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

[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.