Hi!

I inherited a dozen cans of 700-X. Lot was made in 1980 according to a sticker on the (metal) canisters.

This is a fast burning powder that I plan to use in 9mm and .45, is it safe after all these years?

I am afraid the burning rate may have been modified.

Thanks for your feedback.

1980??? I consider that to be brand new powder. I have powder made during WW2; still good. As long as it does not have red rusty powder in it and does not smell acid, it is good. Most powders smell like ether ((not ball powder). It will be fine.

Smokeless powder has no real life time. I still reload Cordite from WWI that shows no signs of deterioration.
If the powder was made right,stored right,it is still good.
The Original batch ( lot number) of Bullseye still exist and is used to this day as a control sample for all of the new made powder.
Smokeless powder that has an acid smell ( not solvent) is bad,or the powder has turned yellow or fluffy red ( not rust from the can) is bad Ju-Ju.

If it looks right and smells right, it should be fine.
My current and last can of Bullseye is in the square, metal can with the "pop-top" lid circa 196?. At 3.0 grains per .38 Special load, I get 2,333 loads per can. Shot some loads from this can yesterday from my Colt Trooper .357, At 50 feet from a loose rest in 25 mph winds, 4 went into .3" with the 5th shot opening the group to .7".
700X is a good powder for .38 Special target loads just like Bullseye and W-W 231. I also used it a lot in .45 ACP target loads from my S&W 25-2's, Model 1950's, and Model 1955's. My go-to load was 4.4 grains/700X and either a 230 grain LRN or good old 230 grain military FMJ pulled bullets.

I've got some older (maybe 15-20 years) shotgun powder I am looking to get rid of. Anyone near Seattle could probably buy me a beer and get the whole lot.

Wow, wish I lived near. As I said, I consider 20 year old powder to be like new.

Bad powder loses its potency so even if you use bad powder the worse that can happen is a squib load with the possibility of sticking a bullet in the barrel.

The bottom line is that as long as it doesn't get that redish color and smell like a bottle of aspirin that has been sitting in the sun the powder will be fine. It takes prolonged exposure of 100F temperature or shorter exposures of higher temps to hurt powder. Proper storage is the best way to keep powder with an "unlimited shelf life".

Thanks!

Some feedback, I used it all and it is really a clean burning powder, feeding perfectly in my Dillon powder slide bar.

Good to hear; I used some 1945 surplus powder recently and it worked as well.

The clay birds will never know the difference.