Powder Storage

[deadeye ruck]

I think that powder is fairly stable. The main issue with heating/cooling cycle is likely condensation that could result with big swings in temperature in certain parts of the country even if it's not visible to the naked eye. Most of your modern powders have proven to be very stable. I keep mine in the basement but know many folks who keep out outside in a relatively unregulated temperature zone.

The bigger question is why do you keep it around long enough for it to even have a chance to go bad

[Wayne Smith]

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.

How does it work without the igniter??

[tazman]

How does it work without the igniter??

Without the igniter, the containers can be difficult to open requiring special equipment and perhaps a press of some sort.

[sharps4590]

A late friend of mine kept all is powder, black and smokeless, in an old refrigerator on his car port. Back then we had bigger swings in temperature here in central Missouri than we do these days. A week or two below 0 was not uncommon in the winter and 100+ for a couple weeks in the summer was not unheard of. Humidity is always a problem here. I don't remember that any of Jim's powder ever went bad or failed him. Seems to me that worked admirably. Mine is all kept in my basement shop/loading/casting/fly tying room and we keep it the same as the house.

[smalltownguy]

old 200 quart cooler

[375supermag]

I keep all my reloading supplies in a climate controlled reloading room in my basement inside a large wooden cabinet.
Since I built this house 23 years ago, I have had no issues with powder degradation nor do I anticipate any.

[Geezer in NH]

I keep all my reloading supplies in a climate controlled reloading room in my basement inside a large wooden cabinet.
Since I built this house 23 years ago, I have had no issues with powder degradation nor do I anticipate any.

Yep I do the same. BP is kept out in the field inside a poured cement block building lined in wood with the door also lined in wood. [the person I bought the property from 25 years ago kept his explosives in it as it was built ,inspected and approved by the state]

[54bore]

Basement in a tote, my basement stays bone dry and temp steady

[Shiloh]

Cool and dry.Some say cool, dry, and dark. My basement closets are dark.

Shiloh

[rmark]

'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....'

Guymon


I keep extra powder in a trash can in the shadiest part of the yard. With a disabled wife I want it away from the house.

[CraigOK]

So what about loaded ammo? Currently I have all my components and loaded ammo in the house no worries. If I have to choose what gets to stay inside, or if it all has to leave the climate control? Just wondering what others do. Sorry for the highjack, but similar area of the country and streets easy

[dragon813gt]

Ammo should be stored in ammo cans. Can't really improve on them.

[tazman]

Ammo should be stored in ammo cans. Can't really improve on them.

Absolutely correct. I had several hundred rounds of 30-06 and 38 special stored in military ammo cans in my basement a few years ago in the old house. We had a really bad storm and had 10 inches of rain overnight. I got 5 feet of water in my basement and it didn't go down for 3 days.
All the ammo was completely dry. The seals on the ammo cans saved it all.
I wish I could say the same for the furnace and water heater.

[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....'

Guymon


I keep extra powder in a trash can in the shadiest part of the yard. With a disabled wife I want it away from the house.

I thought if I ever wanted to move to a drier climate, I'd head up to Guymon. But then again, I've never made it up to Guymon. I will say this, if you've never been to S.E. Oklahoma (Idabel, Broken Bow) it doesn't get any worse. A relative of mine works in a paper mill 17 miles from here and truckers from Arizona have asked him "How do you stand this heat?!"

Murphy

[dragon813gt]

truckers from Arizona have asked him "How do you stand this heat?!"

There is no comparison. Arizona is exponentially hotter. The whole "dry heat" thing is bogus. If you're not used to the humidity I can see why people complain. Since I grew up in it I prefer it over 115 where you have to run from house to car to next house.

[tazman]

My brother is from Arizona and always complains about the heat when he comes here in the summer.

[mold maker]

Lived here all my life, and the first 60 years I was always hot. Now I sit in the summer sun to get warm. Age has a way of changing your comfort zone.

[rmark]

'I thought if I ever wanted to move to a drier climate, I'd head up to Guymon.'

Only shade outside town is from a center pivot irrigation rig

I'm in Stillwater, southeast OK is definitely muggier.

[lightman]

The old refrigerator sounds like a good way to store powder. My loading room is in the house. Primers and powder are on shelves, in their original containers. I keep the blinds closed unless I'm sitting at the bench, so sunlight is not a problem. Ammo is either in plastic MTM boxes or ammo cans.

[smalltownguy]

110 quart cooler for primers
110 quart cooler for some of the powder