Muzzled loader powder pellets.

[Thick and heavy]

I bought a new muzzle loader about 10 years ago. I bought everything go with it, but have never fired a round through it. How long will the powder be good for. It has always ended stored properly.

 

[stuckon308]

You'll be fine if it was stored in a cool dry place. I shot some that was stored for over 20 years.

 

[vagrantviking]

I've heard pyrodex and Shockley's Gold can degrade fairly quickly once unsealed but haven't used that stuff much myself.
Real black powder from the Civil War can still work just fine if stored dry.

 

[Alex McKr]

Haven't observed any problems with Pyrodex degrading. At least, not the loose stuff. I do have a couple of cans that have been opened for more than 20 years. Still seem to be okay. I agree with the others....as long as you store the pellets in a cool, dry place, they should be fine.
Black powder stores well, too.

 

[cosmic]

The issue is that black powder substitutes tend to be hygroscopic. I've found that both 777 and Pyrodex pellets suffer from this, and become hard to ignite, giving a partial burn. The solution is to dry them out in the oven - 225 F for half an hour.

 

[8ball]

Haven't observed any problems with Pyrodex degrading. At least, not the loose stuff. I do have a couple of cans that have been opened for more than 20 years. Still seem to be okay. I agree with the others....as long as you store the pellets in a cool, dry place, they should be fine.
Black powder stores well, too.

Hi had those same black and Pyrodex powders stored for at least 15 years in a dry space in containers that had been opened. Used some at the range last summer and it booms every time I pulled the trigger.