Storing bulk powder

[spyderman2k4]

Hey everyone,

I've been reloading for about 7 months now, and have been experimenting with different loads. I'm almost done with my current pount of Accurate #2 Improved, and I think next I want to try Clays (I'm shooting .45 ACP by the way). From what I've heard, Clays is a great, clean burning, accurate target load. That said, after I test it out, I can see myself wanting to start buying in bulk. However, I've been kind of hesitant to buy in bulk for fear that it might all go bad.

What do you guys do to keep your bulk powder "fresh", othat than just storing in a cool, dry place? Anything special? Thanks a lot!

[The Knight Of Light]

Originally Posted by spyderman2k4

Hey everyone,

I've been reloading for about 7 months now, and have been experimenting with different loads. I'm almost done with my current pount of Accurate #2 Improved, and I think next I want to try Clays (I'm shooting .45 ACP by the way). From what I've heard, Clays is a great, clean burning, accurate target load. That said, after I test it out, I can see myself wanting to start buying in bulk. However, I've been kind of hesitant to buy in bulk for fear that it might all go bad.

What do you guys do to keep your bulk powder "fresh", othat than just storing in a cool, dry place? Anything special? Thanks a lot!

Yep cool(not cold) dry place with the cap on tight. don't throw the little foam seal inside the cap away. Besides once you start loading you will end up loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Then pretty soon you need to buy more powder or bullets or primers or you will have to go out and shoot all of your reloads up and start and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading and loading

[agalindo]

Cool dry place, way from direct sunlight.

[fredj338]

That's really all you need to do, keep th lid tight & store in cool dry place. DO NOT store in a solid locker like a steel ammo can. In a fire, pressure can build & you could have a detonation instead of the plastic container melting & the powder burning.

[spyderman2k4]

In the event that powder DOES go bad, how does one know it has gone bad? Are there obvious signs in the powder itself? Or is it a "these rounds aren't shooting right" type of thing?

[saltysquid]

I wouldn't worry about gunpowder going bad, Just keep it sealed. I shot some 25auto shells that my uncle bought and he died before I was born, they were at least 30 years old when I shot them. The all fired like new with no problems. There's all kinds of military ammo that has been sitting for years and years before it's been shot and no problems. What do these have to do with storing powder? If the container is sealed tight it's pretty much the same thing as being in a bullet.

[spyderman2k4]

my reasoning is my dad started reloading a few years ago (rifle ammo). I now reload my pistol ammo. I was gonna reload some 30-06 ammo, but he said some of the powder went bad. I don't know if he's just being paranoid or if I can actually tell?

[saltysquid]

Hard to tell. Could be he left it open and it got damp, stuck together or something? It really doesn't go bad though, if it looks ok I would try a few rounds. I read on one site a guy is still using military surplus powder from 1968. Here's some weighing in on the shelf life:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=255483

Sniff it maybe?

Modern gun powder is so well made that deterioration under proper storage conditions is unlikely to happen - however, never assume this is the case. Here is how to check if gun powder is no longer usable:

• Smell the gun powder. If it has a strong, foul smelling acidic odour then don't use it
• Check how the powder has been stored - if exposed to extreme heat its likely to go off much more quickly - so always store gun powder in a cool, dry place

[spyderman2k4]

hmm, it has just been kept in the garage where it's cool and dry all the time... who knows?

[fredj338]

Powder can certainly go "bad" if improperly stored. If it smells acidic & looks like it has a brown dusting on it, there is a good chance it has been stored at higher than normal temps. It should also not be clumpy when you poor it out, this could be excessive moisture. If in doubt, spread it on your lawn & water it in.