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Shelf life of powder (Read 12303 times)

tdelewis Full Member Offline Posts: 119 Joined: Aug 22^nd, 2013	Shelf life of powder Jun 26^th, 2015 at 9:26am	Print Post
	What is the shelf life of modern powders? I have some that has been sitting for 4 to 5 years and a friend wants me to do some hunting loads. I know it will ignite regardless of how old it is but will it have any effect on the ballistics? Does age have any effect on how powders will preform?


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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #1 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 9:49am	Print Post
	It all depends on how its been stored.

	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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KAF Ex Member	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #2 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 10:01am	Print Post
	IF it has a nice alcohol like smell it is fine, IF it smells acidic, odd smell bad stuff. Compare the smell to new stuff and you'll see the difference. if kept cool and dry it should last a very long time.


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uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #3 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 11:02am	Print Post
	In the late '90s I used up my old Dad's powder stash, some of which was at least 30 years old. There are stories of how powder can deteriorate if the nitrating acids weren't fully washed out or neutralized, but I've never had such an experience. I know that smokeless powder is somewhat sensitive to humidity, but that seems to be an issue only for the folks who live in arid climates. Excessively dry powder burns faster. OTOH powder can be kept immersed in water for decades, then dried down to its' nominal moisture content, and it behaves exactly like new. (Hercules used to emphasize this in their ads.)

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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17976 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #4 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 12:31pm	Print Post
	I'm still using powders that are from the 60's, and working great. As J Louis said, it's all about proper storage. I keep all my powders in my ry basement, which never gets too hot or too cold. Heat is a powder's worst enemy, along with humidity/moisture.

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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #5 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 12:33pm	Print Post
	If you have record of the velocity the rifle and bullet likes simply work up a load that maches those numbers. I use the chronograph when changing lots of powder and or primers to get me back to where my recorded velocities need to be. A bullet tends to like a certain velocity range so it also comes in handy when trying different powders and or primers. JLouis

	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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Adrian Full Member Offline Posts: 122 Joined: Mar 2^nd, 2015	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #6 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 7:28pm	Print Post
	5 years old is nothing, regardless of storage, provided that the lid was closed.


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rgchristensen Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1186 Joined: Jan 2^nd, 2014	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #7 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 7:29pm	Print Post
	Nitrocellulose is thermodynamically unstable. That means as soon as the nitric oxide scavenging compounds, e.g., various amines, are used up, the powder is done for. It gets weaker, not stronger, with age, so there is not a problem with using old powder. I still have 10-20# of WWII vintage 4831 that I am beginning to worry about, tho. I have had a few cans of old stuff go bad, and it eats up the cans and also the cabinet, but makes excellent fertilizer in the asparagus patch. As has been mentioned, a sharp, acrid odor tells you that it is time to sprinkle it on the lawn. Otherwise, go ahead and use it. CHRIS RGChristensen


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Adrian Full Member Offline Posts: 122 Joined: Mar 2^nd, 2015	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #8 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 7:31pm	Print Post
	Quote: IF it has a nice alcohol like smell it is fine, IF it smells acidic, odd smell bad stuff. Compare the smell to new stuff and you'll see the difference. if kept cool and dry it should last a very long time. None of my new fresh powders smell like alcohol and some do have a bit of an acrid smell.


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Adrian Full Member Offline Posts: 122 Joined: Mar 2^nd, 2015	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #9 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 7:34pm	Print Post
	rgchristensen wrote on Jun 26^th, 2015 at 7:29pm: a sharp, acrid odor tells you that it is time to sprinkle it on the lawn. CHRIS RGChristensen Sometimes a reddish rusty fine dust seems to develop on the powder kernels. Then it truly is bad powder. But, i know someone who is still shooting a 50 lb keg of 1940s surplus, stored in barns and garages, still fine powder.


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Turret1BB63 Junior Member Offline Posts: 59 Location: NE Minnesota Joined: Jan 21^st, 2014	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #10 - Jun 26^th, 2015 at 8:01pm	Print Post
	On a larger scale....we were using Korean War era powder in the late 80s and early 90s, with excellent results

	GMC(SW) - USN, Retired 1978 to 2001 USS San Diego USS Missouri USS Boxer NAS Whidbey Island
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sakoman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 282 Location: Phoenix, AZ Joined: Feb 20^th, 2006	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #11 - Jun 27^th, 2015 at 1:11pm	Print Post
	Myself and some friends are using H4831 surplus from WW ll. It has been stored dry and cool since I got it in 1966. Back then a $100.00 got you 100 pounds of powder and 10,000 primers.


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rgchristensen Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1186 Joined: Jan 2^nd, 2014	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #12 - Jun 27^th, 2015 at 4:15pm	Print Post
	I remember giving $44/100# of 4831. Still have some. CHRIS RGChristensen


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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2942 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #13 - Jun 27^th, 2015 at 7:44pm	Print Post
	Some folks are starting to show their age.

	Glenn - Stevens 044 1/2, Bartlein SS 5R barrel in 22LR
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Cat_Whisperer Frequent Elocutionist Offline No 1, 9.3x74R Posts: 3983 Location: Mountains of Virginia Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: Shelf life of powder Reply #14 - Jun 27^th, 2015 at 9:20pm	Print Post
	SSShooter wrote on Jun 27^th, 2015 at 7:44pm: Some folks are starting to show their age. Yea. Like remembering when the movies went from 15 cents to a quarter!

	Cat Whisperer (trk) Chief of Smoke Pulaski Coehorn Works and Skunk Works Drafted May 1970, Retired Maj. U.S.Army assra #9885
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