What's the shelf life of powder? Unopened and opened.

[Rule3]

I was thinking of buying some powder in either 4 or 8 lbs instead of these 1lb containers.
It would take we some time to use up 8lbs or even 4.
I was thinking (dangerous) I could divide the powder up and seal it up in those vaccum food saver bags which we use for the freezer. They are almost 100% air tight. Kinda like coffee bags.

What say ye? Good or bad idea??

[Rule3]

I was thinking of buying some powder in either 4 or 8 lbs instead of these 1lb containers.
It would take we some time to use up 8lbs or even 4.
I was thinking (dangerous) I could divide the powder up and seal it up in those vaccum food saver bags which we use for the freezer. They are almost 100% air tight. Kinda like coffee bags.

What say ye? Good or bad idea??

[canoe on the yukon]

Store the powder in it's original container and keep it in an enviroment that does not see drastic changes in humidity or temperatures.(don't store it in a garage or shed).

The powder will outlast you.

[2152hq]

Agreed,,leave it in it's original container for storage,,long term or otherwise.

The orig containers are designed with all the specs for proper storage.
Just keep it from extremes of humidity and heat and it will last virtually decades.

I have some IMR rifle powders and some Red Dot and Green Dot that are from the late 60's that are just fine. I recently just finished up the RD & GD in some shotshell loads and there was no hint of any problems.

Repackaging powder is just asking for a problem to occur in misidentification by someone somewhere down the line.

[tbury]

+1 on original containers. Climate controlled is best but keeping the original containers properly sealed I have powder from the 70s that survived storage in an unheated frame garage with KY weather for 30+ yrs.

Degraded powder changes color and has an acrid (acidic) smell from the breakdown of nitrogen compounds. If it looks normal and smells normal it is fine (advice from Lyman #48 Reloading manual).

[walnutred]

I recently purchased a couple 8lb kegs. What I did was save a couple empty one-pound containers of identical powder. I poured the powder I planned on using from the keg to the matching one-pound container, closed the keg and sealed it with electrical tape.

This way I am not constantly opening the keg to fill the powder measure. Less chance of a spill while filling the measure, and hopefully provided better long term storage for the keg.

I'm not sure this really helps but I like to think so.

[tgwillard]

I have some 700-X and Unique that is 40 years old. I recenly opened both containers and found no change in either. I also recently fired some reloads that I made 40 years ago and they worked fine.

[Rule3]

Originally posted by walnutred:
I recently purchased a couple 8lb kegs. What I did was save a couple empty one-pound containers of identical powder. I poured the powder I planned on using from the keg to the matching one-pound container, closed the keg and sealed it with electrical tape.

This way I am not constantly opening the keg to fill the powder measure. Less chance of a spill while filling the measure, and hopefully provided better long term storage for the keg.

I'm not sure this really helps but I like to think so.

That sounds like a good idea and basically what I had in mind with the plastic storage bags. I live where it is very hot and humid. I sure seems that opening a 8lb container every week would cetainly advance the break down of powder. I am not talking about leaving it unopened for a year.If I do the bags they of course will be labeled.

tgwillard, I do not think loaded rounds are the same thing. They are pretty much air tight mimi storage containers.

[bmcgilvray]

I'm still waiting to find out. With good storage it lasts indefinitely.

[Rule3]

Originally posted by bmcgilvray:
I'm still waiting to find out. With good storage it lasts indefinitely.

.

So you are saying that even onced opened it will last indefinitely and I shouldn't worry abot how long it takes for me to use it up?

[canoe on the yukon]

Quit worrying.Keep the powder in the original container and use common sense in storing it.Don't store it near a heat source,outbuilding,etc.Don't store powder in direct sunlight.

I have an 8 lb keg of 4350 from the 60's that was opened 40 years ago.It's still fine.

[Spotteddog]

What BMC and the others have all said already...

[OKFC05]

Ditto a whole bunch.

NEVER store powder in anything other than a factory container designed for that powder.

In addition to being dangerous, putting gunpowder into a non-factory marked container is illegal in many jurisdictions, and can be considered "bomb making."

[Paul5388]

A little history and chemistry to help answer the question.

During the breakup of Du Pont, the company kept its single-base powders that contained nitrocellulose as their main component. In contrast, nearly all Hercules (and Alliant today) powders were double-base and contain nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. In general, double-base powders contain slightly more energy than single-base powders, so a smaller amount of double-base powder can be used. Nitroglycerin also plasticizes powder kernels somewhat. The coating makes the powder impervious to moisture in the air and also keeps it from drying out. This provides more consistent velocity and pressure, and in the end, accuracy, according to Quesenberry.

Unique was first manufactured in about 1898 and was one of the first powders Du Pont turned over to Hercules. A jar of Unique powder sits on the shelf at the Alliant Powder plant in Radford, Virginia. The powder in the jar was made in 1899 and still performs to original specifications. "Unique is the oldest and most versatile powder on the market," Quesenberry says.

