Black Powder Storeage

[schutzen]

I purchased 25 pounds of FG black powder last week and was surprised to find out it is shipped/sold in plastic bags.  The last I purchased was in a re-sealable canister.  Yea, that was week or so ago.  Any way, what are you guys storing bulk black powder in?
The only thought I have had is to use an Igloo Water Cooler.  It's light, non-sparking and relatively cheap.  Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?

[GGaskill]

I purchased 25 pounds of FG black powder last week and was surprised to find out it is shipped/sold in plastic bags.

Who did you buy it from?  Black powder is resistant to heat and the other things that deteriorate smokeless powder but moisture causes irreversible damage while smokeless usually is OK once it dries out.  So I can see plastic bags inside some other non-watertight container, but not just stuffed inside a box.  Sounds like someone repackaging bulk bought powder.

[Cannonball]

A dry plastic cooler in a warm & dry environment becomes full of static. You'll see dust cling all around the bottom. I've seen pics of static strike powder & nothing happened, but I think wood always has & always will be the best thing. Non-conductive whatsoever.

[Will Bison]

I haven't ordered BP for a couple of years but I have purchased GOEX/DuPont in bulk on several occasions. It's less expensive and just as good. I really liked it when it came in a nice 25 lb metal caddy. In the two plastic bags is fine as long as it stays dry. I have always kept my old empty one pound cans just for such situations. A soup ladle and a funnel is an easy way to get the darn stuff into smaller containers.

I went to the local "Dollar" store and got a good supply of 2, 3 and 4 liter plastic canisters with wide mouth screw on lids. These are great for bulk chemical storage. I keep all my powder in these canisters in bulk. The nice thing about the plastic canisters is the wide mouth so I generally pour directly from the plastic bag.

[seacoastartillery]

     A nice electrically insulated box or carton does sound like the logical choice to me as well.  However this idea is WRONG.  As explained by an electrical engineer who also shoots lots of BP, this idea employs an incorrect assumption.  Insulation is wrong, conductivity AROUND the BP is what you want.  This is why Goex and other MFGS supply their powder in 1 pound steel cans. 
Before you make up any charges, you simply put the can on a concrete floor which is grounded.  Any static bleeds off instantly.  You must find a container that is moisture proof for the reasons that GG stated.  The new plastic containers from the powder MFGS have some carbon in them to give them that conductive property that we mentioned before.  Hope this helps you. 

Mike and Tracy

[Terry C.]

According to their site, PowderInc sells Goex in bags, but not for sporting use. Sounds like your order may have gotten mixed up.

A couple of large ammo cans would be my choice.

[Rickk]

Ammo cans are cheap and if the rubber seal is intact they keep moisture out. Open the lid while still at the surplus store and look inside. If the seal is good, the inside will have no rust in it.

[schutzen]

As for someone repackaging bulk powder, the 25 lbs I purchased was in a GOEX heavy cardboard box with all the appropriate labels and warnings.  Inside was a single, heavy plastic bag sealed with the top triple folded and sealed it with strapping tape.  I have to believe this is GOEX factory packaging.

I will decline to name the company I purchased it from, but I have dealt with them for over 25 years and I have never felt “cheated”.  They are a reputable company and I do not believe they repackaged the powder.

I have several military ammo cans, but they are steel and I was worried about the sparking issue.  I'm glad someone pointed out the static issue with the Igloo Cooler idea.

Looks like I will have dig out the 20MM cans and look for the best one.

Many thanks for the good ideas.

[Double D]

Leave the powder in the Orignal container as was intended.  Its safe, its strong and its contained.  Why would you want to "decant" it?  Other than you are use to getting in smaller containers. 

Use one of your originals empties to fill a working can to use as you go along.

[schutzen]

I understand the concept of leaving it in the original container, however the original container is awkward to work with and does not reseal well.  Also, I do not like to haul the bulk container to range where I make up charges (too much chance for contamination).  I believe I will use the ammo cans until I have sufficient 2.5 gallon shot shell powder cans to hold the BP.  For trips to the range, I will use recycled 1 lb powder cans. When I repackage the powder I take a picture of the label and print it out as a label.  It's cheap, accurate and easy to do.  A fifty cent label keeps me from throwing away "unknown powders".

Again, many thanks for the good ideas.

[Rickk]

Unless kept very dry, the cardboard box will soak up moisture and begin to rot. One day, when you pick the box up, the bottom will fall out.

In my powder shed, I have been leaving the cans inside the original cardboard box and have been seeing signs of rust on the bottom of the cans due to the moisture in the cardboard. I gotta do something about that.