Smith & Wesson Forum

Advertise With Us Search
Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-10-2010, 01:44 PM
hayseed hayseed is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Humidity vs. Powder???

My wife and I have recently moved into a fairly "wet" winter environment. (Wet fog and drizzle daily.) As we are not completely settled, my gunpowder has been relegated to storage in less than an ideal place.
The powder is safe and dry, (indoors but subject to out door temps - garage) but I am curious about what affects the cool/cold humid ambient air of winter will have on it, if any. I have both black and smokeless, some of it has been opened, most of it has not. Will the powder draw moisture from the air?.... enough to cause problems?

Thanks,
Hayseed
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-10-2010, 01:50 PM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is online now
Member
Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder???  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,727
Likes: 1,582
Liked 8,854 Times in 3,533 Posts
Default

As long as the caps are tight on the cans and the cap gaskets are in place there is nothng to worry about.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-10-2010, 02:54 PM
hayseed hayseed is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Alk8944,
Thanks for the reassurance.
This is one, wet, winter environ. No snow, so I'm told, but it's the only placed I've lived where folks wash their vehicles on a regular basis in the wintertime. Not so much because they're dirty, but to keep the moss off!

Hayseed
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-10-2010, 06:37 PM
oldRoger oldRoger is offline
US Veteran
Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder???  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Citrus County, Florida
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 21
Liked 218 Times in 110 Posts
Default

Humid here and usually fairly warm, as alk8944 says as long as the caps are tight no problem. Rust is a big problem though so I have to be very careful with dies and anything “rustable”. I ended up partitioning off a portion of the garage and keep a dehumidifier running there.
On general principles I do not leave powder uncapped, or in the powder measure, except when using it.
__________________
Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-10-2010, 07:00 PM
sonny sonny is offline
Member
Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder???  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 572
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 8 Posts
Default

I just read this thread-link on another forum. Make sure you read the posts by Iowegan. He is outstanding.
Funny thing with Lee dippers - Ruger Forum
Sonny
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-10-2010, 09:23 PM
Calaveras Slim Calaveras Slim is offline
US Veteran
Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder???  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Antonio de Bexar
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 618
Liked 1,127 Times in 373 Posts
Default

I live in S. Central TX and humidity is a problem mmost of the year. I keep my powder cap tight but as added insurance, I buy disiccant packets and put them in the powder.

Keep one in the die boxes also and closed tight.
__________________
Slim, U.S. Army, Ret.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-11-2010, 04:12 AM
chasmatic chasmatic is offline
Member
Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder???  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
Liked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Hayseed, as others have said, in securely closed containers you should have no problems. When you want to use it for reloading I suggest you bring it into the house and let it get up to room temperature.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-11-2010, 12:05 PM
hayseed hayseed is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for the good info everyone!
I appreciate your time and comments.
Not having to replace a bunch of powder eases the strain on my reloading budget.

Hayseed
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-11-2010, 01:05 PM
38-44HD45 38-44HD45 is offline
Absent Comrade
Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder??? Humidity vs. Powder???  
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lubbock, TX, US
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 2
Liked 49 Times in 30 Posts
Default

I know that the OP wanted general info, but one other item is worth mentioning: Some powders are more hygroscopic than others. For instance, my favorite handgun powder, SR-4756, is highly hygroscopic. Even though I live in a normally very dry climate, I never leave 4756 in a powder measure even overnight. Viht handgun powders, I've learned, are not very hygroscopic at all. I've left N-350 in a measure with a fairly loose cap for weeks, with no noticeable absorption of moisture, even though I don't recommend it.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Humidity/rust Robert B S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 15 09-26-2015 09:24 AM
Gun safe humidity 3S16 The Lounge 2 02-06-2014 12:33 AM
Humidity and powder weight smokindog Reloading 12 08-30-2013 05:43 PM
Powder Volume vs Temp & Humidity TwoPoundPull Reloading 11 08-08-2009 01:05 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:31 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)