Thread: Anyone know anything about Nobels powder?

I was given some powder by an old fella getting out of shooting. The tin is marked "Nobels Parabellum No 10". I can't find much online about this so was wondering if anyone here knows about it?
Thanks.

It's old....very old. Some one with old manual should be able to tell you what it's good for. Letting us know what cartridges you have to use it in will help narrow it down.

Thanks Micky Duck. Loading 9mm with 123gr Tigershark hollowpoints.

What powder do you have. I have a variety and load it for rifle.and pistol. PM me your email and I'll send you their data manual.

Nobels #64 is used in .410 and .12ga. Don't have info on #10 in any manuals sorry. There is on nobels site a sp10 mentioned with uses.

Originally Posted by Jhon

What powder do you have. I have a variety and load it for rifle.and pistol. PM me your email and I'll send you their data manual.

Thanks Jhon what I have is marked as Nobels Parabellum No 10. I have sent you a message.

A simple search turned up this post from @rupert@ back in the when
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....rtridge-81222/
and he put up this pdf of Nobel powders

Nobels.PDF

but sadly the 9mm parabellum load data doesn't include a No 10 in fact No 10 powder doesn't appear anywhere so a bit of a mystery..

Edit - also looked up my 1st Ed Nick Harvey and no Nobels powder in there sorry

Originally Posted by 308

A simple search turned up this post from @rupert@ back in the when
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....rtridge-81222/
and he put up this pdf of Nobel powders

Attachment 281366

but sadly the 9mm parabellum load data doesn't include a No 10 in fact No 10 powder doesn't appear anywhere so a bit of a mystery..

Edit - also looked up my 1st Ed Nick Harvey and no Nobels powder in there sorry

Thanks for checking and I wonder if that PDF has some pages cut off as only 5 pistol rounds are listed right at the end of the last page.

The only data I've ever seen for Nobles 64 in 410 is for a 3/8 oz load, it's not really a powder for loading 410,
Heavy 12g loads and 20g is it's forte,
Nobles powders of that age were made in a factory in Scotland which burnt down or blew up way back in the 80's.
Not to be confused with information you will find on the net now for nobles powders, these are modern powders made in Europe with no relation to the old stuff.
I've used nobles shotgun powders since the 70's, I've never heard of the 'Nobles parabellum 10 powder' you are seeking info on,

It’s not in its original packaging so I wonder if it was incorrectly labelled. It looks normal, smells normal, no clumping etc so would be nice to be able to make use of it if I can do so safely. The guy I got it from said he loaded 9mm with it donkey’s years ago.

I have 3 different old Nobels powder manuals with no mention of that powder. I think the smart move is to dig it into the garden as it makes excellent nitrate fertiliser. It would be false economy to use it and make a mistake that could cost you a gun.

Originally Posted by Fatberg

I was given some powder by an old fella getting out of shooting. The tin is marked "Nobels Parabellum No 10". I can't find much online about this so was wondering if anyone here knows about it?
Thanks.

I have a copy of "reloading simplified"
Author is Cyril Waterworth. (1973) Lots of Nobels data. But #10 doesn't get a mention.

I'm guessing #10 was very early and replaced by another powder. If you can work that out can probably help.

Also, there is a basic test that can be carried our for burn rates. I tried it with some old powders and seemed to work. It's a simple burn comparison against a known, fresh powder.

Originally Posted by Fatberg

I was given some powder by an old fella getting out of shooting. The tin is marked "Nobels Parabellum No 10". I can't find much online about this so was wondering if anyone here knows about it?
Thanks.

I have a copy of "reloading simplified"
Author is Cyril Waterworth. (1973) Lots of Nobels data. But #10 doesn't get a mention.

I'm guessing #10 was very early and replaced by another powder. If you can work that out can probably help.

Also, there is a basic test that can be carried our for burn rates. I tried it with some old powders and seemed to work. It's a simple burn comparison against a known, fresh powder.

Ok, can't fine the link.
This is how I did it. Saw a very similar test done at a facility years ago.

Put some of the powder to be tested in a bowl.
Take a length of say,,,250mm of ordinary sticky tape.
Rub it in the powder to get a nice even coverage and shake off excess.
Lay tape out on a fire proof tray, such as a oven tray.
Remove all potentially flammable materials to several meters distant.
Have a fire extinguisher near by.
Safety glasses please.
Attach a small candle to a 300mm stick.(this will give you some distance from the flame when you light it.
Don't use a lighter or match. The flame will flare. Leather gloves perhaps.

Now, using the stick and candle light one end of the power.
Time the total burn. Write it down.

Now repeat the process using a known fresh powder, don't forget to time it too. Write the time down.

Sooo, you will have a good idea if the tested powder is faster or slower than your fresh powder.
Better still if you can test a second fresh powder..

It's a basic comparison but you can now check burn rate tables and get some idea if the old test powder is burning at least near its normal speed.
It's rough but should give some idea.
The more powder samples the better.

And no guarantees. Do this at your own risk.
Also consider what you wear, avoid synthetics. Leather, wool or cotton, in that order are better options.
In an open place (no wind) is best rather than indoors.


BUT, if it's in the burn rate ball park, plus smells and looks ok, then you can consider a few test loads,,,using common sense and care.

Originally Posted by Fatberg

It’s not in its original packaging so I wonder if it was incorrectly labelled. It looks normal, smells normal, no clumping etc so would be nice to be able to make use of it if I can do so safely. The guy I got it from said he loaded 9mm with it donkey’s years ago.

I didn't notice this post before. Not in original tin. Be, very, very careful.

How much?