Components shelf life, just an opinion.

[nakneker]

It always helps to view the positive of every situation. With powder prices rising, copper prices rising, some components still hard to find you can take some comfort in the long shelf life of powders, primers, bullets and brass. It would really be a bummer if these things had a short shelf life, just imagine having to replace what you have every 5-10 years. The other thing a long shelf life does is make it harder for those who want to control what you can and can’t have with regulation and protocol, something we deal with enough already. So if you’re looking for something to be grateful for in the current madness, be grateful for that and keep on adding to your stash……

 

[JRanum]

Few years ago at our local gunshow there was a Guy with alot of bullets for sale and the prices were cheap. I dug through the piles finding bullets I shoot and purchased 9000 bullets that weekend.

Two friends came past and made jokes about it but I told them ‘there’s no shelf life on bullets and you’ll never find them this cheap again’

Glad I purchased what I did when I did.

 

[JRanum]

Oh, and when I started fireforming loads for my last 257 Roberts AI I used some 75 year old surplus powder that some elderly neighbors divided into Folgers cans from a 100 lb keg when they were young. Velocities were uniform and the accuracy was so good I just went ahead and did my load development with it and used it for my final loads…straight out of the Folgers can.

 

[snert]

I am still shooting 3031 from the 50's. I have 4198 that is 1980's, and a lot of other powder from the 90's. i just wish I had primers from then! I have had exactly two cans go bad. One was 2495 that was recalled and the other was some VV 1 pound that stunk to high heaven when I popped it open after a long lag. Ihave unique in a small square can with a tin top too that works fine.
Keep it in dry conditions and don't expose it to high or low temp and it will keep a long time.

 

[jds holler]

I've been looking at loads for 223 lately and knew that I had some in the archives. One looks to be from the seventies, the other ???.
Worst thing to happen to the shelf life of powder is when they quit using these steel cans. That's my opinion, and I've got more old powder than most. jd

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Friend gave me a brick of Federal LRP,( 5) 210 (5) 210M. The sleeves were marked $1.79. Loaded and shot a few of each in my 22-250's. Helped my LRP inventory bump over the 3k mark. I think their from the 90's.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Powder expires after 60 full moon cycles, bullets loose essential sub atomic particles
after they are exposed to a minimum of 10 solar flares.
We know that primers last for thousands of years as there were some old primers found in the Egyptian tomb in the necropolis of Saqqara. They tested them and
got SD of less than 9.

I am a professional disposer of reloading components and all you have to do is
pay for shipping and I will handle the rest.

 

[saunaking]

Still working on a jug of R12 purchased in the early 80's for my 22-250. Still putting out great velocities with 50-55 grain bullets!

 

[jackieschmidt]

I am still using a jug of N133 that is 2007 vintage.

It still shoots the same as it always has.

 

[cmysix]

Just opened these two last year, shoots great!

 

[snert]

I've been looking at loads for 223 lately and knew that I had some in the archives. One looks to be from the seventies, the other ???.
Worst thing to happen to the shelf life of powder is when they quit using these steel cans. That's my opinion, and I've got more old powder than most. jd
View attachment 1536669

Yup, left is like mine and I have never seen that one on right. 60's or earlier...

 

[Walt Krafft]

IMO if you have powder more than five or ten years old, you are not shooting enough.

 

[saunaking]

IMO if you have powder more than five or ten years old, you are not shooting enough.

Some of it is sentimental to me. I think back to what got me into reloading in the mid 70's and the great unknowns and the lack of information compared to now.

 

[451whitworth]

IMO if you have powder more than five or ten years old, you are not shooting enough.

Possibly. I just bought 20# of 1970's era IMR 4064 for $5 a pound.

 

[markm87]

Glad I purchased what I did when I did.

EVERY single time we've bought something that seemed like a good price, I've wished later that I'd grabbed double or more.

The one Jackpot feather in my cap is the 30k Wolf SRMs we hoarded back when Wideners had them for as low as $14.99 per 5k.

 

[Webster]

I am still shooting 3031 from the 50's. I have 4198 that is 1980's, and a lot of other powder from the 90's. i just wish I had primers from then! I have had exactly two cans go bad. One was 2495 that was recalled and the other was some VV 1 pound that stunk to high heaven when I popped it open after a long lag. Ihave unique in a small square can with a tin top too that works fine.
Keep it in dry conditions and don't expose it to high or low temp and it will keep a long time.

I read an article many years ago about residual acid in gunpowder. I wish I still had it. Interesting read. Nitro Cellulose is made by treating some kind of cellulose with nitric and sulphuric acid. After the nitro cellulose is created they have to wash out as much acid as they can. There is actually a spec. for how much acid content the powder can have. Looks like they ship some powder with acid levels to high. They don’t want to throw it away. High acid levels are the main reason some powders go bad, they stink and have a red dust content. Some powders have a chemical added to help neutralize remaining acid. I’ll look for the article.

Some of the powders that guys like Hogden sell are military surplus. The powder might be 20 YO when someone purchases it. It's repackaged and sold under some brand name. It isn't 1 YO when you purchase it.

 

[M-61]

The other thing a long shelf life does is make it harder for those who want to control what you can and can’t have with regulation and protocol, something we deal with enough already. So if you’re looking for something to be grateful for in the current madness, be grateful for that and keep on adding to your stash……

Maybe we Should examine the shelf life of those that want to control us.
The day I’m grateful for a long shelf life of items THEY don’t want me to have, is a sad sad day indeed.

 

[slm9s]

IMO if you have powder more than five or ten years old, you are not shooting enough.

IMO if you don't have powder more than 10 years old you are not buying it in large enough quantities.

 

[wasskeet]

When it does as shown in photo - you may want to get rid of it. Totally dissolved the metal lid. It was N133 powder in newer Varget plastic bottle. BTW, it had many other bottles sitting around it - none of which were damaged at all.

 

[K22]

How many times have I walked into my local shop and saw something I used, a lot, and talked myself out of buying it since I really wouldn't need it for a while. Then when I was close to needing it, it was nowhere to be found. Answer - too many times!

Part of it is my frugal upbringing and influence of my depression era parents had on me and some it is living on a fixed income. But more of it is a carryover paradigm from the old days when you didn't have to inventory years' worth of components because they were always available. But those days are gone with the wind. The paradigm has changed.

So, these days when I see some component that I use a lot of on the shelf, I go for it. I did that a while back buying an 8 lbs. keg of H4895 even though I had a lot on hand at the time. It proved to be a great move because I well into that keg after years of no H4895 being available locally or missing out a small batch arrivals.