Powder Storage

[Murphy]

I have always read that the best way to store gun powder, is to keep it in a cool, dry place.

Over the decades, I've accumulated several 8 Lb jugs and 20 to 30 pounds of powder in 1 pound cans. I understand storing them in a cool dry place would indeed probably be best. However, not all of us have that option due to limited space in our homes.

All of my reloading and casting supplies are kept in my shop out back. Keeping the climate controlled to an ideal temperature is not really feasible. I live in a humid part of Oklahoma where it often reaches 100 degrees for weeks on end during summer months. My shop stays dry, but keeping it cool all summer long would be costly to say the least.

I have powders I've had for decades in partially used cans, and when I occasionally check them they all seem fine and good to go. I keep it all in a wooden cabinet in the corner of my shop. I would like to hear the experience of others living in high humidity areas with the same issue.

Note: In all of my years of reloading and storing my powders in my shop, I have yet to have any of it go bad from being stored in less than ideal conditions.

Thoughts and experiences from the collective membership on powder storage under these conditions?

Thanks,

Murphy

[OS OK]

Murphy...I certainly don't live in a hi-humidity area but I have a suggestion for ya...Get an old refrigerator (doesn't have to work) or big Igloo ice box and store them in there...can't do anything about the humidity but you can try to limit it's circulation in the storage area.

Oh yeah...the magnetic type latch.

That won't comply with the standards by NFPA but it'll get you by in a pinch.

[308Jeff]

I live in AZ. I'm sure you know what the weather extremes are like here.

There are many members on my local shooting message board who keep their powder and primers in their garages and outbuildings, and swear it has no ill effects.

Since I've never heard a story about someone losing a firearm, limb, or eyesight due to shooting decades old surplus ammo, I'm inclined to agree.

I have an old 1lb tin of IMR powder that was my grandfather's. It spent most of its life in his workshed here in Phoenix. To me, it smells and looks just fine, and one of these days I'll load it up and give it a whirl.

With all that said, I still somehow feel better about storing my powder and primer indoors. LOL

[Jack Stanley]

Mine is kept under the steps to the dungeon . It's reasonably cool there until I turn the heat on in the winter . Never had a problem though .

Jack

[Bzcraig]

I don't live in a high humidity area, I have always stored my powder in the garage and had no problems nor recall reading of anyone ACTUALLY having a problem.

[mold maker]

Like OS OK, I store my powder in an old refrigerator from the 60s. It has a magnetic seal that offers little resistance to opening, and keeps temps even. Since there is no air circulation a couple moisture packs keep that stable also.

[Larry Gibson]

I also live in Arizona. Temps run mid 40s to mid 90s in my garage (getting AC in the garage soon though). Humidity is not a concern. When I moved here I bought an older small commercial fridge (no freezer) and use it. I have it on the highest temp setting and it keeps it about 40 degrees.

Given the quanity of powder I have the cost was small. It is convenient and works for me.

Larry Gibson

[dragon813gt]

Most of mine is stored in my basement. It gets up to around 80 in the summer when the dehumidifier is running. It's the only way to keep the humidity at bay. Some of it is stored in an unconditioned garage. Temps will get up into the 90s in August when we have heat waves. I'm not real concerned about these conditions. It's all in proper wooden crates and in the newer plastic bottles. And eight pounders are only opened to transfer powder into smaller bottles. If the powder degrades if degrades. I will just buy more.

[fecmech]

I live close to Buffalo NY and being between 2 Great Lakes we are fairly humid here although our temps rarely exceed 90 Deg. I don't worry much about the humidity. That may be a problem with black powder but I don't think it matters much with smokeless.. High temps would be more of a concern for really long term storage but I have never read anything as to what point temps get critical and their effect on powder longevity. Myself I have a magazine in the basement made out of 2 x 10's and I have a few cans of powder in excess of 20 yrs old that are still good. My main concern has always been fire that's why I went with the basic thick walled wooden box in my basement. By the time that burns through if we're not out of the house it won't matter!

[Bookworm]

..... I live in a humid part of Oklahoma where it often reaches 100 degrees for weeks on end during summer months.....
Murphy

uh.... excuse me Murphy..... is there a part of Okie-land that ISN'T humid ? If there is, I sure haven't been there, or heard of it....

As for your problem, well, I have the same problem. I stored powder out in the barn over the winter, whilst some interior work was being done, but for the most part I keep it indoors.

It has, occasionally, given me a queasy feeling....

