Smokeless powder shelf life

randleland · February 26, 2006, 07:17 AM

Were you to put-up a store of powder, as a reserve (from a survivalist's perspective), are there certain brands/ types known to have greater shelf life/ stability? It is my understanding that any smokeless powder eventually goes bad. True?

loggerhead · February 26, 2006, 08:54 AM

I loaded a few 30-06 and 222 rounds a few weeks ago with IMR powders that had set on my shelf for over 20 years and with out a crono on the rounds they all sounded, felt, and hit the target as near the same as fresh powder loads.

caz223 · February 26, 2006, 09:24 AM

Eventually. I hope to live that long. (Provided the powder is stored with no great temperature or humidity swings, and kept as cool and dry as possible.

randleland · February 26, 2006, 10:29 AM

Okay, a non-issue. Nice to know! Thanks, -r

uscra112 · March 1, 2006, 09:18 PM

When smokeless goes bad it's because not all the acid was washed out of it during the manufacturing process. Current canister propellants from the major mfgrs are about as clean as clean can be, (lawyer-proof, one might say) from what I read. But war surplus powders must be avoided. Knowing that it would be shot up in a few months anyway, the powder mills in wartime could be a little less finicky about washing, which speeded up production.

February 26, 2006, 07:17 AM	#1
randleland Member Join Date: February 10, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 22	Smokeless powder shelf life Were you to put-up a store of powder, as a reserve (from a survivalist's perspective), are there certain brands/ types known to have greater shelf life/ stability? It is my understanding that any smokeless powder eventually goes bad. True?

February 26, 2006, 09:24 AM	#3
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	Eventually. I hope to live that long. (Provided the powder is stored with no great temperature or humidity swings, and kept as cool and dry as possible. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

February 26, 2006, 08:54 AM	#2
loggerhead Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2006 Location: Right of the Mississippi but South of the Mason Dixie line Posts: 132	I loaded a few 30-06 and 222 rounds a few weeks ago with IMR powders that had set on my shelf for over 20 years and with out a crono on the rounds they all sounded, felt, and hit the target as near the same as fresh powder loads.

February 26, 2006, 10:29 AM	#4
randleland Member Join Date: February 10, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 22	Okay, a non-issue. Nice to know! Thanks, -r

March 1, 2006, 09:18 PM	#5
uscra112 Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2006 Posts: 13	When smokeless goes bad it's because not all the acid was washed out of it during the manufacturing process. Current canister propellants from the major mfgrs are about as clean as clean can be, (lawyer-proof, one might say) from what I read. But war surplus powders must be avoided. Knowing that it would be shot up in a few months anyway, the powder mills in wartime could be a little less finicky about washing, which speeded up production.