While recently discussing the subject with Ron Reiber, head ballistician at Hodgdon Powders, he pointed out that powder in useable condition stored properly in the home is actually safer than some of the aerosol products commonly found there.īut we are talking reasonable amounts here. It is okay to load ammo out in the garage or other non-environmentally controlled area, but powder should be stored in a cool, dry place. Although quite rare, it is possible for powder to deteriorate to the point of self-ignition - another reason for occasionally giving each opened container in your reloading room the sniff test. If you suddenly begin to experience wide shot-to-shot variations in velocity or a noticeable reduction in velocity of a favorite load, the can of powder you are using may not gone completely bad, but it will probably get there sooner than later. Sudden rusting of the metal cap of a container is also a sure sign of bad things going on inside. The plastic cap on one of the containers of powder that went bad on me was originally blue in color, and the chemical changes that took place inside had actually bleached it snow white. If a brown or rust-colored fume escapes from the container when you open it, the powder is unsuitable for use. The odor is difficult to describe, but my nose says the experience is quite a bit like taking a strong whiff of the fumes produced by muriatic acid.Īny change - regardless of whether it is physical, chemical or otherwise - indicates time for disposal. If you get a terribly unpleasant, acidic odor that fries your nasal passages, extreme deterioration has taken place. If the smell ranges from no detectable odor to resembling alcohol, ether or acetone (from its solvent content), it is okay. You can tell if a can of powder is good or bad by giving its contents a sniff test. Hodgdon had purchased the powder on the military-surplus market, so one can only guess how long ago it was actually made. I still have a couple pounds of that powder, and best as I can tell it is as good as it was when I bought it more than 40 years ago. 300 H&H Magnum, and while velocity with the Swift was not as high as it would have been with a quicker-burning powder, accuracy was great, and at 60 cents per pound who cared about a few additional fps in bullet speed? Even then it can still last for a very long time.ĭuring the 1960s, a hunting pal and I pooled our resources and bought a 60-pound keg of H4831 from Bruce Hodgdon. When properly stored, an unopened container of smokeless powder has an indefinite shelf life, but once it is opened, the stabilizers it contains begin to slowly but surely weaken. You can check powders by giving them the sniff test, and in some cases a visual inspection of the powder or packaging can tell you if something's amiss.
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