Strange Powder Storage Situation

[bearhunter]

Can air contain water vapour or droplets of water? Can gunpowder hydrate itself (hygroscopic)? If so, can air enter through the lid of the container?

The amount of air in a container comes into question first off.

As for powder being hydroscopic, I've seen powder immersed in water, dried out and used.

When powder starts to break down to the point rust is appearing on the container lids and clumping that isn't water.

 

[4n2t0]

I think you're confused about my opinion with regard to powder breaking down, but I don't care to try and explain further.


Cheers.

 

[veeshooter]

Guys, I appreciate all the input on this, and great story bearhunter! I will update if things go further south before I get a chance to use the powder in question. This has been a good piece of education for me as well, and as a result, I'll be keeping a closer eye on things moving forward.

 

[wallz]

Did you end up getting any new all plastic containers?

I have a bunch if you need, but pay shipping for. Hopefully you can find them local and be cheaper.

 

[veeshooter]

Did you end up getting any new all plastic containers?

I have a bunch if you need, but pay shipping for. Hopefully you can find them local and be cheaper.

Many thanks for the offer! There was a local guy that has some posted here a couple weeks ago, but if I can't source some here, I'll definitely take you up on that.

 

[veeshooter]

Update: Sorry for the delayed post, but I found the culprit in my powder storage. When I checked each container individually, sure enough I came across one where the powder was more or less a solid clump. When I opened it, enough gas came off that it appeared I was vaping lol. It was a heavy chlorine type aroma, and funny enough, was stored in a container with a plastic lid. I've since disposed of it. Back to dry powder, smiles and sunshine. Thanks again to all who posted!

 

[4n2t0]

Interesting!

Thanks for the update.

 

[Eagleye]

Thanks for letting us know. 55+ years of reloading gives one a handle on many situations.
I knew you had some powder breaking down somewhere. Great that you located it. Dave.

 

[bearhunter]

Many thanks for the offer! There was a local guy that has some posted here a couple weeks ago, but if I can't source some here, I'll definitely take you up on that.

Just go to a local laundromat and take the liquid soap containers out of their garbage cans. Those things are some of the best containers I've come across for storing powder. They're lightproof, waterproof, seal well, heavy-walled, and hold 8-10 pounds.

They're easy to pour from, some even have very handy spouts.


Best of all, they're free and the laundromat owners are happy to see them gone.

 

[veeshooter]

Just go to a local laundromat and take the liquid soap containers out of their garbage cans. Those things are some of the best containers I've come across for storing powder. They're lightproof, waterproof, seal well, heavy-walled, and hold 8-10 pounds.

They're easy to pour from, some even have very handy spouts.


Best of all, they're free and the laundromat owners are happy to see them gone.

Fortunately some members here came to my aid. I'm set for now with what I've gotten and what I still have to pick up. That's a fantastic idea though! I haven't had the opportunity in recent years to buy a bulk lot of powder that would require that kind of division, (especially not at today's prices) but hopefully those days come again! Someone has to be sitting on a warehouse somewhere

 

[bearhunter]

Fortunately some members here came to my aid. I'm set for now with what I've gotten and what I still have to pick up. That's a fantastic idea though! I haven't had the opportunity in recent years to buy a bulk lot of powder that would require that kind of division, (especially not at today's prices) but hopefully those days come again! Someone has to be sitting on a warehouse somewhere

If you have several containers or part containers of a powder with the same designation, say H4831, take all of those containers and pour them all into one bigger container, seal it, shake it all up to blend them, and get one large consistent burn rate powder lot. DO NOT MIX DESIGNATIONS.

Doing this can save a lot of primers and powder when working up consistent loads after opening a new can from a different lot.

I've been doing this for over fifty years now, with the powder mentioned and the loads very seldom need tweaking when they're being used in the rifles they were developed with.

The only thing that will make much of a difference to such loads is a change of "PRIMER" manufacturers.

 

[veeshooter]

If you have several containers or part containers of a powder with the same designation, say H4831, take all of those containers and pour them all into one bigger container, seal it, shake it all up to blend them, and get one large consistent burn rate powder lot. DO NOT MIX DESIGNATIONS.

Doing this can save a lot of primers and powder when working up consistent loads after opening a new can from a different lot.

I've been doing this for over fifty years now, with the powder mentioned and the loads very seldom need tweaking when they're being used in the rifles they were developed with.

The only thing that will make much of a difference to such loads is a change of "PRIMER" manufacturers.

Agreed! I've been doing this for years now myself. For the time being, any powders I have in quantity are from the same lot.