Shelf life for components?

Max Power

Max Power

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
60   0   0
Location
YVR
Hello all,

I'm new to reloading and trying to absorb as much information as possible. That said the search function leaves a bit to be desired, and perusing all the threads here didn't give me an answer, so I'll ask: Do primers and powder have any sort of shelf life before they become less than useful?

I notice that many companies (Higginson, Freisen, etc.) have discounts for bulk amounts. I want to save as much as I can obviously, but don't want to risk having 8 lbs of powder being useless because I bit off more than I could chew to save a couple bucks...

I don't doubt that this might be a question with very subjective answers. Please feel free to let me know what your feelings/procedures are though. At the very least it will give me a ballpark time frame to consumption so I can buy accordingly.

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
You can store powder & primers for a very long time as long as they are stored correctly such as away from direct sunlight, heat sources, moisture etc. I keep mine stored in a closed cupboard in my reloading room, away from all the heat, moisture or sunlight. I have kept powder & primers for a number of years without problems whatsoever.
 
I have some HI-Vel that I bought thirty-five years ago and still load it in my 300 Savage.

Bought a 100 pound keg of surplus H4831 in 1969. Used it to load 25-06, 270 Win, 7mm Rem mag and 308 Norma mag over the next 40 years. Never changed the load in any of those rifles, so I guess the powder didn't change. :D

Also have some 8X57 military ammo that was loaded in 1952. It still goes bang every time.

Just keep your components dry and cool and they will last you a lifetime.

Ted
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the advice guys!

I plan to construct a powder magazine a la Lef T- Should meet all the suggestions glenliz87 made.

Why not, that is exactly the sort of anecdotal info I was looking for! If it worked for you, I'm sure I'll be fine buying as much as my wallet will support. 100 pound keg.:eek: Looks like I'll have to source it bigger than 8 pound kegs! That is a BULK purchase for sure....My hat is off to you, sir:D

Thanks again.

MP
 
Why not? said:
In 1969, H4831 was a surplus 20mm aircraft cannon powder, and you could buy it for 50 cents a pound! :runaway: :dancingbanana:

Those were the days. :D

Ted
Click to expand...

Those surely were the days! Surplus H4831 was $10.00 Canadian for a 20 lb. keg delivered in 1963. If I'd had the brains to buy one hundred pound keg instead of two twentys I'd maybe have some left today....and to answer the question it would still be perfectly good.
 
I am using up a few thousand primers that I found in my Dad's basement. They were originally purchaced in 1972. Not one misfire in the 4k used so far!!

I usually store primers in an airtight, 20mm ammo can, with a silica gel pack in it.
 
Powder will not go bad as long as it is kept in its original containers, sealed tight. Keep it free from heat, moisture and humidity and it will last for years. I have had powder for 15plus years stored this way and it is still as good as the day I bought it. Primers can be kept the same way, I usually keep sleeves of 5000 stacked in my reloading room away from heat, moisture and humidity and I will store them in ammo cans as well. They will last a long time as well as long as they are kept away from heat and moisture. If in doubt, store them in ammo cans and they will last forever!
 
Old Powder

Still have some remnants of my keg of 50 cent H4831 from the mid 1960s, but of course was manufactured prior to 1945. My 270 load, a copy of Jack O'connor's much heralded load, actually did chronograph out to just under 3200 with the 130 gr bullet. Fairly recently I loaded 5 of my usuall loading, then loaded 5 more, exactly the same, only new Hodgdon 4831 powder. The new powder was about 100 feet slower and a larger spread, from high to low, than was the group with the old powder!
 
Note that some batches of powder can "go bad".

One component of powder is nitrocellulose (NC). NC is produced by adding nitric acid to cellulose fibers. If the acid is not fully neutralized at the end of the process, then remaining acid can degrade the powder. Hence the arcid smell if the powder is degraded.
 
H4831 said:
Still have some remnants of my keg of 50 cent H4831 from the mid 1960s, but of course was manufactured prior to 1945. My 270 load, a copy of Jack O'connor's much heralded load, actually did chronograph out to just under 3200 with the 130 gr bullet. Fairly recently I loaded 5 of my usuall loading, then loaded 5 more, exactly the same, only new Hodgdon 4831 powder. The new powder was about 100 feet slower and a larger spread, from high to low, than was the group with the old powder!
Click to expand...

That is the same load I used for years. When I first read it in his books, I wondered about getting that much in the case, but it worked fine.

Loaded it with both the original 130 Nosler Partition and the 130 gr Winchester Silvertip ahead of magnum primers. It was flat shooting and devastating on sheep, caribou, bear and moose.

When I finally got an Oehler chronograph, I checked it out and sure enough it was just a tad over 3200 out of my 22" Husqvarna. :cool:

Ted
 
I spoke to the Guy at IMR this week about some IMR4831 I bought in about 1995.
He said if it smells like good powder ( not sour) and looks good (not brownish)it's likely good.
He did start off with the usual 10 year old,discard it line but by the time we were through,bottom line was if it looks & smells good,it's good..
The Buck I shot with it 2 weeks ago ain't talkin !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom