Is it illegal to have two 8 lbs containers of smokeless powder at home?

curseyou said:
Why? There have been like ZERO reloading problems in Canada.
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The list of things that someone in govt would like to see banned although it doesn't create any problem is endless.

@OP: You're right. Legally, 3.95-1-b) applies to you. In theory, you would have to make sure that you're not keeping more than 5kg (11lbs) of powder (total, including what's in every one of your cartridge) if one of your container contains more than 1kg (2.2lbs). It really is not much tbh.

If someone bought a lot of commercial ammos, they could go over the 20kg limit without even knowing they do. Granted, 20kg of powder in loaded ammos is a lot, but with large lots of milsurp it would be possible to store that much in an apartment I believe, and nobody knows how much powder there is in each of those 60 years old cartridges.

In theory, woodchopper's idea of using old powder bottles doesn't work. The wording is pretty specific, "in its original container", meaning the container the powder originally came from. I'd like to see 2 lawyers argue in front of a judge whether "a container originally meant for that specific kind of powder" (e.g. 8lbs of titegroup stored into 8 titegroup bottles of 1lb each instead of the 8lbs container that Hodgdons packaged it in) is an original container, or if it is necessary to be in the container originally meant for that specific pound of powder. Some lawyers would have a kick out of that. Poor judge would get a headache.
 
curseyou said:
Why? There have been like ZERO reloading problems in Canada.
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You have never seen a ka boom at the range from someone making a mistake loading their own? People usually too embarrassed to advertise it happened to them, and certainly don't blame themselves if the injury requires medical attention
 
woodchopper said:
The NRCan guys that that I have met are all against any handloading and would have liked to ban it.
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Then you haven't met Patrick O'Neil who was running the programme. Great guy, very pro-gun/pro-reloading. He was largely responsible for getting the new regulations put in place that are 1000 times better than the previous ones.
 
rifleman762 said:
I doubt many handloaders worry about the powder rules or even know the rules. Lol. Btw, you should really store the powder in a locked 3/4" thick wooden box made with non-ferrous fasteners. And don't remove more than 2kg at a time. Or something like that. Whatever.
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Not any more. The wood box - non ferrous metal requirement was removed years ago when the new regs were introduced.
 
jethunter said:
But if it's stored in cartridges then the total allowed would be 20kg, as opposed to 5kg if stored in containers larger than 1 kg, yes?
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If the powder is "stored" in loaded cartridges you can have up to 225 kg. Not ammo weight - weight of powder in the ammo.
 
coreyd said:
Just because it's loaded doesn't remove it from the overall total amount of powder you can have.
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THAT'S incorrect- yes, it ABSOLUTELY does.

Once it's loaded into cartridges you're subject to the 225kg limit under division 1, not the limits for smokeless powder storage under division 2. The section outlining the 20kg and 5kg limits is talking about "containers." Small arms cartridges are not containers, as even the post you quoted makes clear by using the two different terms. Once it's in cartridges it's no longer governed by the rules for storing powder, it's governed by the rules for storing small arms cartridges.

Old303 is totally correct.
 
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And if you buy bulk or surplus powder the "original" container is often something the reseller bought to sell it in quantities smaller than a barrel. I've bought powder in plastic bags in a cardboard box and in jugs that look like generic industry supplies.

It's going to be very tough to charge people for violating any of these. Mostly likely to be investigated after the evidence has gone up in smoke anyway....
 
Deleted, feel free to do the same to avoid the hyperbole.

The point: There are always avenues of attack we should be mindful of.
 
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6MT said:
Well, this quote reaffirms my thinking that the internet is full of hyperbole. Please provide a factual, real world account of this absurd comment. Otherwise, stop fanning the flames of the anti's.

Sorry about the rant, but this forum and others like it are not much more than keyboard warriors who know nothing of the actual real world.

Andy 6MT
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Indeed. Honey pie, you're not safe here.


EDIT: BTW, if there ever was a thread that should be closed, it's this one!
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Why? It's a good and sensible question with some good and sensible answers. Good on the OP for doing his research and due diligence when it seems many other longer term reloaders on the thread don't do the same and aren't even roughly familiar with the current regs. Good for him. It's a good example that some others could follow.

Are the explosive regs a big deal for reloaders? I dunno. I've never heard of a reloader charged under them. On the other hand I sure wouldn't want to be the guy that burned down an apartment building and have the fire marshal figure out I broke federal law in regards to explosives storage. I definitely wouldn't want to find out what would happen in the resulting civil suits. Even with insurance, which would exclude damages that result while in violation of the law. If it was my own detached house (as it is presently - I reload and store everything in a guest house on the property... if I burn it down it's only me that'll suffer) I wouldn't sweat so much. But in an apartment? Hell even if a fire started in another unit and spread to your powder which amplified the fire, I wouldn't want to have to explain why I was breaking the law.

For that matter, being in violation of the law would be grounds for eviction if it was somehow discovered. I'm not sure about every province, but the ones that I am certainly allow for eviction if you're doing something illegal. Certainly not likely to be found out, much less get to eviction, but it's a risk and worry no one needs.
 
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This is a very interesting question. Indeed consult your municipal fire regulations and also any Federal firearms regulations.

It can be viewed also as a mitigation of risk challenge in general for any reloader regardless where they live and with whom they live with.e

In this particular example it would be a good idea to separate the two 8lbs containers of reloading powder with as much space as possible. You could also put each container in document fire protection box. This doesn't obviously eliminate the risk it just reduces it. Bass Pro stores reloading powder they sell as per insurance and all manner of fire regulations. Ask them how they do it and what they recommend that you do. After all they would want to sell you more powder.
 
Carbon12 said:
This is a very interesting question. Indeed consult your municipal fire regulations and also any Federal firearms regulations.
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Storage of powder and manufacture of small arms ammo isn't covered under the Firearms Act or regulations. As stated above, it's under the Explosives Act.

You could also put each container in document fire protection box. This doesn't obviously eliminate the risk it just reduces it.
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You should DEFINITELY not do this. Storing powder in a sealed metal container is effectively making a bomb waiting to ambush unsuspecting firefighters. There is literally no regulation that tells you to store powder in a sealed metal container. It's a terrible, dangerous idea. DO NOT do this.

Bass Pro stores reloading powder they sell as per insurance and all manner of fire regulations. Ask them how they do it and what they recommend that you do. After all they would want to sell you more powder.
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There's no need to ask Bass Pro. First off, it's not an employee's job there to be familiar with the storage regs for unlicensed users. The regs are significantly different. If you want to know how they do it you can also just read the relevant sections in the Act.

Secondly, it's no mystery what you need to do. It's literally spelled out in black and white in the Explosives Act. Just follow what they say. Easy peasy. No need to get some employee's opinion or come up with your own methods.
 
Reloading is fun as f**k.

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