powder question

Mumptia

Mumptia

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LaCrete, Alberta
Just wondering what a recommended shelf life for solid propellant (gun powder) would be.

I'm guessing ambient temp and moisture have a big say in this but at what time does it become less effective / unstable to shoot?
 
I bought some H4895 that looks to be from the sixties, while I started with very cautious loads, it gave no problems at all.
I read here if the grains of powder look to have changed color from what you're used to seeing then it is best to just discard it.
FWIW
 
The shelf life of smokeless powder is best described as " indefinite".....

If stored in proper container, in cool vs. warm/hot, and non moist location it will last over 40 years,,,,,,no doubt longer but .....have no experience in storing powder longer..........

Powder stored as a "loaded cartridge" ,in similar storage surroundings maybe even longer......

Have some .303 Cdn ball ammo from 1943.......still ignites well and gets its 2-2.5 in/ 100yds as of range session few weeks ago.........same can be said for some 1945 US 30/06 ball ammo likewise shot last month.....

hs4570..........your mileage may vary
 
I am using up the remainder of some powder that went out of production over 30 years ago. It still works just the way it did when I first started using it. When it's gone, there will be no more, and that saddens me a bit. Regards, Eagleye.
 
:mad: I had several paper cans of some Higginson repackaged powders that have transpired and caused serious rusting of nearby metals. Due to the porusness of the cardboard containers, humidity attacked the powders. The result was a serious degrading causing powder breakdown into various acids including Nitric! They have all been disposed off. Winchester used ot have paper containers also. But they were lined with a foil to combat air penetration. It was a great oxygen barrier that is now used in plastic tubing. I now only keep metal and some plastic gunpowder containers. As some plastic containers are very poor to prevent oxygen penetration thus degrading the powder.

Please be carefull with very old blackpowder. As it degrades rapidly over time! And be very carefull if any of your powder looks wet!

Best regards,
Henry;)
 
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