Powder storage?

[Nine Toed Bob]

Howdy Pards!
There are long periods of time between my reloading, 3-4 months. (BP and smokeless).
I was wondering if I should take any special precautions with my powder between them. I have a bag of silica in my Smokess powder measures /drops for cartridge an shotshell, and keep BP in original containers. My lots of powder are about one year old, and my bench and supplies are in my semi-temprature controlled garage where the range is 50-80 degrees F.
Any advice would a help for my peace of mind!

[Angel_Eyes]

NTB
Sounds pretty much ideal to me, and if you are keeping an eye out for possible damp then I think you got it covered.
The only other thing I would do is, every so often, give the powder containers a gentle shake to avoid clumping and keep the powder nice and loose.

AE

[reloader4410]

Smokeless will get an acid smell to it when it breaks down, powder i keep in my measures i put shot bags over so no sunlight will will get in.  Black powder i always return to the original containers. Have never had a problem. Hope this helps.

[Tequila Jim]

I think if you were to run a poll about storing powder in the measure you would find the vast majority
of reloaders would tell you to return all unused powder to its original container. The powder manufacturers
would agree. Regards, TJ

[Fingers McGee]

I think if you were to run a poll about storing powder in the measure you would find the vast majority
of reloaders would tell you to return all unused powder to its original container. The powder manufacturers
would agree. Regards, TJ

+1,  I've always returned unused powder to the original container after a reloading session.  Even if I'm gonna continue the next day.

FM

[Daniel Nighteyes]

+1,  I've always returned unused powder to the original container after a reloading session.  Even if I'm gonna continue the next day.

FM

Though I'm not yet into loading, I would agree, particularly if you're using two or more types of powder.  I firmly believe in Murphy's Law, and sometimes suspect that said law errs on the side of optimism.  Using only one type of powder at a time, and carefully returning all unused powder to the original container before opening another type, will go a long way towards keeping Old Man Murphy from messing around with your loads.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

At the end of every loading session I always pour the powder back into the factory container and screw the cap on nice and tight. That is the best way to store powder, in the original container with the cap screwed on tight. I never leave powder in a powder measure at the end of a loading session.

[fourfingersofdeath]

Howdy

At the end of every loading session I always pour the powder back into the factory container and screw the cap on nice and tight. That is the best way to store powder, in the original container with the cap screwed on tight. I never leave powder in a powder measure at the end of a loading session.

Amen to that! You have enought things working against you without adding another variable like atmospheric moisture into the equation.

[pony express]

I also return powder to the container at the end of the session. If I forget what I loaded last, it's hard to tell some smokeless powders apart. And only ONE container on the bench at a time. When I started CAS I used up a LOT of really old Bullseye and Unique, that was stored about like yours, some was probably 10+ years old.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'll add this.  Temperature control is very important.  Technically,  powder starts to degenerate above 70 deg. F.  The higher the temp, the more it degenerates.  I doubt you need to worry much even if your garage stays at 80.  We had extensive classes on ammo and ammo storage while going to M1A1 Tank Master Gunner School.  IF stored correctly, there is no practical age limit to gunpowders ... either BP or Nitro powders & primers/caps.

Cold affects powder, too ... but it recovers when it warms up to room temps.  Goes to show that EVERYTHING gets a little sluggish when it gets too cold!

  (Said after we got about 4-6" of snow here in central Indiana today, and the "mercury" dropped close to 0.  Are you old enough to remember mercury thermometers?)

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Are you old enough to remember mercury thermometers?

Remember, nothing.  I've still got one.  It originally belonged to my paternal grandparents, and it hung on their back porch in northern Mississippi (about 150 road miles from Memphis).

[Steel Horse Bailey]

You'd better turn that thing into the EPA!  It might poison ya!



 


EPA = Just one of the countless guv'mint agencies created to meddle protect us from ourselves, 'cause it's a known fact that people ain't smart enuff to take care of themselves!


   

[Nine Toed Bob]

Thanks for all the help! Question adequately answered!
As for mercury thermometers, as young boys we kept small medicine bottles just for reclaiming the shiney stuff when one would break. We carried those bottles dilligently like a pet toad in the pocket and would rub the stuff on silver coins when depositing them in pay phone...they'd slip right back through the coin return and still connect the call! Now, I never did this personally, you understand, but...