Topic: What is the typical shelf life of powder?

minuteman1970 · June 16, 2006, 08:03 PM

I have a newbie question for you guys. I would like to know what the typical shelf life for powder is, and how/where you'd recommend storing it.
Thanks.

brickeyee · June 16, 2006, 08:30 PM

Modern powders stored in a cool dry place... a long long time.
Some older powders, especially war manufacture lots, did not get 'washed' enough and can break down.
Modern canister grade powders are normallty very 'clean' chemically and in a tightly sealed container at a stable temperature are very unlikely to break down.

rwilson452 · June 16, 2006, 11:21 PM

cool, dry, temperature stable area/container. modern powers stored that way will last a very, very long time. I have used Mil Surp ammo that is older than I am. It was around when my father was in the Army. He would have been 98 next month. he was only in for two years. Can you say WWII?
Head stamp LC42

WESHOOT2 · June 17, 2006, 08:35 AM

Last year I finished off some 2400 I'd had since '76(?).

sundog · June 17, 2006, 09:12 AM

I have some '67 vintage H4227 that still works. sundog

gary2905 · June 17, 2006, 09:20 AM

Still using some Red Dot from the late 60's Shoots fine.
Just finished some BL-C2 from same era, seemed OK- went BOOM!

Just keep the stuff dry and relatively cool-mine was squirreled away in a box in the basement since the early '70's.

Followthehollow · June 17, 2006, 03:27 PM

I've got some bullseye and unique that came from a friend of my fathers, he says its from the early 70's.

Works great for me

minuteman1970 · June 17, 2006, 08:13 PM

Guys,
Thanks for the replies, and the great info.

almtiba · July 3, 2006, 02:39 PM

Just bought 1Lb. of Hercules 2400 from '86.

Hope it works fine....

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil

silicon wolverine · July 5, 2006, 03:43 AM

I spoke to a winchester/olin engineer about this once. He said modern flake, stick and ball powder has an effective shelf life of about 100 years when stored at optimum conditions. Loaded into ammo properly it would be stable almost as long. Ive shot surplus ammo from as far back as the 30s with no problem and ive also shot 50s FN .45ACP that while properly stored, had powder breakdown issues. Black powder has a MUCH shorter shelf life (unless vacuum packed) as it attracts moisture like a sponge. If you want long,long term storage powder id advise vacuum sealing it in a factory sealed can and you should have good powder till your grandkids are here.

SW

Ruger4570 · July 5, 2006, 05:49 PM

The shelf life of gunpowder will most likely exceed your shelf life....

minuteman1970 · July 5, 2006, 07:16 PM

Sounds great! It looks like I'll begin stocking up on powder.

joerockt · March 14, 2008, 07:33 PM

Bump for some good info here. I just bought a bunch of powder and was curious about shelf life...

jaguarxk120 · March 14, 2008, 09:16 PM

The new fake black powder may have a shelf life due to moisture in the air but not the real stuff it will last for over 140 years!! Please see the following the guy was experenced in the work. see the following link http://www.nbc12.com/home/15737917.html
TF

Lawyer Daggit · March 14, 2008, 09:39 PM

I have also used powder that has dated back to the 70's, but I live in a dry stable climate.

I think in humid areas it would probably go off quicker.

TexasSeaRay · March 14, 2008, 11:45 PM

I'm still loading with some W231, 2400 and Blue Dot that came in cans rather than the newer plastic bottles. In fact, I've got a can of Unique that still says Hercules on it . . .

Other than being the dirtiest damn powder in my cabinet, it still shoots fine.

Jeff

johnm1 · March 16, 2008, 01:06 AM

What if storage isn't temperature stable? I just got my bench set up after a 20 year hiatus but the house is a rental in Tucson that only has Swamp Cooling. For those that don't know that is a cooler that provides cooling by evaporation of water and large capacity fans. It works really well in the dry desert climate. But during the day when I'm not there and the unit is not on, it will get at least to a hundred degrees.

I assume this will degrade the powder but will it degrade in a year or will it take longer?

Come to think of it, how about primers assuming I leave them in the factory containers until use?

June 16, 2006, 08:03 PM	#1
minuteman1970 Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Posts: 27	Topic: What is the typical shelf life of powder? I have a newbie question for you guys. I would like to know what the typical shelf life for powder is, and how/where you'd recommend storing it. Thanks. __________________ Special Operations Tactical Supply Military, Tactical, & Shooting Gear Valley Stream, NY 11582 (516) 596-8720 www.specopstactical.com

June 16, 2006, 11:21 PM	#3
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	powder storage cool, dry, temperature stable area/container. modern powers stored that way will last a very, very long time. I have used Mil Surp ammo that is older than I am. It was around when my father was in the Army. He would have been 98 next month. he was only in for two years. Can you say WWII? Head stamp LC42

June 17, 2006, 08:35 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	looooong time Last year I finished off some 2400 I'd had since '76(?).

