Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Use for take down powder

  1. #1
    Brass Trader
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Posts
    105
    Feedback Score
    7 (100%)

    Use for take down powder

    I've read a lot in years past about the pros and cons of pouring out old reloading powder for fertilizer for the grass or flowers....some..maybe made up...stories of accidents months after pouring out....I've poured it in a line and had fun burning it...but tonight...it is cold....33F and raining...to me..the worst kind of cold...cold and damp that sits in on the bones.

    So...my wood was not wet..but not wanting to start very easily...so I took a little pulled down powder...poured just a bit into the envelope for my power bill...probably the best ever use for it....and started my fireplace with a little boost start....works great...on very little powder...probably keep the rest in a little plastic bottle for future use.

    Now the house has that man smell of bourbon, pork chops, and burnt powder....oh man....smells great.

  2. #2
    Brass Trader
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    337
    Feedback Score
    8 (100%)
    I save it in a jar and use it at deer camp. Makes a great light show around the campfire. I pick up duds at the range, including 22's, pull the bullets and dump the powder. I use a propane torch for starting the fire in the fireplace.

  3. #3
    Brass Trader
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    320
    Feedback Score
    6 (100%)
    I dump it out in flower beds and the like. I'm curious to hear some of the stories of accidents as this is advice that I have received from several different people/sources.

  4. #4
    Administrator DukeInFlorida's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    248
    Feedback Score
    5 (100%)
    LAWN and shrubs. I would be terrified about having a container of this kind of stuff anywhere near the fireplace.

    Administrator - Ammo Brass Trader
    NRA Life Member
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

    Author of a book on reloading
    ILSA MEMBER http://www.internationallawnsteelsho...ssociation.com
    NRA RANGE SAFETY OFFICER


  5. #5
    Brass Trader
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Posts
    105
    Feedback Score
    7 (100%)
    Oh...it's not near the fireplace....it's in a powder container marked TAKE DOWN POWDER...and I put a teaspoon in a mailing envelope to start a fire....

    Probably wait until someone has a nice bonfire and sprinkle some on that to impress the drunks.

  6. #6
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Posts
    1
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by b2lee View Post
    Oh...it's not near the fireplace....it's in a powder container marked TAKE DOWN POWDER...and I used my sausage stuffers and put a teaspoon in a mailing envelope to start a fire....

    Probably wait until someone has a nice bonfire and sprinkle some on that to impress the drunks.
    Doesn't take much to impress drunks though. haha
    Last edited by Coppock; 02-14-2024 at 03:18 AM.

  7. #7
    Brass Trader LEP's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    116
    Feedback Score
    13 (100%)
    I've used takedown powder for fire forming.
    Load and shoot: 6.5mm (Dutch, Jap., Carcano, Swede), 7x57, 7.35 Carcano, 7.5mm (Mas, Swiss), 303 British, 7.65x53, 7.7 Jap, 7.62x51, 30-06, 8x50R & 8x52R Siamese, 30-40 Krag, 8x57, 7.62x39, 7.62x54R, 8x 56R, 30 Carbine, 450/577 Martini, 300 Win Mag, 45 LC.

  8. #8
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Posts
    3
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    I used to demil a LOT of ammo - turned in, evidence / seizure stuff, and Museum donation stuff. I let the son burn it up, play with it, after appropriate training. We got all kinds, even old recoiless strip powders and cannon large caliber stuff. For really large quantities it goes ot my EOD buddy to be blown up, unless it is something we can shoot. If I get enough to pull down in one batch I will save and label it for use. We had a bunch of rusty 7.62x39 ammo turned in, like 700+ rds. We used the Hornady camlock puller to pop them apart, weight about 30 or so random charges, and saved the powder and bullets. Wrote on the container what it was and charge weight / bullet weight. At some point I will reload it when I have enough brass to worry about it. Generally we have way to much fun playing with powder to just use it for fertilizer, as we are rural, we have a fire pit and in the summer the kids will get to play with the old powder, safely !

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check