Advice on storage concerns. please?

[Canuck Bob]

Its time to stockpile my shooting supplies.  Price and availability in Canada is already a concern for the present little own the future.

I'm not a massive powder burner so my plan is to estimate my useage for about a decade of active shooting.  I am loading for 3-4 rifles, 22 LR, 12 gauge, and a 54 muzzleloader.  Once I work up loads I'll stock up on favorite powders, lead, primers, etc..  In the propellents I'm planning restocking in aluminum tape wrapped canning sealers and ammo/primer boxes wrapped in aluminum foil tape.  How long will carefully sealed and labelled dry smokeless and black powder and ammo keep?  This initiative represents a big finanncial cost but these components will be 30-50% higher next year at the current rates. The internet is full of advice but I hoped to get this from the right end of the horse, so to speak.

Any advice on storage, expected life of components (does brass and Blue Soft go bad as an example?), proper clean lead ingot storage, etc. would be appreciated and probably helpful to many of us.  A 25# bag of Lawerence shot is $80 here a pound of powder $30 or more..

[Empty Quiver]

I'm by no means an expert here but will tell you what I have gathered, and do for myself.

 Time doesn't have too much effect on ammo. Heat is a problem as is moisture. primers are sensitive to oil contamination in particular. I store my ammo in .50 cans, I drop a large dessicant bag in there, and close it up. I am a worry wart by nature so about once a year I'll throw the dry bags in the microwave till they quit steaming. the ones out of the ammo cans are pretty dry the ones from gun cases are noticeably wetter.

Powder stays in the sealed jars, the primers are in a .30 can with a dessicant bag. So far so good, but I only have about a year on most supplies as they get used fast enough to not matter.

Lots of annecdotal info on WW II ammo being just fine with pretty lousy treatment.

[Canuck Bob]

Thanks a lot.  I'm maybe making a big deal out of nothing but powder jumped 5-7 per pound in a few months and the store told me next shipment will be more.  What kills economics for Canadians is shipping restrictions, border brokerage, duty fees and International shipping.  I see 50#s of lead or minimum order free shipping on your sites, ain't free here.

I am going to include dessicant now.  Also we are a dry place in the Rockies rain shadow.  My powder will come from a bulk supplier who sells in sealed bags thus the transfer to canning jars.  I considered paint cans but I've had some of my Grandmas preserves 15 years after she died, pickles still crunched!  I'm going to use aluminum pipe tape because it will help with a dropped jar and it is as close to water tight as I can get at the home store.

[parkergunshop]

Canuck,

I just used in the last two weeks H380 Powder purchased over 20 years ago, kept in a .50 cal ammo can in the original Hogdon plactic bottle stored in my shop. Used Federal Match primers of about the same age.   This was to begin with surplus military power for the .762 Nato round after the military switched over to the 5.56 M/M.  At this point this power is most likely 30-40 years old or older.

No issues noted for on the range, accuracy was good with 150, 130 and 165 grain bullets,  checked the barrel between shots no unburned powder.

My load was basically a case full of H380 upto the neck with all bullet weights

All of my primers were purchased over 20 years ago and I see no deteoration with them.

Also shot 30-06 ammo I loaded in the 1980's recently with no issues, grouped 3/4 inch for 3 shots and 1 inch for 5 shots at 100 yards from a 1903 Springfield.

I basically bought a lifetime supply of primers, powder, and loaded .22 rimfire ammo in the 1980-1993 timeframe along with a a couple thousand rounds of loaded pistol ammo even though I have the components to load for all my centerfire pistols.   I bought five pounds of power for what you are paying for 1 pound in Canada.

My H380, H450 are in 8 pound containers, Vihtavouri in 2 pound containers, most of them unsealed at this point.

[BBF]

Not to put you in a cold sweat For some reason I recall reading or hearing somewhere that our Keepers of the Peace officially or otherwise have established a limit on fixed ammo and explosive components that a peon may possess.
 
One other concern would be your home insurance. Perish the thought that you would have a fire and all that stuff gets set off. Insurance Co love to find an excuse not to pay up.

For myself I have arrived at a point in life where my present amount of above mentioned items will have to be dealt with by my estate

[Canuck Bob]

Thanks scatter,  I'll keep the amounts reasonable but my storage plan is not too extravagant.  Your note about the fire is good to consider.  Without going into details on a public forum I'll move my stash from the house after your advice.  I've been planning a storage cabnet that is reasonably fireproof anyway.  Fireproof wall board, steel studs, and rock wool insulation and a good seal are planned. 

[Veral]

Underground and dry, where it isn't easy found outside the house is unbeatable storage conditions.  Lead bullets will retain hardness longest, lube and powder  lasts longest in cool areas.  Dry is mandatory to prevent primer and cartridge deteroriation. 

  Wouldn't hurt to dry that dissicant at least every 6 months.  This way you'll know if moisture is beginning to get in before it does without you knowing and takes it toll.     

  A very neat and absolutely water proof container can be made with PVC pipe and cemented caps on the ends.  Easy to bury without a lot of disturbance to the ground.    Leave room so the contents will not be hit when you saw one end off.  Dissicant inside won't hurt, but isn't needed if everything is dry to start.      I stored some special papers this way, under water, for I think around 10 years.  (Not many people dig  around looking for things under water!)  The papers  were as new when the pipe was opened.   

  Be liberal with the glue, and be sure the pipe ends are smoothed so they don't strip glue as the cap is slipped on.  Once the cap is on, twist it a little so the glue can settle in around any dry spots.  Use schedule 40 PVC for best life.  ABS sewer pipe is as good, but only available up to 4 inch inside diameter.  PVC isn't much more expensive,  is available up to 12 inches diamete, at least, and VERY available in 6 inch diameter,    Ammo cans rust out if there dampness, while PVC is invincable to water, dirt etc.  That's what it's made for.

[bilmac]

Your idea to store powder in glass jars concerns me Canuck. Somewhere in my dim memories I remember warnings about storing powder in glass. I can't remember what the problem was, only thing I can think of would be that the powder would be exposed to light. If I were going to store anything in glass these days I would consider putting a vacuum on them, easy to do with modern vacuum sealers. Just remember that you will be treading on new ground, whereas powder stored in factory containers have a record of pretty good shelf life.

[Canuck Bob]

Thanks Bilmac but Veral's schedule 40 PVC is the new plan.  Somehow I knew he would have a dandy solution for my Home Depot powder magazine!