what is powder shelf life
- Thread starter disker
- Start date
I still have H4831 powder that Bruce Hodgdon ground up from 20MM cannon powder after WW2. No apparent change with age.
The 50 calibre rifle shooters, told of in another thread, were using ammo made in 1945. I also have primers of 1950s vintage. I wouldn't worry about powder and primers a few years old.
The 50 calibre rifle shooters, told of in another thread, were using ammo made in 1945. I also have primers of 1950s vintage. I wouldn't worry about powder and primers a few years old.
I've had exactly two cans of powder go bad. Curiously they were both IMR 3031 that had been opened and stoud for years.. Otherwise I've shot military surplus powder that was probably older than me with decent results.
dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
I'm currently shooting 1938 Czech 8mm (through a 1936 98K). Very reliable and accurate.
Have you checked your scope mount? Any indication at all that the problem is gun related, not load related? Havre you tried factory ammo? All the same primer? Tried benchrest primer?
How about different bullets? If that barrel just doesn't like blitzkings, it might not matter what you push them with.
Any particular load show promise of are they all roughly the same size group?
How about different bullets? If that barrel just doesn't like blitzkings, it might not matter what you push them with.
Any particular load show promise of are they all roughly the same size group?
the 36.5g of 4064 and 36.5 of IMR4320 showed some promise I checked the scope mounts and tried a diffrent scope the primers are all the same I plan on getting some benchrest primers and my friend has some 40g A-Max and 52g hallow point not sure of kind and 55g V=Max and soft points. I had a gun smith look at gun he said the crown was good the throut had some wear but said it should still shoot good.
Good move on the changing of bullets and primers. Sometimes a gun with "some wear" has already decided what bullets it doesn't like.
Once you get a load that shows promise, try seating the bullets out a bit farther. Perhaps there is a substantial jump before the bullets engage the rifling in a gun with some wear. It doesn't always work, but worth the effort.
Once you get a load that shows promise, try seating the bullets out a bit farther. Perhaps there is a substantial jump before the bullets engage the rifling in a gun with some wear. It doesn't always work, but worth the effort.
gushulak
CGN frequent flyer
Keep powder stored cool, out of sunlight and humidity and it will last for decades. Test is occasionally, once it smells acidic it has gone bad. I have never had power go bad in my stores and I have kept about 50lbs or so in stock for the last 15 or so years.
Propellant is manufactured with solvents. In a air tight boxs the smell of solvent exudes from Small Arms Ammunition. Single base powder is manufactured with an ether and alcohol mixture, solvent type double base powder is manufactured with acetone and in ball propellant manufacture nitrocellulose is agitated with an ethyl acetate solvent. If you going to throw propellant away, throw it my way. No use in it going to waste!!
