Powder Shelf Life

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  • Speedfreak

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jun 16, 2021
    122
    I have numerous containers of 8-10 year old powder that I'm getting ready to use. I have read a thread from 2013 on here about the "Shelf Life of Powder" and I do understand the smell test and other variables. I also plan on breaking out the chronograph after I load a few batches.

    My question before I start loading in large quantities, can powder break down in other ways that won't show in bullet velocity right away? If I'm going to be storing this reloaded ammo for many years, am I gambling with older powder?

    51295149268_ee1c798b4c_m.jpg
     

    4g64loser

    Bad influence
    Jan 18, 2007
    6,381
    maryland
    Not if you test. I've loaded m80 ball using military pulldown in jugs from probably the 70s or 80s. I know guys that have loaded powder older than that. I am currently working out of a cardboard tube of 2400 that says hercules (not alliant).
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,731
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I have numerous containers of 8-10 year old powder that I'm getting ready to use. I have read a thread from 2013 on here about the "Shelf Life of Powder" and I do understand the smell test and other variables. I also plan on breaking out the chronograph after I load a few batches.

    My question before I start loading in large quantities, can powder break down in other ways that won't show in bullet velocity right away? If I'm going to be storing this reloaded ammo for many years, am I gambling with older powder?

    51295149268_ee1c798b4c_m.jpg

    If it is breaking down at all, it will smell acidic and you will have lots of dust. I just used a can of WW231 from the '70's and those loads ran at the same speed as one I bought last year.
     

    Sticky

    Beware of Dog
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 16, 2013
    4,501
    AA Co
    Keep it dry, out of sunlight, airtight, and at a cool temp... it will outlast you.
    This... I have powders that are from the 70's and they load just like yesterday's bottle and run the same velocities.
     

    TrappedinMD

    Active Member
    Dec 15, 2011
    856
    Western MD
    i am working thru the last of a giant cardboard tube of powder, im guessing like 70s? works fine. just make sure they are cool dry and out of sunlight
     

    Rockzilla

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 6, 2010
    4,516
    55.751244 / 37.618423
    Keep it dry, out of sunlight, airtight, and at a cool temp... it will outlast you.

    Yep.....
    still got CCI 400 primers from the late 70's / early 80's bout 15K + still go bang
    same with others, Old metal can IMR's, WW, cardboard canisters of others. Even
    still have a cloth "Bank currency bag" full of primed 38spl / 357 mag brass, it still
    goes bang forgot all about it. It's amazing what you find when you start packing
    things up.:D:D

    so cool, dry, out of any sunlight light, and no "drastic swings" in temp / humid all is good.

    those "plastic" containers ain't old....metal, cardboard canisters, kegs are old


    -Rock
     

    KRC

    Active Member
    Sep 30, 2018
    615
    Cecil County MD
    Some powders WILL deteriorate with NO SMELL or other signs. The powders retardant chemical can deteriorate as well as the nitro components. While I have used many 20+ y/o powder with no problems, I have experienced an older powder (Tubal 3000 - about 10 years old and stored well) that gave velocities way over what they should have been. Luckily I was using a conservative ladder, caught the problem with pierced primers with the low loads, and took apart the rest. The fired cases had to be tossed as the primer pockets were instantly too loose for reloading.
     

    Broncolou

    Active Member
    Jan 22, 2013
    689
    Parkton MD
    Keep it dry, out of sunlight, airtight, and at a cool temp... it will outlast you.

    ^^^^^^this^^^^^

    I’m loading 20yr old unique out of the old cardboard kegs they haven’t sold in a really long time. Test and verify and then load in bulk and have fun. I have some unique for sale if anyone’s interested too. I got a bunch from a deceased friends widow and I can’t shoot it all myself…..
     

    PaFrank

    Member
    Apr 2, 2020
    75
    I just used up the last of a 4# can of H4831 that was given to me.
    The guy that gave it to me bought it at the Philadelphia navy yard in the 1950's.. I never had a problem with it. thats 70 year old powder..
    as others have said, as long as it was stored properly (cool dry place, no extremes of temp) it will be just fine. Now mine was in a steel can, I'm not sure if there is a difference for powder in these new fangled plastic containers. Maybe there is a chemical engineer on here that would know.
     

    BuildnBurn

    Professional Pyro
    Oct 25, 2012
    731
    Frederick County
    Last year I had ~ 1/2 lb of IMR 4895 go bad, it had the off smell and lots of red dust. I probably probably bought it in the early 2000's. It was very noticeably bad.
     

    trickg

    Guns 'n Drums
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 22, 2008
    14,592
    Glen Burnie
    Some powders WILL deteriorate with NO SMELL or other signs. The powders retardant chemical can deteriorate as well as the nitro components. While I have used many 20+ y/o powder with no problems, I have experienced an older powder (Tubal 3000 - about 10 years old and stored well) that gave velocities way over what they should have been. Luckily I was using a conservative ladder, caught the problem with pierced primers with the low loads, and took apart the rest. The fired cases had to be tossed as the primer pockets were instantly too loose for reloading.
    I've never heard that. Alliant has some old Unique that's over 100 years old that they continue to test, and it still burns at original and current spec.

    I've also read dozens and dozens of accounts of people using really really old powder with no ill effects whatsoever.

    In any case, those two plastic jugs of IMR should be fine provided they were stored in a temperature and humidity controlled place, such as in the house rather than an outbuilding. My Dad's shop had no AC, and only had heat when he turned it on during the winter months - he never had an issue that I can recall.
     

    boule

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 16, 2008
    1,948
    Galt's Gulch
    There are two basic things that will make your powder start to degrade - humidity and repeated changes in temperature.
    The issue with humidity is the nitrocellulose employed in the propellants. There are always batches around, where the acid used to create it is not properly washed out. If the propellant gets humidity, chemical reactions start to occur and break down the grains.
    Temperature changes, especially really high temperatures, result in the propellant grains breaking and can lead to outgassing of compounds in the mix. It used to be worse with double-based powders but pretty much anything can evaporate if you heat it high enough. If you have an open container, the steam pressure is even greater.

    Store NC powder in a shed outdoors during the summer and leave the cap off? May go bad in a single season. Keep it in a moderately warm place in its original, sealed container? May be fine if gramps poured it out of the 20mm.

    Many European manufacturers recommend not storing propellants for longer than 10 years as a generic timeline and I tend to agree that you need to set a limit somewhere. I currently go by: if not store-bought by myself pour out of the container and check the contents. If in doubt, mild load and check velocity. If still in doubt, do not use.
     

    trickg

    Guns 'n Drums
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 22, 2008
    14,592
    Glen Burnie
    I have some Herco that I bought back around 2009 as an alternative to Unique for 44 mag. (I still prefer the Unique) It's in the original cardboard canister and the stamp on the bottom dates it to 1993. It's not a preferred powder so I've never used much of it. I realize that by some standards this powder is still pretty new, but I suppose I should find a use for it just to use it up.
     

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