Powder storage

.308ACADIAN

.308ACADIAN

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Super GunNutz
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Good day everyone.

I was looking through the pages trying to see if anyone has asked the question as how long can gun powder be stored for and best tips for long term storage.

I was not originally looking to store powder or components for more than a year maybe two, but every since the darkness has descended on us there has been much less opportunity to go out and shoot.

So I am just wondering what are some of the best ways to extend the life of your powder and some ideas on how to store components, powder, and even reloaded ammo for extended periods and at what point do you decide it's time to dispose of it.

Thanks for any tips gang.
 
Some guys here are shooting 30 year old powder.

Stable low temperature and stored in a low humidity can extend powder life almost indefinitely.

Dispose powder when it starts smelling different and a "RUST" colour appears in/on the powder
 
Store powder dry, dark and cool. The finished ammo and primers too.

Do this and your shooting supplies will be good for longer than your lifetime. A lot more than the aforementioned 30 years.
 
From a guy who had lost 8 pound jugs gone bad - I was told - "warm" is bad for powder - like more than room temperature (22C / 72F), starts and continues irreversible deterioration. So "cool" is good - as I understand that means "cooler" than normal room temperature. Not clear to me if freezing does anything bad??? Keep dry - do not forget this is for loose powder and for powder in cartridges. Do not want the cases corroding, which is, a lot of times, from moist / damp / wet. Apparently some light wavelengths not good - so why powder almost always in black / dark jugs - to keep light out, among other advantages.
 
I am working on a couple of 10 lb kegs of C 300 which I know is over 30 years old. Always been stored in the first floor of the house. Stuff still works excellent. Moisture and heat are the two biggest killers of powder so keep it dry and at normal house temperatures and you should be fine.
 
As to ammo life, I recently shot a .303 with ammo made in 1944. I would expect it was charged with cordite, but I could be wrong.
Every one of those 77-year old cartridges performed as if it were new.
Proper storage goes a long way, cool and dry as has been said earlier.
 
I wonder how much of the "they don't make it like they used to" will come into play with newer more modern powders. Like maybe CFE223 doesn't last like WC735 does. Something I was wondering as I read along. I just finished some 25+ year old IMR4350.
 
yomomma said:
Some guys here are shooting 30 year old powder.

Stable low temperature and stored in a low humidity can extend powder life almost indefinitely.

Dispose powder when it starts smelling different and a "RUST" colour appears in/on the powder
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Thirty year old powder?? I'm still shooting 4831/BLC/3031/4895 made around 1943.

I guess thirty yeas ago is a long time for some youngsters??? Kidding of course.
 
Someone at SFRC just warned me about this, when I mentioned I had some Unique and another powder still in the original round cardboard containers. Looking for suitable plastic containers now. Good topic....

So primers have to be stored the same way? Has anyone had a problem with these also?
 
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yomomma said:
Well, If you would shoot more than five rounds a year, you might go through powder a little faster!!

Lmao
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Five pounds per year you say???

I have several different powders on hand, simply because I shoot so many different firearms, with different chamberings. 3000-4000 rounds of centerfire per year is my norm. That's why I purchase everything in Bulk quantities.

I use between 20 and 30 pounds of powder a year, but I will admit I'm shooting a lot less in my rusting years. I still enjoy it every bit as much but my eyes and body are telling me such things are not forever.
 
For some ammo/components storage, I have been using one of those Foodsaver/Sealers. + trying to have everything in sealed proper ammo cans. Desiccant packs too.
I learned a lesson some years ago..I had some ammo get damp I guess, from basement storage, not fun, but at that time, it was the only place I could 'store' my ammo where I lived.

I didn't realize how damp it was down there & some of it was just in the heavy cardboard boxes. When I recently was shooting that same older ammo, I had a few f2f's from a 20 pack, but it 'looked' fine. I can only asume it's bcuz of that improper storage. Now I tend to over protect everything, even though it's no longer in a sh*tty basement :p
 
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