How do you store your powder/primers?

Redneckwannabe1

Redneckwannabe1

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Edmonton
Hi there, new to reloading and have conflicting info on storage of my powder and primers. A few questions:

1. Please share how you do it
2. I reload a bit almost every night and it is a pain to empty my powder measure each time. Maybe im just being lazy, but do I need to do this every time? Is there a better way?

Thanks for your help...
 
I leave powder in the measure sometimes too and other times a pound on my bench, as long as you don't have kids running around I wouldn't worry about it.

others will probably tell you that you'll get charged with improper storage or something

each to their own, I guess technically thats against regulations but you weigh the risk for yourself
 
Well, depending on where your main powder storage is, you might be able to get it located right next to your bench so you can just move the measure over there. Or not.
 
Plastic toolbox with a lock and labeled explosives.Cost me $10 at cantire.Legal from my reading of the actual regs.The whole wooden box/brass hinges thing is an urban myth.
 
Yeah I read that...first off the punctuation is horrible (a lawyer did this??)
And second, after punishing myself for reading the Explosive Regs, it seems this was interpreted correctly. Since this is such a PITA and not exactly well communicated, my guess is that most reloaders either are unaware of this requirement or just ignore it, otherwise Cabelas and WSS would be selling premade wooden storage boxes for your powder and primers. Instead I'm have to pretend I'm a carpenter and buy some wood, brass fittings and a couple hand tools and build two of these ### boxes.

My biggest concern is that if I have a house fire, and my powder was deemed to be not stored properly and I may get screwed. I will follow the law I guess for that reason, but I wish there would be more reasonable laws on the books. I wonder how they handle this in the US..
 
caperaway said:
Plastic toolbox with a lock and labeled explosives.Cost me $10 at cantire.Legal from my reading of the actual regs.The whole wooden box/brass hinges thing is an urban myth.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately its not, just read it in the Explosives Regulations C.R.C., c. 599 — March 18, 2013 clause 136, and 137......
 
Redneckwannabe1 said:
Unfortunately its not, just read it in the Explosives Regulations C.R.C., c. 599 — March 18, 2013 clause 136, and 137......
Click to expand...

Here are the regulations.Please show me where this mythical 3/4" plywood box with brass hinges is specified:

136. In this Part, “suitable receptacle” means a substantial box or substantial container,

(a) that may be placed inside a building that is not itself adapted for the keeping of explosives;

(b) the location of which is not changed from that prescribed by an inspector or under provincial or municipal law;

(c) that is kept away from goods of an inflammable nature; and

(d) that is of easy access for removal in case of fire.

137. In regard to any receptacle, the following provisions shall be observed:

(a) it shall be provided with a closely fitting lid secured by a lock, and hinges and fastenings, preferably of copper or brass, and otherwise closed and secured so as to prevent unauthorized persons having access thereto, and shall be kept locked except when required to be open for receipt or removal of explosives, or other necessary purpose;

(b) it shall be exclusively used for the keeping of explosives;

(c) it shall be made of wood, copper or other suitable material;

(d) the interior of the receptacle and all fittings therein shall be so constructed, covered or lined as to prevent the exposure of any iron or steel, or of any hard or gritty surface, or the entry, detaching, or accumulating of grit, iron, steel or similar substance;

(e) the interior of the receptacle shall be kept scrupulously clean; and

(f) the receptacle shall have the word “EXPLOSIVES” conspicuously displayed thereon on a contrasting background.


Read the bold points and think outside the box.Nothing there specifically says that something other than a wooden or copper box is "suitable" and "Preferably" is not "must or shall".

The part most people don't notice is the part where whatever you are storing the powder in has to be easy to remove in case of fire.Many guys use wooden built in cabinets which are not portable and therefore don't meet the regs.
There are numerous threads on this topic already.
 
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TRaTSeRiF said:
Any idea whether separate shelves of the same cabinet constitute "stored separately" or is there an absolute need for separate cabinets for primers and powders?
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Actually under further reading it seems you can store Gunpowder (Class 1) with Primers (which I believe fall under Class 6, div1) in the same wooded box with no need to separate, but in regards to a cabinet the regs say that the receptacle would have to be:

136
(d) that is of easy access for removal in case of fire.

