I've Been Storing Powder and Primer's Wrong

[dblcrona]

I always assumed you needed climate controlled storage for primers and powder, but I've seen articles that say this isn't true. I've stored both in my gun safe in air-tight ammo boxes and I've seen articles that say they shouldn't be stored in those ammo boxes and primers and powder shouldn't be stored together. That leads me to the question of, "Where should I store it?"

I've removed it form the ammo boxes, but its still in my gun safe. I'm thinking of making a wooden storage cabinet out of the recommended 1" thick wood and putting it in my workshop. Now, the question becomes, do I need two cabinets, one for primers and another for powder, or can I use one cabinet for both if I keep them separate inside the cabinet?

I keep my powder and primers in a flammable storage cabinet like this one. Mine is about twice this size. It is not air tight, intended only to prevent any potential ignition source from getting to the flammable contents. However, I do question if I should be storing powder and primers together. Thoughts? TIA.

Ken

 

[Kracken McGraw]

However, I do question if I should be storing powder and primers together. Thoughts? TIA.

From past replies on this Forum, you should store them separately to be kept safer from a potential explosion risk.

 

[dblcrona]

From past replies on this Forum, you should store them separately to be kept safer from a potential explosion risk.

I’m buying a second flammable storage cabinet today. The larger of the two will be powder and the small one will be primers.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I’m buying a second flammable storage cabinet today. The larger of the two will be powder and the small one will be primers.

We have one of the cabinets you showed for my wife’s flammable art chemicals, I keep my Naptha in there too.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I seem to recall walking into Sportsman Wharehouse seeing 100,000 primers stacked one shelf below hundreds of pounds of powder.
No one gave that a second thought.

True, and maybe that‘s safer than being shut up together in a tight cabinet or safe.

 

[6fatrat]

This thread has me rethinking how i store them.
Jfrank packed together.

 

[Doom]

I keep my powder and primers in a flammable storage cabinet like this one. Mine is about twice this size. It is not air tight, intended only to prevent any potential ignition source from getting to the flammable contents. However, I do question if I should be storing powder and primers together. Thoughts? TIA.

Ken

You have successfully created an IED. Gunpowder becomes an explosive when its combustion is contained, such as in a sealed metal container or a gun safe. The metal of the cabinet becomes shrapnel.

I would refer you to this link at SAAMI

https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Info-Doc-Smokeless-Powder-11-8-2022.pdf

and more specifically to the referenced NFPA 495 Chapter 14 which also includes primers.

 

[wright brothers]

My brothers survived a house fire. The reloading room appeared just as scorched to me as the rest.
But that area sure did get the firemens attention.
Some powder, primers and shells cooked off and some didn't.
The cooked shell cases resembled blooming irises in shape.

Now I need to check for red dust in the metal cans.

 

[Fclassfool]

Some of yall sure like to make things difficult

 

[M-61]

I've stored both in my gun safe in air-tight ammo boxes

That is a horrific huge pipe bomb

 

[M-61]

I remember reading something years ago about not using desiccant packs sealed in with your primers. Something about the desiccant drying out the primer compound over time. True or not I don’t know.

The primer compound is dry. Wet only when installed by manufacturer

 

[stavey]

The primer compound is dry. Wet only when installed by manufacturer

I understand that. Just something I read. I just keep them in a cool dry place. Never had an issue.

 

[Mastershot]

I store most of my powder in a wooden box made of scrap 2x4’s and hardy backed lined. Everything stays nice and dry.

 

[dblcrona]

You have successfully created an IED. Gunpowder becomes an explosive when its combustion is contained, such as in a sealed metal container or a gun safe. The metal of the cabinet becomes shrapnel.

I would refer you to this link at SAAMI

https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Info-Doc-Smokeless-Powder-11-8-2022.pdf

and more specifically to the referenced NFPA 495 Chapter 14 which also includes primers.

You have successfully created an IED. Gunpowder becomes an explosive when its combustion is contained, such as in a sealed metal container or a gun safe. The metal of the cabinet becomes shrapnel.

I would refer you to this link at SAAMI

https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Info-Doc-Smokeless-Powder-11-8-2022.pdf

and more specifically to the referenced NFPA 495 Chapter 14 which also includes primers.

It is not air tight.

 

[Doom]

It is not air tight.

Air tight or not doesn't matter. It's more a function of volume and rate of heat/gas release. It is designed for flammable liquids nor explosive solids.

 

[Doom]

Recent incident.

 

[joshb]

The pic of the “metal gun cabinet” tells the story. Notice how it’s bulged.

 

[Tesoro]

Why not use safe for storing powder and primers, who’s gonna light a match in there and if the house catch’s on fire don’t you have bigger problems to worry about ?

Not me! I have a 800lb empty 30x30x60 safe. If my house caught on fire and the safe got hot enough to cause the powders to self ignite, then I could have a bomb that could put Timothy McViegh to shame.

 

[dblcrona]

The pic of the “metal gun cabinet” tells the story. Notice how it’s bulged.View attachment 1539027

Looking at pictures is nice but the real story is in the article. Did anyone actually read it? This guy was smoking at his bench while reloading with an excessive amount of powder on the bench. He also had powder in the nearby cabinet that was not in its original containers and faulty wiring and lighting. No proof of this but the cabinet was probably open when he ignited the powder on his bench which is what ignited the powder in the cabinet. The whole purpose of the flammable cabinet is to prevent ignition in the first place. This guy was an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Thud]

I'm late to the game on this one. Went out to get more popcorn. Then needed new way to store it