T
timmy
Guest
Getting tired of not finding the powders I am looking for and am starting to hoard. How long does powder stay good? I would think a long time but am curious if that isn’t the case.
Pelican
Well-known member
Powder will last decades if stored properly. People were still shooting WW2 surplus powder into the 1980s. Hoard away.
std7mag
Well-known member
I don't know.
I've heard stories of powder being good for years.
I put too many rounds down range that i'm always buying powder.
And primers, bullets.....
I've heard stories of powder being good for years.
I put too many rounds down range that i'm always buying powder.
And primers, bullets.....
antelopedundee
Well-known member
Old non-working refrigerators or freezers are good for storage.
If twas me I'd try to use something that's easy to get. Within the last couple years I've had some IMR7828 go bad for whatever reason while other powders around it stayed good.
If twas me I'd try to use something that's easy to get. Within the last couple years I've had some IMR7828 go bad for whatever reason while other powders around it stayed good.
BuzzH
Well-known member
IMO, I see no reason to hoard or buy massive amounts. I shoot a fair bit and buy in 5-8lb kegs and in some rifles, that amount of powder will take a while to burn through.
I've never had powder go bad and have shot some that's 15-20 years old with no problem.
I've never had powder go bad and have shot some that's 15-20 years old with no problem.
Brian in Montana
Well-known member
I recently dumped a half pound of Pyrodex. My ML was not shooting it accurately like it used to. I also had an unexpected misfire and a bad hang fire. I happened to notice the price tag still on the canister said "I-20 Pawn and Bail Bonds, Eastland Texas". I had to think about how long its been since I've set foot in that store - 24 years? I decided it was time to invest in some new powder.
jryoung
Well-known member
What does everyone consider proper storage?
Pelican
Well-known member
From Hodgdon
Gunpowder Stability | Hodgdon Reloading
Gunpowder is designed to be safe under normal handling and storage conditions.
rjthehunter
Well-known member
I always thought gunpowder was like cigars, just keep the humidity down!
I've got two steel insulated fire cabinets that came out of a bank. I use them for ammo, powder, primer storage. Kept in a cool, dry place, the powder & primers should last for a couple of decades.
jryoung
Well-known member
Interesting Hodgdon doesn't say much about humidity, I'm curious if there is a threshold? I built a wine room/cellar this summer in my garage and figure that could be great storage depending on humidity sensitivity.
jryoung
Well-known member
What level of moisture though? We're pretty damp up here in the winter fluctuating between 60-90%
Pelican
Well-known member
I just looked at SAAMi's recommendations, which is "dry and cool". No threshold specified for either temperature or humidity. I don't know how much effect humidity would have now that powder comes in non-breathable plastic containers.
The least amount possible. Buy some desiccants. I don't think you need to overthink this. If your wine room is not dry - then enclose an area and make it dry.
ImBillT
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2018
- Messages
- 3,896
If it smells like ammonia, dump it. If it smells like gun powder, shoot it. It’s obvious when smokeless powder goes bad. The only bad powder I’ve ever had was in an old waxed cardboard Hodgdon container. The container was in bad shape. My dad most about 6lbs of powder that wasn’t more than ten years old, but he had it stored in a hot place.
Last edited:
I mostly agree with keeping it dry! However, is it possible to get it too dry, thereby promoting something similar to a capillary effect, or sponge effect.....it could potentially “suck up” moisture at a higher rate when exposed to moisture laden air. Example being, when the canister is opened or inside the cartridge case....if the bullet and primer “are not” sealed! Inquiring minds!
memtb
jeff_gibbons
Well-known member
+1 to decades if stored properly. I just loaded and shot IMR powders my dad bought 25 years ago and they worked fine and held repeatable velocities. (4064 and 3031 in metal cans!!)
Similar threads
