A primer/powder question from everyone's favorite Noob...

[JJFlash]

Hey guys...

I recently added to my humble stockpile of primers and powder, and I am having some concerns about how to store this many primers and this much powder.

With all of the guns and ammo in the safe, I really don't have the room for this stuff in there any more.

Part of my reloading area is an old steel teacher's desk, with steel drawers like a file cabinet.

It's in my garage (which is cool and dry).

Would it be safe to put all of the primers in one drawer (on one side) and the powder in another drawer (on the opposite side)??

For the record, I'm talking about maybe 12,000 primers and 15lbs of powder.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[RussellD]

Store them both inside in your closet. I keep mine in a closet with a humidistat on the wall. Cool and dry.

 

[blujax01]

Would you take the advice on the properties and storage of smokeless powder from the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer's Institute?
http://www.saami.org/specifications.../download/SAAMI_ITEM_200-Smokeless_Powder.pdf

I believe an old UNPLUGGED refrigerator (one with a magnetic seal as opposed to a latch) fits the suggestion for..."Storage cabinets should be constructed of insulating materials and with a weak wall, seams or joints to provide an easy means of self-venting." Those seals are tested to open with the pressure that a toddler could exert if caught inside.

 

[WR Moore]

I store primers in GI ammo cans. They've kept primers good for over 20 years-I'm burning up the last of some LP primers I bought in Carter's (mis)administration.

 

[OKFC05]

With all of the guns and ammo in the safe

You need to take the ammo out of the safe and store separate from the guns per the SAAMI instructions, above.
Any powder or ammo stored in a safe becomes a potential bomb due to the strong containment. Powder or ammo in the open or in a weak container just burns in a fire without making a strong explosion.

 

[SMSgt]

I've stored primers and powders in the original containers in my air-conditioned closet for years without incident. I would not store primers in an open (manufacturers packaging) container in a garage.

 

[robertrwalsh]

In case of a fire the GI ammo cans full of primers would become bombs.

 

[parabarbarian]

Modern primers and powder are pretty darned stable over a large range of environmental conditions. That is not an excuse to store your powder next to the water heater or put the primers in an oven but, with reasonable precautions, you can store them in just about anything. A steel cabinet or a closet shelf is as good as anything.

I use an old refrigerator I have in my garage. I added a hasp so it can be locked if I want it to be. I put the primers in the freezer compartment and the powder on the shelves.

 

[Skeet 028]

Been doing this since the 60s..What Parabarbarian said.. Legally you can keep up to a hundred pounds of powder in a refrigerator with the plug CuT OFF. At one time I had 5 in a homemade powder bunker. Fire Marshals office made me do the bunker thing..

 

[moxie]

I think that desk will work just fine.

 

[Rule3]

In case of a fire the GI ammo cans full of primers would become bombs.

What happens to all the ammo that is stored in ammo cans?

 

[mikld]

Modern primers and powder are pretty darned stable over a large range of environmental conditions. That is not an excuse to store your powder next to the water heater or put the primers in an oven but, with reasonable precautions, you can store them in just about anything. A steel cabinet or a closet shelf is as good as anything.

I use an old refrigerator I have in my garage. I added a hasp so it can be locked if I want it to be. I put the primers in the freezer compartment and the powder on the shelves.

Agreed. I have been reloading for prolly 30 years and gone through a lot of powder and primers and have purchase some that doesn't get used much. I put my primers, in the original boxes, in a plastic shoebox (but it only holds about 4k so I use 2 or 3). and in a metal cabinet in my reloading "house" (a 10x14 ft shed, w/o climate control). Powder is in the same shed, in original containers (some 25+ years old) some in the same cabinet, some in a tub under the bench. Powders and primers aren't as delicate as some may think, they will last a looooong time with the minimum of care (I don't think I'd store my primers under the leaky kitchen sink, but I don't fret about normal storage).

 

[mikld]

What happens to all the ammo that is stored in ammo cans?

In case of cans being directly in a burning environment, some of the ammo would "cook off" slowly compared to primers, but would still be a "bomb"...

 

[arjay]

I always stored mine on open shelves above my loading bench which was in a cool,dark and dry basement.

 

[Rule3]

Here is primer storage to go along with the powder.

http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_201-Primers.pdf

 

[JJFlash]

Thanks for the info guys...

All primers and powder are now out of the safe.

I'm going to put a lock on the desk though, as primers and powder are like gold around here......

 

[tlay]

If you live in an area of any kind of humidity storing in your garage is a bad idea. I keep my powder and primers in my basement in a room with a dehumidifier. I also have my gunsafe in there. I keep my primers in ammo cans with dessicant. You can keep your powder on shelves in this room. If you store in a metal cabinet you need to ground this for static. You can do this by running a wire from the cabinet to any metal plumbing. I don't know about your states laws reguarding powder but you can find out by calling your local fire dept. I was a volunteer F.F. and we always wanted to know in advance what combustibles were in the house when we pulled up for a fire. Where I came from if you had a certain amount of powder it had to be keep in a fire safe. This usually was supposed to be black powder only but some departments required it for all powder.

 

[HOPSTER]

I have about 10 k primers and about 50 Lbs of powder. It is hot and humid here so I keep it in my office in metal cabinets which support my loading bench. The cabinets have locks but normally a magnet keeps the doors closed. They are locked if there are house guests, children etc present.
My concern is not just local Fire Marshall (I dont know if I'm over the storage limit) but whether my home insurance would use it as an excuse to deny coverage in the event of a fire (!!!) - even if the fire was not caused by powder/primers/ammo.
I would like to think if Im legal by the fire code, that the insurers would be legally obligated. Any lawyers here ?

 

[358156hp]

Military ammo cans are constructed with a series of small spot welds in the latch & hinge areas to "pop off" if the pressure inside the can rises to a certain level. This would avoid the "bomb" scenario mentioned. Maybe some day, if primers return to normal prices, I'll try making a video to demonstrate this. Smokeless powder doesn't explode like black powder does, it just burns quickly and furiously. However, I don't store any powder in ammo cans at all.