June 17, 2006, 09:12 AM	#5
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 783	I have some '67 vintage H4227 that still works. sundog __________________ safety first

June 17, 2006, 08:13 PM	#8
minuteman1970 Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Posts: 27	Guys, Thanks for the replies, and the great info. __________________ Special Operations Tactical Supply Military, Tactical, & Shooting Gear Valley Stream, NY 11582 (516) 596-8720 www.specopstactical.com

June 16, 2006, 08:30 PM	#2
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	Modern powders stored in a cool dry place... a long long time. Some older powders, especially war manufacture lots, did not get 'washed' enough and can break down. Modern canister grade powders are normallty very 'clean' chemically and in a tightly sealed container at a stable temperature are very unlikely to break down.

June 17, 2006, 09:20 AM	#6
gary2905 Member Join Date: December 20, 2005 Location: Rural-not for long- Virginia Posts: 60	Still using some Red Dot from the late 60's Shoots fine. Just finished some BL-C2 from same era, seemed OK- went BOOM! Just keep the stuff dry and relatively cool-mine was squirreled away in a box in the basement since the early '70's.

June 17, 2006, 03:27 PM	#7
Followthehollow Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Posts: 22	I've got some bullseye and unique that came from a friend of my fathers, he says its from the early 70's. Works great for me

July 3, 2006, 02:39 PM	#9
almtiba Senior Member Join Date: May 24, 2004 Location: Sao Paulo / Brazil Posts: 190	Just bought 1Lb. of Hercules 2400 from '86. Hope it works fine.... Regards, Andre Tiba - Brazil

July 5, 2006, 03:43 AM	#10
silicon wolverine Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2006 Location: South dakota Posts: 674	I spoke to a winchester/olin engineer about this once. He said modern flake, stick and ball powder has an effective shelf life of about 100 years when stored at optimum conditions. Loaded into ammo properly it would be stable almost as long. Ive shot surplus ammo from as far back as the 30s with no problem and ive also shot 50s FN .45ACP that while properly stored, had powder breakdown issues. Black powder has a MUCH shorter shelf life (unless vacuum packed) as it attracts moisture like a sponge. If you want long,long term storage powder id advise vacuum sealing it in a factory sealed can and you should have good powder till your grandkids are here. SW

July 5, 2006, 05:49 PM	#11
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	The shelf life of gunpowder will most likely exceed your shelf life....

July 5, 2006, 07:16 PM	#12
minuteman1970 Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Posts: 27	Sounds great! It looks like I'll begin stocking up on powder. __________________ Special Operations Tactical Supply Military, Tactical, & Shooting Gear Valley Stream, NY 11582 (516) 596-8720 www.specopstactical.com

March 14, 2008, 07:33 PM	#13
joerockt Member Join Date: October 2, 2006 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 67	Bump for some good info here. I just bought a bunch of powder and was curious about shelf life...

March 14, 2008, 09:16 PM	#14
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,626	The new fake black powder may have a shelf life due to moisture in the air but not the real stuff it will last for over 140 years!! Please see the following the guy was experenced in the work. see the following link http://www.nbc12.com/home/15737917.html TF

March 14, 2008, 09:39 PM	#15
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	I have also used powder that has dated back to the 70's, but I live in a dry stable climate. I think in humid areas it would probably go off quicker.

March 14, 2008, 11:45 PM	#16
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	I'm still loading with some W231, 2400 and Blue Dot that came in cans rather than the newer plastic bottles. In fact, I've got a can of Unique that still says Hercules on it . . . Other than being the dirtiest damn powder in my cabinet, it still shoots fine. Jeff

March 16, 2008, 01:06 AM	#17
johnm1 Inactive Join Date: November 26, 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 652	What if storage isn't temperature stable? What if storage isn't temperature stable? I just got my bench set up after a 20 year hiatus but the house is a rental in Tucson that only has Swamp Cooling. For those that don't know that is a cooler that provides cooling by evaporation of water and large capacity fans. It works really well in the dry desert climate. But during the day when I'm not there and the unit is not on, it will get at least to a hundred degrees. I assume this will degrade the powder but will it degrade in a year or will it take longer? Come to think of it, how about primers assuming I leave them in the factory containers until use?