                  49.9            3.3165

               
TW 54   2.497                  165                  1.142 C                 NONE             3.22     (live primer)
               
RP   2.487                  149.8                  1.093 C                 NONE                3.196    (spent primer)
               
WRA 43   2.489                  150.2                  1.0485 C              49.8           3.1965
               
30M2 RD52 2.482                  149.5               1.061 C              49.1           3.206
               
FC   2.486                   150.1                1.087  C, BT        51.4           3.1625
               
LCMATCH61  2.487               180.3                1.280 BT                    48                 3.337
LCMATCH61  2.492               180                1.276 BT                    47.7                 3.3365
LCMATCH61  2.493               179.9                1.2715 BT                    48               3.3395
LCMATCH61  2.485               180                1.2745 BT                    48.3               3.336
LCMATCH61  2.491               180.1                1.28 BT                    48.6                 3.34
LCMATCH61  2.482               180.2                1.275 BT                    48                 3.3365
LCMATCH61  2.487               180.2                1.276 BT                    48.2                 3.3365
LCMATCH61  2.489               179.9                1.264 BT                    48.2                 3.338
LCMATCH61  2.488               180.1                1.257 BT                    47                 3.3365
LCMATCH61  2.4875            180.1                1.237 BT                    47.2                 3.3365
LCMATCH61  2.489               180                1.256 BT                    48                 3.337
LCMATCH61  2.49               180                1.2775 BT                    48                 3.3385
LCMATCH61  2.4835            180                1.254 BT                    47.7                 3.3375
               
TW42   2.483               150.1                1.004                  49.6                 3.296
TW42   2.4835               149.6                1.002                  50.7                 3.273
TW42   2.482               150               0.9945                   49.9                 3.27
TW42   2.482               150               1.0045                  50.3                  ?
TW42   2.48                149.8              0.9965                  44.8                 3.2705
TW42   2.485               150.3               1.005                  49.3                 3.266
TW42   2.487               150.4                1.007                   49.9                  3.275
TW42   2.483               150               1.011                    49.9                   3.274
TW42   2.484               150.1               1.0055                   48.9                 3.271
TW42   2.487               150               1.003                   50.4                 3.2675
TW42   2.484               149.8                0.995                   50.3                 3.266
TW42   2.485               150.4                1.006                   50.8                  3.269
TW42   2.486               150.2                1.061 BB                     49                 3.316
TW42   2.487               150.8                1.012                    50.5                  3.2725
TW42   2.487               149.8                0.988                    50.6                  3.273
TW42   2.484               150.7               1.012                   45.6                  3.273
TW42   2.482               149.6               1.005                    50.4                  3.268
TW42   2.485               149.5               1.009                     47                  3.2745
TW42   2.487               149.9               0.987                    41.3                  3.2695


Okay, so here are some numbers from the bag of shells. Apologies upfront, its hard to read because copying from excel didn't work out so well. All weights are in grains, measurements are inches. All projectiles are .308 diameter and soft point. In bullet length column bt = boat tail, c = canellure groove, bb = beveled base, if not noted they were flat base no with no groove. Question marks represent measurements I forgot to take. Most of this data is meaningless, it just gave me some practice using my new scale and bullet puller  it was interesting to note, though, that in pulling them down, I discovered 4 different powders were used, possibly 5.

I designated them in my notes as flat ball (used only in the sl53 cases, this is the powder I initially posted the picture of), T1 (was cylinder shaped granules, very short, not much diameter, black - used in WRA43 case, FC case, and all but 2 of the TW42 cases), T2 ( same shape granules as T1, larger dia, longer, black - used only in 30M2RD59 Case), and T3 (same shape granules as t1 and t2, larger dia, slightly longer, black - used in all of the LCMATCH61 cases).

Now I say there is a possible 5th powder because if you notice in the TW42 cases there are 2 with lighter charges than the rest (44.8,41.3). Now the powder in these two cases had the same shape and size as the rest of them but they were a light grey in color and had a "stink" to em. I don't know if this was infact a different powder or just some that had been more affected by moisture or other poor storing conditions causing some sort of degradation. Almost all of these TW42 rounds had a blueish/green color sticky residue on the bases of the bullets, and some of them the powder was clumped together or stuck to the inside of the case requiring a little coersion to get it all out to be measured. 


If anything to be taken from this little project, 1. free bullets, free brass, even though just a handfull 2. practice using my equipment and taking measurements etc. 3. reassuring myself why I don't trust mystery reloads.

[The_Shadow]

Yes, seeing that the charges were up and down they were not hand weighed to match grade consistency. 

they were a light grey in color and had a "stink" to em.

Most powders have a solvent smell to them, if they exhibited something that was harsh and not sweet it may have been deteriorated somewhat.  Some older military stuff had corrosive priming mixtures. 

The "LCMatch61" cases may have been surplus ammo?  Did they have the crimp still on the primers? Most military 30-06 was crimped primers.  That would also indicate they were possibly not reloads.

Now the next thing to consider, the casings themselves, inspect them make sure they themselves are not affected by any corrosion before trying reusing them.

All in all it looked to be a fun learning project, the old powders make good fertilizer.

[BT8850]

Yes, seeing that the charges were up and down they were not hand weighed to match grade consistency. 

I was wondering about this. Most of the powder data i've been looking at recently has been for pistol loads where -/+ .5g makes huge differences, I didn't know if it was the same with rifles or if they had more of a -/+ say 5g to make big differences in performance. The low and high of these match cases were 47g and 48.6g respectively, giving 1.6g difference, I was curious if this would be considered precise or sloppy for rifle loads, seems to be the latter. Is this the type of percision one would see from some sort of automated powder dispenser or ?? Maybe just someone getting lazy with a balance scale and calling it good enough?

they were a light grey in color and had a "stink" to em.

Most powders have a solvent smell to them, if they exhibited something that was harsh and not sweet it may have been deteriorated somewhat.  Some older military stuff had corrosive priming mixtures. 

The "LCMatch61" cases may have been surplus ammo?  Did they have the crimp still on the primers? Most military 30-06 was crimped primers.  That would also indicate they were possibly not reloads.

Now the next thing to consider, the casings themselves, inspect them make sure they themselves are not affected by any corrosion before trying reusing them.

Solvent smell is about right on the money, I couldn't think of how to describe it but that sounds about right. I'll have to take a second look tonight, I didn't notice any primer crimp but I also wasn't really looking.

I'll have a look at the cases, most of them were just dirty or tarnished, none looked to be in really bad shape.

[Yondering]

The low and high of these match cases were 47g and 48.6g respectively, giving 1.6g difference, I was curious if this would be considered precise or sloppy for rifle loads, seems to be the latter. Is this the type of percision one would see from some sort of automated powder dispenser or ?? Maybe just someone getting lazy with a balance scale and calling it good enough?

That's very sloppy reloading. Might have been someone just using a dipper, or worse. The seating depths had some huge variations too, again, very sloppy.

Unfortunately, there are too many people out there who think "bullets are bullets", and that as long as it goes bang, it's working fine. That's why I don't shoot other people's reloads.