How long can you store Powder??

[Ganderite]

That sounds so much like a dig, but okay. I'll play. Let me think up a double face palming doozy or two for ya.

No dig intended. When we read posts we form an opinion of the poster. It helps to frame an appropriate response. You write like a kid or a newbie, so I kept it simple.

e.g. You wrote "When I have a load that like for a particular rifle. I am inclined to make tons of bullets." I was wondering if you meant:

-- I shoot cast bullets and a make a lot of them.

-- I swage my own bullets, and I make a lot of them.

-- I load lots of ammunition to have it ready for when I want to shoot.

If you meant the latter, it meant you were saying bullets when you were talking about ammunition. Kids and newbies talk like that on a reloading forum. They don't know the difference between a loaded round and a bullet.

 

[Ontariooutdoorsman]

WOW....I didn't expect this question to turn up so much useful and interesting information. Glad I asked!
Ganderite....I will probably ask you many questions in the future and I hope you have the time and patience to oblige.

Mr. Jeffery...don't take it personal....when you made original post it came across as someone who might question ones right/safety to powder....some people will take offense to that
Modern gun powder is not an explosive...it is an accelerant. it can be safely stored and many don't want that questioned

So much good information here!!!

 

[Ganderite]

WOW....I didn't expect this question to turn up so much useful and interesting information. Glad I asked!
Ganderite....I will probably ask you many questions in the future and I hope you have the time and patience to oblige.

Mr. Jeffery...don't take it personal....when you made original post it came across as someone who might question ones right/safety to powder....some people will take offense to that
Modern gun powder is not an explosive...it is an accelerant. it can be safely stored and many don't want that questioned

So much good information here!!!

As I said earlier, every posting reminds me of a story.

Is powder an explosive? Usually it burns. When confined, it burns quickly. If a powder detonates (explodes) all the molecules convert instantly. No burning from the out side in, like a log.

One day we tested a new powder measure for the shotgun loader. It would hold around 20 pounds of powder. Each loading machine was in a stall with steel walls. Think of the crapper in the men's room.

The boss decided to run a test to make sure the new powder measure was safe. We took the powder thrower and the stall into a field, and remotely ignited a fire at the bottom of the thrower. The shape of the thrower was supposed to allow the flames to go up without incident.

It detonated. The steel walls whistled by us like giant frisbees.

That was 50 years ago. A few years ago the supervising engineer of that test was the Director of the Explosives Branch. Needless to say, presentations that our propellants aren't explosives did not impress him, Evert Clausen.

I have seen powder detonate. I have had a fire in my loading room at home. I can tell you from my experience that the only way to fight a powder fire is with water. Lots of it.

In my loading room is a 5 gal jerry can of water, with the lid just sitting loosely in place. If I can fight the fire, I will pick up the can and dump the water. If I can't, I will kick over the can as I run out.

I now sweep up after every loading session. A fire on the floor around the loading bench is a scary thing. Been there. Done that.