Question not about BP - antique reloading componet

[Straightneck]

Perhaps someone can help
I have acquired an unopened keg of powder. Yellow metal can marked Hercules Bullseye 27 lbs.
Does anyone know or have an educated guess how old this powder may be
Thank you and Happy New Year to all

[Kurt]

I shot a lot of that in the 1911 during the hardball bulls eye matches. It also came in a square can about 11 or 12 OZ . and it's now sold by Alliant.

[desert deuce]

Bullseye is classified as smokeless powder. Mostly for low volume loads in handguns.

I seem to recall red steel cannisters in 3 & 15 pound quantities in the mid 60's

By the early 70's I think the biggest was 16 pounds in a cardboard container

I don't recall ever seeing a yellow metal container and off hand suspect it my have been commercial or military contract.

Bullseye is not Black Powder, it is very potent stuff and should never be treated carelessly when reloading.

[desert deuce]

If there is a lot number on the container it may provide a clue as to day of packaging.

[SFogler]

Desert Deuce is correct - my Dad used to load all his pistol cartridges with it and I used it in the 1980's when I was reloading pistol too. It was great stuff I thought. For example: I used 3.5 grains of Bullseye in a 9mm case for a "hot load" for a 92 Beretta. I remember using about 4 grains in a .45 ACP. I don't think I ever used more than 4.5 grains, if that, in anything. Yes a little goes a very long way. If you over charge with it your gun will most certainly shed parts and pieces.....
In fact when my Dad was loading .44 and .45 Colt, he switched to Unique so there would be more powder volume in the case and he could see better if something didn't look right before set the bullet on top.

[Woody]

Bullseye is a old doublebase smokeless powder. Loads for it are listed in every reloading manual still. I use it almost exclusively for my .45ACP reloading. A little on the dirty side, but produces exceptional accuracy.

I would be cautious with what you have in your possession. Some smokeless powders can degrade with age and improper storage.

I have always made it a habit to dispose of any powder, that I have come across, that is not in a original and unopened container. I would hate to burn up 27 lbs of bullseye, but I also like to keep all of my fingers and other parts.

There is a collector market for powder cans, (empty).

Woody

[John Bly]

If it is any good it will get you about 70,000-75,000 loads. You probably can find more info on it on the Cast Boolits forum. That's the sort of stuff they shoot over there.

[desert deuce]

Is John Bly the first Shiloh Forum poster of 2020?

[semtav]

Is John Bly the first Shiloh Forum poster of 2020?

Woody never sleeps he might have been the first

[semtav]

Might depend on how your forum clock is set. I show he posted at 2:44

[Straightneck]

Thank you much for all the replies.
I should have been more specific with details but I was going by memory from an aging mind and a spur of the nano moment thought OH!! maybe one of the not so young anymore guys on here may know. I know what bullseye powder is, the precautions with it's use and the dangers of a degrading powder. So correcting memory I rechecked the keg label and weighted and measured it. Gross Weight 17lbs. 10 oz. 11-9/16" High X 9-1/8" diameter. On the label
HERCULES
BULLSEYE
SMOKELESS PISTOL POWDER
EXPLOSIVES DEPARTMENT
HERCULES POWDER COMPANY
Incorporated
WILMINGTON 99, DELAWARE
The can is sealed, it has a pull-tab that goes across and then around a round cap, there is some type of sealant on the tab and around the cap.
The label is green with a red bull on each side. a possible lot number (the only place on label with a small scuff) FO or FC scuff mark missing letter and what looks like the last three lines of a capital M 13266 enough scuff for two more numbers and a 1,,,
What I'll try,, smell test compared to new Bullseye, work up a light load using new powder in my 29.3 S&W 44mag test by recoil feel and chronograph. duplicate load with old powder set up chrono tie pistol to fence post pull trigger with loooooong cord from behind barrier,, if all goes well I should never run out of pistol powder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
In 1911, the United States won a lawsuit that it had brought against the Du Pont corporation under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The U.S. Circuit Court in Delaware found that Du Pont had been operating an unlawful monopoly, and ordered a breakup of its explosives and gunpowder manufacturing business. The breakup resulted in the creation of two new companies in 1912, Atlas Powder Company and Hercules Powder Company. Atlas received the explosives manufacturing portion of Du Pont's business (including the facilities acquired from the Giant Powder Company), while Hercules received the gunpowder portion.
Hercules, Inc., was a chemical and munitions manufacturing company based in Wilmington, Delaware, incorporated in 1912 as the Hercules Powder Company following the breakup of the Du Pont explosives monopoly by the U.S. Circuit Court in 1911.[1] Hercules Powder Company became Hercules, Inc. in 1966, operating under this name until 2008, when it was merged into Ashland Inc.
Still guessing how old it is

Thank you