[kennyb]

+1...DO NOT put the powder in a storage bag!the containers they come in are designed for their storage...mine stays in an unheated garage in va.where it gets cold as well as hot and humid....never a problem whatsoever...if you have noticed,when you purchase powder there is a lot of leftover space in the container...its that way for a purpose...it needs breathing room

[bmcgilvray]

Hi OCD1;

I have cans of powder originating in the 1960s that are still "fresh as a daisy" and even some Hodgdon "old lot" 4831 and 4895 that was repackaged from WWII stores as I understand it. They appear fine with no odor and worked well the last time I used from them a few years back.

It's silly but I continue hoarding remnants of these powders instead of using them up because once they're gone...

I suppose I fancy myself as saving a bit of hand loading history.

Anyway, they've always been stored under climate controlled conditions since I've had them.

And then there's the famous "control" batch of Unique retained by the manufacturer that is suppose to have been around since about 1898 when it was then known as Infallible. It is suppose to yield normal performance.

Some versions of this so called example of really old Unique have the powder stored in water and dried out to test!

I doubt Snopes has anything on this but I Googled to find this article by Mike Cumpston.

http://findarticles.com/p/arti...s_10_54/ai_n28027445

[Rule3]

OK, thanks for the input. I will leave it as is but maybe build a little storage room around it with central A/C. My wife is gonna love it on her side of the closet!

[Revoman]

Does anyone have any old empty bullseye or winchester 231 containers?

I would pay for shipping them to me.

Thanks Jay P.

[Old 44 Guy]

I'm still using some Bullseye & 2400 in kegs I bought in 1958. 8 pounders dated 1940. Still works good. 2400 all gone & about a half pound left of Bullseye. Believe me keep it in the original containers.

[walnutred]

Originally posted by Revoman:
Does anyone have any old empty bullseye or winchester 231 containers?

I would pay for shipping them to me.

Thanks Jay P.

If you don't find anyone with both I found a 231 1-lb plastic can in my reloading room trash can. The 1-lb Bullseye can I reload from is simply a blank, metal 1-quart, F-Style can with the word Bullseye written on it with permanent marker. This is the same style can Goex black powder and IMR powders come in, without the stenciling.

Back in the early 70's when I started reloading that is how the local dealer sold powder. He would purchase the powder bulk in commercial kegs then weigh it out into these cans and sell the individual cans. I would NEVER consider buying powder that way now of course, but I didn't know any better back then.

[Revoman]

Walnutred, thanks for looking I bought a few pounds of powder from a guy with 8lb kegs.

It came in clear plastic bottles and coffee cans.

I called a friend who saves everything and sure enough he had a few empties.

Thanks, Jay P.

[Mark1967]

It will last a very long time. In other words, if you could afford it, buy a bunch now and set it aside for your grandchildren’s grandchildren. That might be there only source for powder in the future, you know, with CHANGE and all. I bet the price will go up by then many times more than gold, if you know what I mean.

[Rule3]

Originally posted by Mark1967:
It will last a very long time. In other words, if you could afford it, buy a bunch now and set it aside for your grandchildren’s grandchildren. That might be there only source for powder in the future, you know, with CHANGE and all. I bet the price will go up by then many times more than gold, if you know what I mean.

Yes but I have HOPE also.
I have not problem with it un opened factory sealed and all that. Here in the sub tropics of SW Florida with the humidity running 60 to 90 % and temps in the 90's everything goes bad sooner or later. I allready have 10 lbs in the closet and do not think my lovely wife wants to see any more. She just does not understand
Maybe I'll get a wine cooler to put in the garage.

[R. Walter]

The jury's in... keep the powder in its original container, avoid storing in areas that will experience extremes in humidity and temperature and don't worry about it!

[29aholic]

According to Hodgdon ball powders will last 70-80 years.

[2152hq]

I've got this in my powder locker along with some other oldies. Some RD and GD bought in bulk in the 60's and still in the old coffee cans it was purchased in. Still works as I load some shotshells with it. Old cans of 2400 and Bullseye from the 60's. Found 3, 8oz cans of Alcan AL7 too. Two were unopened. Retail price tag of $2.75 on one of them (mid 60's). Probably got hosed when you adjust that for inflation though

Anyone have any idea when Hodgdon stopped using paper bags to retail reloading powder in?
Looks unopened,,,still has the tape over the folded closure. Probably try it out this summer


added: Just for kicks,,I emailed the pic and info to Hodgdon to see what they had to say about the age, etc.

[Rule3]

If they repond, please share what they say.
That is pretty "unique" to see.

[ncbengal]

Only things I can add is
a) don't leave powder in your powder measure even overnight. It is light sensitive; return unused to original container.
b) I bought a 1# container of Green Dot (okay, it's for shotgun!) and refill it from the 8# jugs which I buy and keep in a cool basement. Don't have to open it too often except to refill smaller container

[Rapidrob]

I've got several pounds of Cordite left from WWI. Still as good as the day it was made.