Wet Powder

[Pvt.Gustafsson]

I got some of my cartridges we in the annoying rain at the 150th Chickamauga. After I got some the powder in my cartridges were like cake. I crushed it and let it air dry. It now has the appearance of being more fine course than it was before. Is it worth trying to reuse it?

 

[Bob Owen]

As used for blanks, I see no problem. I would test a couple to see if there might be a problem.

 

[Tin cup]

I got some of my cartridges we in the annoying rain at the 150th Chickamauga. After I got some the powder in my cartridges were like cake. I crushed it and let it air dry. It now has the appearance of being more fine course than it was before. Is it worth trying to reuse it?

Have the same problem, from the same event! Have segregated the water damage cartridges, and will have to find the same answer you are looking for!

Kevin Dally

 

[Rebforever]

Personally, I would discard it.

 

[Poor Private]

should be fine as blanks. Reroll after testing some.

 

[Rebforever]

It is unstable.

 

[Bob Owen]

Black powder cannot become unstable. It can become inert!

 

[Rebforever]

Black powder cannot become unstable. It can become inert!

Do you shoot black powder?

 

[Bob Owen]

Do you shoot black powder?

All the time!

 

[Rebforever]

It is unstable.

 

[Rebforever]

un·sta·ble
ˌənˈstābəl/
adjective
adjective: unstable; comparative adjective: unstabler; superlative adjective: unstablest
1.
prone to change, fail, or give way; not stable.

 

[Bob Owen]

Potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal is all there is to black powder. A reduction in one or an increase in another cannot make it more explosive! It can only reduce it's effectiveness. The addition and drying of water should not cause a basic change in the chemistry!

 

[Bob Owen]

You are correct if you go by your posted definition, but in most munitions lingo unstable means that it is more prone to un- controlled detonation.

 

[Poor Private]

Mine has become wet at several events, where it rained. I opened up the wet cartridges let it out to dry then broke it back down to useable condition test fired some and rerolled in new tubes. Never had a problem with them firing, lost some due to transfer, and breaking down to smaller bits than the clumps is all. If you don't want them send them to me, I'll use em.

 

[Rebforever]

Mine has become wet at several events, where it rained. I opened up the wet cartridges let it out to dry then broke it back down to useable condition test fired some and rerolled in new tubes. Never had a problem with them firing, lost some due to transfer, and breaking down to smaller bits than the clumps is all. If you don't want them send them to me, I'll use em.

Dump them. Not worth it. OK to be safe. One little spark fooling with it can set it off if it will burn. Dump it.
I have used pounds and pounds of black powder.

 

[Pvt.Gustafsson]

I will just roll a few blank cartridges, separate them and test fire them and if they work ill use the rest of the powder that was wet. I never feared that the powder would be more unstable, unstable to me always meant more unreliable as far as
exploding at times when it was not supposed to. The worst that can happen is that it I have do dump it I guess.

 

[Bob Owen]

One little spark will set off fresh black powder right out of the can. That's what it is supposed to do. A cap is that little spark used to fire the load as designed. Precautions are always needed in handling all black powders. No difference except when crushing a caked portion. Do not use a ferrous metal to crush it.

 

[redbob]

A word to the wise, I purchased a 200# Parrott shell that had no fuse and supposedly been cleaned of all powder. When I got it home, it seemed to have mud in it so I stuck a garden hose in it to clean it out. After a few moments, the mud cleared and out came a black, sludgey mess which covered my driveway. When the mess dried, I had probably a double handful of a black, coarse grained powder which I spread out and lit with a match. After the whoosh, flash and a cloud of white smoke I had learned the hard lesson that Civil War era black powder is as much of a hazard now as it was then. Respect black powder regardless of its age.

 

[johan_steele]

Wet black powder that has been exposed to moisture and dried out is no more unstable than black powder fresh out of the can. It may not burn as cleanly but it is certainly no more dangerous.

 

[johan_steele]

Do you shoot black powder?

I suspect the wrong person is asking the question.