Author Topic: Choosing powder by longevity and Stability ?  (Read 243 times)

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Offline preventec47

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Choosing powder by longevity and Stability ?
« on: November 13, 2008, 02:24:35 AM »
Choosing powder by longevity ?
I've got a couple of powders to choose from that probably are neck and neck
in velocity performance but I've read there are  lot of advancements in
powders in the way of moisture absorbtion and chemical breakdown over time etc.
Also consistency over wide spreads of temperature but that is not important
to me as I will never be shooting during blistering hot or freezing cold.
I have heard of powders going bad and I dont want that to happen to any that
I buy if I have a choice.  I am choosing between Accurate Arms 2460, Hodgden 4895
and Alliant Reloader 15..... and if I could find it the Via Vhitori N-135.

Anyone familiar with the chemical formulations as it relates to breakdown
over time and moisture absorbtion etc ?

Offline LaOtto222

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Re: Choosing powder by longevity and Stability ?
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2008, 02:35:01 AM »
I am not familiar with the chemical make up of gun powders. I do know that any of the modern powders will store for a long time if stored properly. Sun light is bad, heat is bad as is moisture. Store your powder in a cool dry place with the lid tightly closed. I would not thing you would have any problems for a long, long time. Modern packaging is better than it used to be and helps preserve our gun powders even better than in the past. When I first go into the reloading game, the canisters were metal or cardboard. I have not bough a powder in the last three years that were not in a plastic bottle with a lid that seals fairly well. I still have some Unique from 25 years ago that came in cardboard that performs with out a problem (I bough a bunch of it). Good Luck and Good Shooting
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Offline Hopalong7

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Re: Choosing powder by longevity and Stability ?
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2008, 03:37:47 AM »
I just loaded and shot some Bullseye that came in the little square tin can with the pop-off lid.  It performed flawlessly.  That stuff had to be 40+ years old.  :) Walt