Does Powder Have a Shelf Life?

[Onagoth]

Yes...ammo does have a shelf life because of the primers and powder.

In practice though, if lives aren’t on the line, then it can last for quite sometime

 

[Parts]

I'm glad I found this thread. Thank you gentlemen.

 

[Ganderite]

I used to go to Bisley to shoot Target Rifle. In Bisley the ammo for each match is supplied. Everyone shoots the same ammo.

But for practice, you supply your own ammo. One year the team bought some Norma ammo that turned out to be very, very good ammo.

At the end of the shoot I had a fair quantity left over, as did some others. So we stashed it in the club house for next year.

The club house is not heated in the winter, but English winters are not very cold.

Next year the ammo was crap.

I have no idea what happened, but the other guys had the same result, not just me.

So, I have concluded that something can go wrong, but I don't know what it is. Neck tension, maybe? Hard to believe the primer or powder was affected.

 

[Meroh]

If it is sealed and not in a hot location, it should last forever.

But, it could have a manufacturing defect that could show up and eventually make it go bad. The strong ammonia smell will make it very clear that it has gone bad.

I am using some powders that I bought 50 years ago (that were old when I bought them).

Me too; well, not 50, but 30 and 40 years; just used them up (pistol/shotgun and Rifle); all were just fine. Now I'm working on 8 lbs of about 12 year old HP38.

 

[Meroh]

The acetone smell means it still very fresh powder. The bad smell is terrible and cannot be confused with anything else.

Except maybe Cat P***. LOL

 

[3macs1]

I still have a bit out of the 60's that is fine and they were open cans
I have a few 12 pounders also in the metal cans not opened so sure hope is doesn't go bad
When was the last time we could buy 12 pounders. Maybe 30/ 35 years ago. I don't remember
Cheers

 

[dead meat]

In 40+ years of reloading only 2 cans of powder went bad, IMR 4198 different lot #'s both partially full. Other powders stored in the same box were fine. Pulled apart some old 303 cases that were loaded with cordite, it was stuck together like it was glued and hard to get out, I assume it wouldn't burn well but never tried to light it up.

 

[B]

Whoops

 

[Bravo22]

Buddy is cleaning out the house of his long time shooting mate. He came across 25 pounds of, I don't know what kind of powder, that had gone bad ( smell ). Powder had been broken down and put into different types of bottles which was likely a bad idea anyway. He fertilized his lawn with the old stuff. I think that was a mistake. He should have burned the stuff. Now he has to waste gas mowing the lawn.
Sucks getting old and a life times collecting moves on. When my time comes my nephew is gonna score large. ( grumble )

 

[Eagleye]

I had a batch of powder go bad many years ago.

I believe Bearhunter had some of the same lot go
bad for him also. This stuff rusted everything iron
even close by, and was acidic to the extreme.

So corrosive that pulled bullets from a load of it had
the copper bases of the bullets very green.

I burned about 21 lbs of the stuff in my firepit.
Individual pound of IMR3031 [Rusty] also of IMR 4831 [Rusty]

OTOH, I just finished the last of my Norma 205,
discontinued decades ago. It was fine. Dave.

 

[rick357]

Yes, powder has a shelf life. It doesn't last long enough. Quite often I reach for some and the jug seems to be empty or nearly so.