So as long as you can tear it off the wall with your bare hands you should be OK I guess :)
 
Caperaway, I haven't read anything in the regs specifying the wood thickness as 3/4", so I agree I'm not sure where that came from. As you mentioned, wood or copper or other suitable material. Plastic would be suitable right?? I think so too - thanks
 
this whole powder and primer storage issue is confusing and unclear with government regulations/documents that practically require an attorney to interpret and information for example from 1998 that may or may not be fully current. http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/legal_info_for_reloaders.html
"Old regulations," proposed "new regulations" and it's take your best guess.

Between old and proposed new storage regulations my question is this, now that I have my storage container what is the maximum amount of smokeless powder I can legally store, 12kg or 25kg?
Sorry for going over this old ground
 
Redneckwannabe1 said:
Actually under further reading it seems you can store Gunpowder (Class 1) with Primers (which I believe fall under Class 6, div1) in the same wooded box with no need to separate, but in regards to a cabinet the regs say that the receptacle would have to be:

136
(d) that is of easy access for removal in case of fire.

So as long as you can tear it off the wall with your bare hands you should be OK I guess :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up. It's about 60lb of wood easily draggable over tiles. I may put in some rope handles to make it even easier.
 
I store my powders in a 1" thick wood cupboard with a lock and "EXPLOSIVES" written on it.

My primers are in the top drawer of a locking steel filing cabinet.

I dont leave powder in my measure, I dump it when I'm done. Pain in the arse yes but if/when Johnny Mountie comes to my door, it won't bother me as my powders/primers are stored correctly. Ammo also locked up separate, and guns are in a safe, or stashed with locks on the actions.

I know I over do things but I love my guns and would freak the hell out if they were stolen or confiscated over something as stupid a "storage laws".
 
I store my powder and primers in a giant wood box that is locked....I call it my home. Is it legal, no. Do I care, no. For some reason powder and primer storage regs make me grumpy.
 
RVG_Don said:
this whole powder and primer storage issue is confusing and unclear with government regulations/documents that practically require an attorney to interpret and information for example from 1998 that may or may not be fully current. http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/legal_info_for_reloaders.html
"Old regulations," proposed "new regulations" and it's take your best guess.

Between old and proposed new storage regulations my question is this, now that I have my storage container what is the maximum amount of smokeless powder I can legally store, 12kg or 25kg?
Sorry for going over this old ground
Click to expand...

143. A person may have up to 75 kilograms of gunpowder and small arms propellant in his possession if they are stored in accordance with Part XII.
Click to expand...

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._599/page-35.html#docCont

Shawn
 
Redneckwannabe1 said:
Unfortunately its not, just read it in the Explosives Regulations C.R.C., c. 599 — March 18, 2013 clause 136, and 137......
Click to expand...

Have the new regs even been ratified and become law? I don't think so.

The new regs do say you can have primers in the same cabinet, on a different shelf as powder. They also state the cabinet "should be made of a substantial material" and use 3/4" plywood as an example. As far as laws go, this language is too ambiguous. You can't make laws that sound like suggestions.

Someone asked about maxes: Currently you can have 12kg of powder stored. In the proposed regs, you can have 25kg aggregate smokeless powder in a single dwelling and 10kg aggregate if in connected housing. This includes all the loaded ammo you have. Blackpowder is much more limited.
 
Magnum_Tom said:
Have the new regs even been ratified and become law? I don't think so.

The new regs do say you can have primers in the same cabinet, on a different shelf as powder. They also state the cabinet "should be made of a substantial material" and use 3/4" plywood as an example. As far as laws go, this language is too ambiguous. You can't make laws that sound like suggestions.

Someone asked about maxes: Currently you can have 12kg of powder stored. In the proposed regs, you can have 25kg aggregate smokeless powder in a single dwelling and 10kg aggregate if in connected housing. This includes all the loaded ammo you have. Blackpowder is much more limited.
Click to expand...

You need to re-read the explosives act, he quoted the current regs and the number you posted are not correct. The link to the act is in my post above yours.

Shawn
 
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