powder shelf life

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

whats the shelf life of powder thats been open but kept in a sealed ammo can.

[ar15newbster]

not sure but, I woudln't store it in an ammo can. It will go BOOM in a fire.

[choprzrul]

I have powder that I bought in the early 90s that still goes boom when I use it.

[ZakAttackMan]

If it smells sour use it for fertilizer.

I have powder from the 70's that still works just fine.

[tenbender]

I have some powder from the 80's that still performs as it should. The KEY is to store it in a consistent temperature with very low humidity. The garage is not a good place for powder or primers. Many will probably argue this, but I store my powder in a locker in my home. The temps in my house never exceed 10+/- 70F. I store ALL my powder in the original containers. There are several reasons to do that but the primary one is that you will always know the type and lot number. Take care.

[anyracoon]

I use to buy Unique in a large cardboard keg. Still have some one pounders that have metal tops & cardboard sides. Still all goes bang.

[rabagley]

If it smells sweet or like citrus, it's good. If the smell makes your lip wrinkle, it's gone.

As others have said, decomposing powder makes great high-nitrogen fertilizer. If you do decide to use it for fertilizer, spread it out pretty far. It will burn the plants if there's too much on any one patch of soil.

[Argonaut]

Powder shelf life

not sure but, I woudln't store it in an ammo can. It will go BOOM in a fire.

Smokeless powder is very difficult to make explode, It is actually called a propellant. A match won't even do it. As a kid (and in the Military survival schools) I played with a lot of it. loaded shell will eventually explode in a campfire but it takes a while and is not as powerful as you would think (Still very dangerous) .............Black powder is a different issue........It is a true EXPLOSIVE..............

[Waldog]

If it smells like acetone or ether it's good. I have some NORMA powder that belonged to my Dad. Price tag sez $4.59!! I'm guessing mid 1960's. Still smells good and still shoots. Almost gone though. I also have 3 8lb kegs of Win 748, 760 and 785 I purchased in 1978. Still good stuff!!

[cali-man]

I use to buy Unique in a large cardboard keg. Still have some one pounders that have metal tops & cardboard sides. Still all goes bang.

I am still using some Hercules Unique I purchased while back. I also have some Bullseye dating the same but have not used it. At 5 bucks a pound I had to get all that this guy had. I believe this powder is around 29 years old at least.

[kmca]

Smokeless powder is very difficult to make explode, It is actually called a propellant. A match won't even do it. As a kid (and in the Military survival schools) I played with a lot of it. loaded shell will eventually explode in a campfire but it takes a while and is not as powerful as you would think (Still very dangerous) .............Black powder is a different issue........It is a true EXPLOSIVE..............

I believe his point was, if it's contained, it will explode.
I wonder if a military ammo can is designed to open before it reaches explosive pressures???????

[Beelzy]

Hundreds of years.....ask Civil War cannon ball Restorers.

[gunimp]

Just used up a 8 lb cardboard box of H4895 (the powder was in a plastic bag in the box); worked great and super accurate in a 6.5 swede. That powder was at least 25 years old. I am using up another 8 lb cardboard box of H335; works fine.

[target]

just wondering if i could buy a lil mini fridge and keep it in there so that the temperature would always be constant. or is this also a bad idea.