[47lincsled]

!5 years ago before I knew any thing about reloading my wife and I went to a yard sale, the old guy had a couple old welders for sale that I wanted to look at, so we back into the barn to check them out, next to the welders were sitting two kegs of Hodgdon 4831, even though i didn't reload I knew that some day i would, so I asked about the powder, he used to do a lot of high power shooting and bought the powder for future use, but he didn't do much and was willing to let some go, my wife bought a bunch of canning jars from him so we filled 8 quart jars with powder for $2 a piece, when I got home I called a friend that reloaded and he told me to go back and get what ever I could, so I went back and got the rest of the keg, the powder in mason jars scared the crap out of me so my mom gave me a bunch of plastic gallon pickle jars, so far I've used one and half of them, I know you're supposed to keep powder in it's original container but I don't have it,plus it's a little tough to put a 50 pound kegs under the reloading bench. So far all the rounds I've filled with this powder has gone bang, but I've just been wondering how long this type of powder is safe to use, the plastic jars are sealed and I put a desicant pack in the top of each one, so far no problems but I'm not a chemist so I don't know this kind of stuff, any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bob.

 

[Gregg in Ohio]

powder

should last for a long time kept dry...moisture is the killer,im still using imr3031 thats 12 yrs old..,gregg

 

[ohioblacksheep]

I've also been told you should keep powder in containers that don't allow sun light get to it. Most of the powder I've got I've had for over 10 yrs and it wasn't new when I got it. I've got a couple cans that have a $2 price sticker on them, so you KNOW they've been around awhile ...Lou

 

[kkkriverrats]

Pretty much indefinite if...

Store in original containers, avoid temp extremes, and dampness. I just finished up a 1# can of W230 with a $10.95 price sticker, I'm guessing 15-20years old seemed to be OK.

 

[FloridaAKM]

Well, I don't have any $2.00 containers of powder, but I have been reloading for about 25 years or so and the deal of keeping your powder in the original container is so that you always KNOW what it actually is. Moisture/humidity are a big killer of powder (it is recomended that to dispose of powder, spread it over your front lawn very thinly and it will fertilize your grass). Properly stored, I will say that it will last 20-25 + years. As long as it goes bang, its good to go IMHO.

Store in original containers, avoid temp extremes, and dampness. I just finished up a 1# can of W230 with a $10.95 price sticker, I'm guessing 15-20years old seemed to be OK.

 

[AaronHorrocks]

Most of the ammo I shoot is over 15-20 years old!

 

[TARGSHOOT]

MY 0.2.... im using powder i bought back in 80/81,been garage stored thru 110 degrees to 2 degrees along with the humidity here in texas and the stuff still works every time. now it may have lost some of its character but i have no high pressure signs and the velocity is close to modern book values. i would guess that as long as you dont store it out in the rain/sunlight your probibly good to go...there is 1 powder i would always keep fresh and thats win 296....can be some touchy stuff

 

[kkkriverrats]

Check the cabinet

All of this talk about old stocks of propellant made me take a closer look at some of the stuff at the back of the storage cabinet. Found a 1# can of W296 with a $6.77 price sticker and a can of Bullseye, the old cardboard can with metal ends and a plastic push in stopper when it still said "Hercules" with a $12 price sticker.

AKM mentioned a good reason for keeping propellants in the original container, identification, there are other reasons. The original containers are designed to ship and store the contents. NFPA 495 refers almost constantly to "original" and "DOT" (US Department of Transportation) approved shipping containers when discussing storage and transportation of smokeless propellants. It also talks about quanities to be stored in private residences and how various quanities shoud be stored.

Personally, I wouldn"t store propellants in anything other than the original containers, and mine is in a wooden "magazine".

 

[FloridaAKM]

I have a self made (not by me) locker, that was made many years ago, by a guy who used to store his blasting caps in it, ( he was a licensed explosives dealer) and I store my bulk powder it it. It is built of pine 2 x 4's bolted together; and a galvanised sheet metal covering per DOT specs. It is quite well made and very heavy.

All of this talk about old stocks of propellant made me take a closer look at some of the stuff at the back of the storage cabinet. Found a 1# can of W296 with a $6.77 price sticker and a can of Bullseye, the old cardboard can with metal ends and a plastic push in stopper when it still said "Hercules" with a $12 price sticker.

AKM mentioned a good reason for keeping propellants in the original container, identification, there are other reasons. The original containers are designed to ship and store the contents. NFPA 495 refers almost constantly to "original" and "DOT" (US Department of Transportation) approved shipping containers when discussing storage and transportation of smokeless propellants. It also talks about quanities to be stored in private residences and how various quanities shoud be stored.

Personally, I wouldn"t store propellants in anything other than the original containers, and mine is in a wooden "magazine".

 

[Beltfire]

Keep your powder dry

Couldn't resisit getting in on this one. If smokeless powder is stored in a cool
dry dark container it will last longer than you will. I am using powder in my FA that is 50yrs old. The pressure is consistant the price was right and the bullets still go down range. Guess that's all that really matters in FA.

 

[alcova]

Most powder is relative odorless, so if you can smell a distinctive odor ( I believe it's a kind of solvent type smell ) then it's starting to go...another indicator is if your pouring it and a reddish dust comes out as you pour, then it is deterated and you shouldn't use it.
Yes, it might burn...but how does one know what king of burn rate your getting!!!

Walt

 

[Stan]

On The Other Hand,

About ten years or so ago, I bought 100#s of 852 at the Creek to load 50 BMG and 20 MM. Carefully repacted it in 10# plastic containers. Placed them in a double hinged military can(Have not looked recently-but about 4X the size od a 50 can). Was, I thought, very careful to not pack on high moisture day. Just moved the cans, about 5 in all. Four cans were OK. The last one, well, I got quite a shock!!! The can, at the lid, just below, was eaten away by something. The can was also bent out somewhat(presure??). The powder in the can had disintegrated and had a lot of redish powder sort of "Bubbling out of the eaten hole. Not sure what happened. Maybe moisture caused a reaction producing nitric acid?? Or what??
Any thoughts? I've still got the can- at a distance from everything.
Stan

 

[zoom6zoom]

Stan, you shouldn't store powder in anything that will allow pressure to build up. What you've got there is a bomb, and an unstable one at that. get rid of it!

This is why powder magazines are made of wood, or with pressure panels that will give way. It's why smokeless powder isn't an explosive - until the pressure is contained.

 

[Stan]

Metal Container Storage

You are correct, of course. Rather stupid of me, in hindsight. We now have proof of this folly.-Lucky proof, at that. That problem has now been fixed permantly. I no longer have the powder--or cans. Went to two different people.
It was, however, an interesting observation.
Stan

 

[ArizonaBeagle]

Shelf life of powder

I have a clorox bottle with #3031 in it that I've had as long as I've lived in this house (37 Years)

The last time I loaded with it (about 2 years ago) I chronographed the 30-30 loads in a Marlin 336c and they were within 150-200 fps of the manuals specifications.

The bottle always had a fairly strong ether smell when opened.
(reminds me of nurses)

Been stored in my garage in Arizona all that time.