Powder storage question

pshaw · January 24, 2011, 04:25 PM

Hi All, this is my first post so be gentle

I've just dusted off my reloading equipment after about 15 years of procratination and notice I have many containers of powder. Though they all seem to be good, is there a problem with older powder? I poured a small amount and lit it and it burned nicely.

Thanks, Rog

Saltydog235 · January 24, 2011, 04:31 PM

Don't know about 15yo powder but I recently got back into the game after a 6 year hiatus and mine was fine, so were the primers. Everything I have loaded with the old stuff has gone bang like it should. All of mine was kep in a cool dry place though.

Shoney · January 24, 2011, 04:43 PM

pshaw

WELCOME TO TFL!

As long as the powder does not have an acrid bad smell, it is good to go.

I've have powder stored for nearly 50 years in tightly sealed glass jars, which have been in heavy boxes so sunlight will not hit it.

Roughedge · January 24, 2011, 05:02 PM

I loaded some today that I bought 10 years ago and it was fine.

howlnmad · January 24, 2011, 05:16 PM

From The ABC's of Reloading 8th edition :
"Modern powders are almost completely gelatinized, making them less affected by dampness. In fact, a sample of Laflin & Rand (later Hercules, now Alliant) Unique powder was placed in storage under water in 1899 to test its viability. It was last tested in 1996. It will be tested again in this century when it is expected to continue performing as well as when it was made."

**Unclenick** · January 24, 2011, 05:40 PM

The normal ether smell is fine, but an acrid (sharp acidic smell, a little like vinegar) is not. Neither is reddish dust that has formed on the powder. Shake out a little onto a white piece of paper. Slide it back into the container, then fold the paper so any dust left on it tends to fall toward the center. That will be the easiest way to look for it.

Many powders now are made with a certain amount of carbonate mixed in that neutralizes acids that form during nitrocellulose breakdown. If that carbonate is not yet used up, you won't have those problems and are are likely good to go. The military routinely limits storage to 20 years, but lots of old ammo works just fine a lot longer than that.

Edward429451 · January 24, 2011, 05:56 PM

Ditto what Unclenick said. I went through about 15 pounds of 18+ yr old powder that I was bequeathed to me when one of my friends grandpa died. I did the white paper test on it and some was bad (reddish) and some was not, and works just fine. The bad powder I dumped beneath the Rose bush and spread thin and watered it down real good. The next spring my pink Rose bush was sporting pink and red blooms and more than ever before. :-)

Waldog · January 24, 2011, 08:48 PM

SMELL is the primary indicator of, "is it still good?" Like Unclenik stated, if it smells acidic, it's turned bad. If it smells like ether or solvent, it's still good. If your powder is stored in a metal can, and your powder has a little "red dust", look in the can to see if the can is rusted. If it is slightly rusted, your powder will pick up "red dust". I have a couple metal cans of NORMA and IMR that are at least 50 years old that belonged to my Dad. Both still smell good, both have slight "red dust", and both shoot just fine.

dumbodave · January 25, 2011, 12:22 AM

Just last spring, I burned off the last of my old H4831. This powder was purchased in 1948 or 49 as WWII surplus stuff. It came in some kind of huge keg of about 45 pounds. I used to use it for 7mm Mag and 308 Norma, but only had about 3/4 pound left and didn't want to try to work up a load for a new rifle with just that amount. It hung around till I had to fire-form 100 rounds of 265 Win Mag that I was starting to work last spring. That H4831 was still as good as Gold. I used lightish load with 120 grain bullets and it performed just as I thought it would. This powder had nearly always spent it's life in my garage. I live in Calgary, Alberta, so there isn't a lot of temps in the garage above 80F, but there is some every year. I would have never tried to load high pressure loads with this powder but was glad to use it up in the fire-forming excercise.
Be Careful. Trust nothing. Always start lowish - not too low! Work upwards gently and may God prevent anything stupid!

ipscchef · January 25, 2011, 02:45 PM

Welcome to TFL PSHAW!
I have some Powders that are well over ten years old that I came by in a similar manner to yours and have had only one issue. An old can of IMR 3031 rusted out through the inside of the can, literaly creating a hole in the side of the can. It bacame fertilizer for my tomatoes. Other than that I have had no problem keeping them in my unheated garage in Pa. I also use the smell test for checking my powders.
As an aside, I live near Letterkenny Army Depot. they store a lot of munitions there. Ineresting to note that according to my friend and neighbor, who used to be chief of security for the base, said that 90% of the bombs dropped in the first gulf war in 1991 came from that base and almost all of those were produced during the Korean War! That means the explosives in those bombs were at least 50 years old. I have a friend who is much older than I am, and he still uses Alcan #9 that he bought in a fifty pound lot, and I have no idea how long it has been since that has even been produced. He says that it still works as well as when he bought it God knows how many years ago.
Willy

January 24, 2011, 04:25 PM	#1
pshaw Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 6	Powder storage question Hi All, this is my first post so be gentle I've just dusted off my reloading equipment after about 15 years of procratination and notice I have many containers of powder. Though they all seem to be good, is there a problem with older powder? I poured a small amount and lit it and it burned nicely. Thanks, Rog __________________ Come to the Dark Side...we have cookies!

