Powder stabilization question...

[John Joseph]

..for chemists. If you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express please keep you comments to yourself--I don't want to get blown up!

Many years ago my Uncle Al passed away. He lived in a little house on a vineyard full of hard pan and had worked as a dam builder in the WPA. While cleaning out his house, my dad discovered a crate of Dynamite (for planting vines? Or perhaps left over from a dam? We didn't know!) Anyway it was so old it was weeping nitroglycerin. The SO bomb squad was called in for removal and detonation.

Over 50 years later, I want to buy some gunpowder to last through this next round of state dictated Ammogeddon. Since importing powder from another State will probably become illegal, I'd guess I'd be keeping what powder I can purchase for a longer than usual time---something not recommended by the powder companies.

So my question is this:
I understand double base powders contain nitroglycerin. If this is so, what are the conditions under which the nitro will "weep?"
And, if double base powders are more unstable when it comes to nitro, could I assume that it would be safer to store single base powders for over the long(er) haul?

Thanks!

[jericho89]

Not sure if this will help or not, but I have powder in metal cans that were sold for $1.25 per pound. Don't know how old they are, but do know they were stored in a dry cool area with little to no temp change and they are all still good to use, or I should say I have used them.

[rsrocket1]

Sort of a hit and miss thing. Some people have stuff 50 years old and it still shoots good. Others wind up with ammonia smelling "fertilizer" in much less time (the bottom picture was from 15 year old powder). Rule of thumb is at least 10 years from brand new, stored in a cool dry place (the predicted effectiveness of the inhibitors added to the powder) . If I had 10 year old powder I'd kick myself for not using it. My powder tends to get a complete turn over within 2 years although I've shot some milsurp and handloaded cartridges that are a half century old and they shoot fine.

[BigBronco]

I have some Herco That is about 50 years old Great powder for .44sp.

[John Joseph]

Are these single base, or double base powders?
Any powder can, and eventually will, deteriorate.
My concern is if double base powders will possibly weep nitro, or not.

[ironhorse1]

I think that there is a lot of difference between the Nitroglycerin found in Dynamite and Nitrocellulose used to make gunpowder.

So there should be no problem in weeping of Nitroglycerin in gunpowder.

As we all know smokeless powder can break down. It is easy to tell if that has happened by the smell,color and the condition of the container.

I have never had to toss a can of powder of any type and have shot fifty year old powder/ Bullseye.

irh

[God Bless America]

The nitro in powder is not absorbed, like it is with kieselguhr in dynamite. Instead, it is a colloid or a solution.

I have read of many dangers, real and imagined, about smokeless powder on the internet, but never about NG separating from smokeless.

[rsrocket1]

The nitroglycerin does not separate, but if the OP is concerned about long term storage rather than just NG weeping, then there is the risk of the powder breaking down and getting ruined if he intends to store it for a long time.

[Metal God]

Good info in this thread at TFL forum

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574938&highlight=powder+storage

[John Joseph]

I would hope this madness doesn't last ten years!
I've shot ammo far older than that and it was fine.
IIRC the fire code limits 10 pounds of smokeless powder in a residence.
That's one pound a year---thats darned near impossible for shotgunners but doable with target pistol loads.

[John Joseph]

I think that there is a lot of difference between the Nitroglycerin found in Dynamite and Nitrocellulose used to make gunpowder.

So there should be no problem in weeping of Nitroglycerin in gunpowder.

As we all know smokeless powder can break down. It is easy to tell if that has happened by the smell,color and the condition of the container.

I have never had to toss a can of powder of any type and have shot fifty year old powder/ Bullseye.

irh

Apparently Alliant, in their descriptions, have referred to nitroglycerin in double base powders.
American Select
"Alliant describes this powder and being a "near" single base type as it only has 2% nitroglycerin content." Lyman's Reloading Handbook, 49th edition

[God Bless America]

Apparently Alliant, in their descriptions, have referred to nitroglycerin in double base powders.
American Select
"Alliant describes this powder and being a "near" single base type as it only has 2% nitroglycerin content." Lyman's Reloading Handbook, 49th edition

Oh yeah Bullseye is like 25 or 35 pct NG.

[PM720]

I would hope this madness doesn't last ten years!
I've shot ammo far older than that and it was fine.
IIRC the fire code limits 10 pounds of smokeless powder in a residence.
That's one pound a year---thats darned near impossible for shotgunners but doable with target pistol loads.

Um, yeah......

[John Joseph]

Um, yeah......

Under the circumstances.

[Divernhunter]

I have powder I bought in the early 1960's which is still good and I load and shoot without a problem. I also have pull-down powders that are from WWII had I use without problems.
I have primers from the early 1960's which have all worked as they should. Ever seen/used a #157 shotshell primer? I also have large pistol and rifle primers as well as small rifle primers for the 1960's.
I have loaded ammo which shoots fine from 1938.
Black powder I would be more concerned about. Mine from the 1980's has clumped and I am a bit concerned about using/moving it.

You will be good with powder you buy for as long as you live most likely.