Powder and moisture question

[ansan12001]

Hi.

I moved about 6 months ago and had put several jugs of reloading powder into a Coleman cooler for storage during the move.
When I open the cooler a month ago there was water about a inch deep in the cooler, I have no idea how that happened but it was probably during the move. So the powder jugs sat in standing water for about 4 or 5 months.

The powder looked fine, some jugs were still factory sealed others were not. My current garage is very dry and usually warm, so I opened all the powder jugs and let them sit for a few weeks to allow any moisture to escape the jugs.
I do not think the standing water got into the jugs directly as they were in the plastic black jugs and the tops were all on tight. However, I am worried about the moisture from the standing water. The powder looks fine and nothing abnormal.
Does anyone have an opinion on whether the powder is damaged?

[M1NM]

As long as it's not clumped up (which would indicate it got wet) it should be fine. When it goes bad it starts to get gray flakes in it and smell acrid.

[baih777]

The worst thing you did was to open the containers and left them open. You allowed moisture in the air to maybe contaminate the powder. Keep an eye on that powder.
Watch for strange odor. clumping.
I keep bowls of kitty litter by my powder. This way I can watch if it gets too damp near my powder.

I get the crystal type kitty litter. Like this.

https://www.freshstep.com/our-litter/crystal-litter/

And I leave a fan on near the powder.

[ansan12001]

The clumping I understand...however, powder has a potent chemical smell....so should I be smelling something else if the powder has gone south?
Thank you
BTW, I have no clumping of the powder and the chemical smell is very potent still.

[JagerDog]

You're fine. At times I've gotten lazy and left powder in a hopper for months. Still went bang.

[mjmagee67]

I've left powder in the thrower for months....never been a problem.

[smoothy8500]

The clumping I understand...however, powder has a potent chemical smell....so should I be smelling something else if the powder has gone south?
Thank you
BTW, I have no clumping of the powder and the chemical smell is very potent still.

The freshly opened powder will have a smell of the residual solvents, similar to ether (starting fluid), lacquer thinner, or alcohol. When it goes bad it will get odors from the nitric/nitrous acid that smells irritating, similar to cat pee.

Hope that helps narrow down what you smell.

[hundy]

Simular Question

I have a different question, but it is regarding powder. I have canisters of powder that is 5 years old and I have not opened them. Does powder usually have a shelf life?

I have always stored my powder in the house. But I was thinking of storing it in the garage with all my reloading equipment. Just curious if anyone else stores their powder outside the house.

Thank you,

Jay

[kcheung2]

Powder does have a shelf life, but if it is sealed, dark, & dry, then their life is measured in decades. Many decades.

[smoothy8500]

but if it is sealed, dark, & dry, then their life is measured in decades.

Black plastic jugs and metal tins don't let in any light. How would the powder know if it's dark outside?

[kcheung2]

The powder goes on weather.com daily.

[ORNGXTC]

I am still using powder I purchased in the early 90’s. I have had zero issues with it. I have always from the time I started loading marking my powder and primers with month and year purchased with a felt marker. I still have a few thousand primers from the same period. No issues with them either.