January 24, 2011, 04:43 PM	#3
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	pshaw WELCOME TO TFL! As long as the powder does not have an acrid bad smell, it is good to go. I've have powder stored for nearly 50 years in tightly sealed glass jars, which have been in heavy boxes so sunlight will not hit it. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

January 24, 2011, 05:40 PM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The normal ether smell is fine, but an acrid (sharp acidic smell, a little like vinegar) is not. Neither is reddish dust that has formed on the powder. Shake out a little onto a white piece of paper. Slide it back into the container, then fold the paper so any dust left on it tends to fall toward the center. That will be the easiest way to look for it. Many powders now are made with a certain amount of carbonate mixed in that neutralizes acids that form during nitrocellulose breakdown. If that carbonate is not yet used up, you won't have those problems and are are likely good to go. The military routinely limits storage to 20 years, but lots of old ammo works just fine a lot longer than that. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 24, 2011, 08:48 PM	#8
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	SMELL is the primary indicator of, "is it still good?" Like Unclenik stated, if it smells acidic, it's turned bad. If it smells like ether or solvent, it's still good. If your powder is stored in a metal can, and your powder has a little "red dust", look in the can to see if the can is rusted. If it is slightly rusted, your powder will pick up "red dust". I have a couple metal cans of NORMA and IMR that are at least 50 years old that belonged to my Dad. Both still smell good, both have slight "red dust", and both shoot just fine. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

January 25, 2011, 02:45 PM	#10
ipscchef Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: South Central Pa. Posts: 427	Welcome to TFL Welcome to TFL PSHAW! I have some Powders that are well over ten years old that I came by in a similar manner to yours and have had only one issue. An old can of IMR 3031 rusted out through the inside of the can, literaly creating a hole in the side of the can. It bacame fertilizer for my tomatoes. Other than that I have had no problem keeping them in my unheated garage in Pa. I also use the smell test for checking my powders. As an aside, I live near Letterkenny Army Depot. they store a lot of munitions there. Ineresting to note that according to my friend and neighbor, who used to be chief of security for the base, said that 90% of the bombs dropped in the first gulf war in 1991 came from that base and almost all of those were produced during the Korean War! That means the explosives in those bombs were at least 50 years old. I have a friend who is much older than I am, and he still uses Alcan #9 that he bought in a fifty pound lot, and I have no idea how long it has been since that has even been produced. He says that it still works as well as when he bought it God knows how many years ago. Willy __________________ Don' keep shooting them until you think they are dead, Keep shooting them until they think they are dead.- Clint Smith

January 24, 2011, 04:31 PM	#2
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	Don't know about 15yo powder but I recently got back into the game after a 6 year hiatus and mine was fine, so were the primers. Everything I have loaded with the old stuff has gone bang like it should. All of mine was kep in a cool dry place though.

January 24, 2011, 05:02 PM	#4
Roughedge Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Location: Monroe,NC Posts: 669	I loaded some today that I bought 10 years ago and it was fine.

January 24, 2011, 05:16 PM	#5
howlnmad Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: Harriman Tn Posts: 424	From The ABC's of Reloading 8th edition : "Modern powders are almost completely gelatinized, making them less affected by dampness. In fact, a sample of Laflin & Rand (later Hercules, now Alliant) Unique powder was placed in storage under water in 1899 to test its viability. It was last tested in 1996. It will be tested again in this century when it is expected to continue performing as well as when it was made."

January 24, 2011, 05:56 PM	#7
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Ditto what Unclenick said. I went through about 15 pounds of 18+ yr old powder that I was bequeathed to me when one of my friends grandpa died. I did the white paper test on it and some was bad (reddish) and some was not, and works just fine. The bad powder I dumped beneath the Rose bush and spread thin and watered it down real good. The next spring my pink Rose bush was sporting pink and red blooms and more than ever before. :-)

January 25, 2011, 12:22 AM	#9
dumbodave Member Join Date: January 30, 2010 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 46	Old Powder Just last spring, I burned off the last of my old H4831. This powder was purchased in 1948 or 49 as WWII surplus stuff. It came in some kind of huge keg of about 45 pounds. I used to use it for 7mm Mag and 308 Norma, but only had about 3/4 pound left and didn't want to try to work up a load for a new rifle with just that amount. It hung around till I had to fire-form 100 rounds of 265 Win Mag that I was starting to work last spring. That H4831 was still as good as Gold. I used lightish load with 120 grain bullets and it performed just as I thought it would. This powder had nearly always spent it's life in my garage. I live in Calgary, Alberta, so there isn't a lot of temps in the garage above 80F, but there is some every year. I would have never tried to load high pressure loads with this powder but was glad to use it up in the fire-forming excercise. Be Careful. Trust nothing. Always start lowish - not too low! Work upwards gently and may God prevent anything stupid! __________________ If it's incoming - DUCK!