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Author Topic: How ong to keep ?  (Read 722 times)

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Offline rocco

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How ong to keep ?
« on: May 09, 2003, 10:48:59 AM »
Smokeless gun powder how long will it last ?
I have some thats 10 years old .Its been keept in a cool dry place .
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Offline BobMachus

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How ong to keep ?
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2003, 12:51:20 PM »
I am using some that is 5 -7 years old that seems to work just as well as it did when I last used it.  Let's see what the others have to add.  I'll bet some say 'Never, ever use powder that has been sitting that long, the breakdown of the nitrocellulose compounds will render the powder much more/less volatile and therefore unpredictable."  Some will say " Go ahead, no problem.  Just think about loaded ammo and how long it sits, especially military ammo."  Yet others will suggest that "If you start cautiously, just as with working up a new load you should be fine."
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Offline HBL

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How ong to keep ?
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2003, 02:17:18 PM »
I have some bulk 2230 I have had for right around 15 years that shoots just as good now as it did then. I keep it tightly sealed  when not using it. There's not off color and odor is still strong, if that really means anything.
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Offline ricciardelli

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How ong to keep ?
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2003, 02:29:02 PM »
I have some powders that have been stored properly for around 25 years, and there are no problems.
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Offline sharpshooter

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How ong to keep ?
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2003, 07:13:11 PM »
Well with this being brought up I remember something that I heard at a seminar. The only difference is it has to do with pyrodex. I went to a Deer & Turkey Expo a couple of years back and there was a guy there giving a seminar on muzzleloading and he said that once a can of pyrodex is opened from there on out it will start looseing its potency and will keep getting weaker and weaker. He said to test theory  buy a can sight in your ML with it and then try the old stuff and you should see the difference in the point of impact. Now I don't know if there is any truth to this or not does anyone else? :sniper:  :excuseme:
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Offline just learning

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powder life
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2003, 07:54:59 PM »
if the powder has been keep air tight ( sealed- has not been open) it will keep a long long time, when powder starts to go bad it will smell bad, you may want to call a powder manafacture  just to see what they say, i have read and from my own experience, my powder has lasted for years , but again i have stored it properly.
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Offline .45 COLT

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How ong to keep ?
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2003, 01:55:16 AM »
About 2 years ago I used the last of my Alcan AL7 that I bought in 1973. About the same time I used the end of a drum of Green Dot that was marked with my purchase date of 1974. Both worked as well as they ever did.
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Offline rocco

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How ong to keep ?
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2003, 02:08:44 AM »
Thanks alot for the replys . I guess I can use it .
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Offline John Traveler

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smokeless powder storage life
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2003, 12:29:32 PM »
Nitrocelluose "smokeless" gunpowder can keep almost indefinitely provided:

1.  It is not a wartime "rushed" production lot.  Acids are used in powder manufacture, and hurried production leaves acid residues that eventually decompose nitrocelluose.

2.  Storage temperatures are kept cool, and direct sunlight is not allowed on the storage containers.  Storage heat is murder on gunpowder, new or old surplus.  Ditto for sunlight/uv exposure.

3.  Dry storage mandatory.  Moisture promotes corrosion of case, bullet, and primer components, hastening powder decomposition.
Even though powder itself is almost insoluble in water.  There have been documented cases of naval cannon propellants undersea for DECADES, and yet when salvaged and tested, showed almost no change in ballistics.

The US military considers small arms ammo is good 3 years active duty use, 10 years for reserve/militia training use, and more than 20 years total shelf life.  Most of us have fired reliable surplus ammunition much older than this.

How long do YOU think gunpowder is good for?
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John Traveler

Offline sharpshooter

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How ong to keep ?
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2003, 08:05:41 AM »
Since the powder issue subject has came up and what I heard at a seminar a couple of years back I thought that this might be of some interest. :D

It is not true.  Pyrodex is like blackpowder.  As long as it is not exposed to moisture, it will be fine for many years.

 

Mike Daly

Customer Satisfaction

 

Recall notice:  Hodgdon Powder Company has issued a recall of Lil Gun smokeless powder for

lot # 103080221.  Please see our web site www.hodgdon.com for further details on this recall

-----Original Message-----
From: Robandcharpetty@aol.com [mailto:Robandcharpetty@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 1:37 PM
To: Help Account
Subject: Powder

 

I have a question. I was at a seminar a while back and there was a guy there who was talking about muzzleloading. He said that once you open a contain of pyrodex it will eventually get weaker. Is this true? Thank you
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