how long is Powder good for?

Powder can go bad if it wasn't manufactured properly.

In simple terms, acid is used in the process and if the acid isn't neutralized properly, it causes the powder to deteriorate. This is a rare occurrence with most powders.

Other than that, stored properly, powder will last 100+ years.
 
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Cool and dry and out of the light it should last for years. I have lots of powder that is 10 years old that still gives me the same results as when it was new. I buy powder in bulk, have LOTS on hand. I don't worry about it going bad, its all stored well and occassionally sniff tested!
 
I have a small quantity of a powder that has not been manufactured for 30+ years....still as good as ever! Store it properly, no problem! Eagleye.
 
Bad Powder

I have had powder unopened for years and have yet to have any go bad, buy lots when you can get a good price.

I would have to say that powder only stops working after a big bang.

Greg :p
 
Dogleg said:
I've had exactly 2 pounds of powder go bad on me. Both happened to be IMR 3031, which I seldom use.
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Commercial, not military surplus?
And it was never stored in summer heat and humidity?

If so I'm extremely surprised. Some (not all) mil surplus powder has a lesser shelf life because short cuts can get taken in it's production, and some of the nitric acid isn't completely removed at the end. Such cost cutting is OK because it is assumed that it will not be stored for a very long time.
 
liberal-hater said:
Commercial, not military surplus?
And it was never stored in summer heat and humidity?

If so I'm extremely surprised. Some (not all) mil surplus powder has a lesser shelf life because short cuts can get taken in it's production, and some of the nitric acid isn't completely removed at the end. Such cost cutting is OK because it is assumed that it will not be stored for a very long time.
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Commercial, in the old square metal cans. It was stored in my basement gun room, the same as god knows how many pounds of powder that didn't go bad. It was two separate instances, but the same result, dusty and rusty. Whether it had anything to do with being the same type, I have no idea. I normally don't think twice about using powder that is probably older than I am.
 
Dogleg said:
Commercial, in the old square metal cans. It was stored in my basement gun room, the same as god knows how many pounds of powder that didn't go bad. It was two separate instances, but the same result, dusty and rusty. Whether it had anything to do with being the same type, I have no idea. I normally don't think twice about using powder that is probably older than I am.
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I had the same thing happen with a couple of cans, and I'm pretty sure it was also 4064. My first clue was the reddish dust when I poured it out of the can...and a sniff instantly confirmed it.

It's not very common though, and I've opened other cans that were at least 20 years old, and as shiny and fresh smelling as the day it was canned. If it's gone bad, you know it! The dust and 'flat' stale smell are a dead give away.

Lately I've been contemplating putting in a powder order to Higginsons, but I believe they re-package bulk powder. I wonder if the extra handling and exposure to air have an adverse effect on storage life?
 
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