I'm leaning towards just building a wooden magazine down in the barn and hoping for the best. The thick wooden walls would help mitigate temp swings, but in August, when it's been 100°+ for 4 weeks, I don't think there is any way around the heat-soak.

I need to get some of this powder out of the house, I'm certain the insurance company would look askance at any fire claim.

[JBinMN]

I have usually kept my primers & powders in separate wooden crates( grenade crates), but in separate rooms in the basement since we have owned a stickbuilt home. When I was younger, with a young family before we had a house, we lived in a couple of different mobile homes & in those cases I kept the primers & the powder out in a wooden shed, once again in separate crates. Even in N.C./S.C./Va. & Minnesota, all of which have some temp. extremes, although Minn. is the worse for it, they all had a lot of humidity also dependent on season of the year. I have had no issues whatsoever, so far, storing in that manner.


Just for sharing info sake, I went & got a link to a page where Alliant powder addresses storage for those who wish to look at some of the suggestions & some of what the Nat. Fire Protection Association in regard to safe powder storage:
http://www.alliantpowder.com/getting..._handling.aspx




G'luck! in whatever ya figure out to do for storage!

[Springfield]

I use a mini refrigerator. I got it free. It keeps everything on a more even temp, and it keeps it clean and moisture free due to the dessicant packs. And if need be it is more fire resistant than a wooden crate. It won't last forever against fire, but it is something, as it is insulated. And since it is thin sheet metal it won't become a bomb, like keeping it in a gun safe. I really don't see any downside.

[farmerjim]

I am in South Louisiana. I started reloading in the 60's. I moved out of my fathers house when I finished school in 1970. I could not take my reloading stuff with me. The powder and primers were stored in his attic. Temps to 140 in the summer and below freezing several days in the winter. Humidity 100 to 30 %. I got it out of the attic about 10 years ago and put it in my barn. I am reloading with this powder and primers now. It works fine with the same loads that I used years ago still giving sub MOA in the guns that would it. I have not changed the adjustment on the scope of my 270 since 1970 and the same load still hits in the same place with the same powder ( IMR 4350 ).
I would say there is been 0 change in the powder or primers kept in the heat and humidity for 40 years.

[HATCH]

I keep my powder and primers in my closet. Year around its 70-74

[Artful]

Powders are put in a cooler - helps with temp swings in AZ.

[Blackwater]

In a similar discussion some time back in my misty memory, someone recommended storing powder in an old freezer. It doesn't even have to be operable, and you certainly wouldn't plug it in! It just keeps temp changes down to a very slow rate of change, so it inhibits the formation of water, and thus, keeps your powder dry. I haven't done it yet, but the next mode of storage I'll try is an old freezer. If you're a good scrounger, tell your friends you're looking for one, and they may come through for you. Even better, and likely quicker probably, would be walking in to a service center and asking if they have any old freezers they're going to throw away, or that need hauling off. Get the size freezer that fits your needs, of course. They come in all sizes.

A side benefit is if your house ever burns, it'll likely delay the ignition of your stash, and that COULD make a big difference in the aftermath. FWIW?

[LUCKYDAWG13]

In a similar discussion some time back in my misty memory, someone recommended storing powder in an old freezer. It doesn't even have to be operable, and you certainly wouldn't plug it in! It just keeps temp changes down to a very slow rate of change, so it inhibits the formation of water, and thus, keeps your powder dry. I haven't done it yet, but the next mode of storage I'll try is an old freezer. If you're a good scrounger, tell your friends you're looking for one, and they may come through for you. Even better, and likely quicker probably, would be walking in to a service center and asking if they have any old freezers they're going to throw away, or that need hauling off. Get the size freezer that fits your needs, of course. They come in all sizes.

A side benefit is if your house ever burns, it'll likely delay the ignition of your stash, and that COULD make a big difference in the aftermath. FWIW?

after my kids were out of College I kept their mini fridge to store my primers in

[tazman]

I like to store my powder in small quantities inside small brass containers with lead corks. It takes awhile to get the powder all divided up, but it is very convenient that way.

[William Yanda]

I like to store my powder in small quantities inside small brass containers with lead corks. It takes awhile to get the powder all divided up, but it is very convenient that way.

Hey, Taz. Do you lubricate the lead corks or powdercoat them? What special steps do you take in preparing the brass containers?
Bill

[tazman]

I make sure the containers are clean and properly sized for the powder they are to contain. I normally lubricate the corks. Sometimes I crimp the ends of the brass containers to hold the corks in a little better.
I usually put small igniters in the end of the brass container to facilitate opening the container quickly.