I've Been Storing Powder and Primer's Wrong

[Ernest T]

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?

 

[Metal God]

You are right and wrong . Climate controlled is a very good idea but sealed in air tight metal ammo cans is not best . The sealed ammo can will not allow gasses to escape and could turn into a bomb in a fire .

There are many papers on temps and at what temp powders deteriorate faster . Over the years I’ve concluded keeping your powder and primers below 85* should be just fine for many years .

I keep my powder in original containers in wooden storage box/s . I keep my primers in ammo cans but the cheap plastic ones which will bulge and release pressure avoiding the boom .

Wood crates/cabinet with walls at least 1” thick is best .

 

[Clancy]

Get it out of your gun safe, yesterday.

I store my primers on a shelf above my bench and powder in a big hallway cabinet

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Get it out of your gun safe, yesterday.

I store my primers on a shelf above my bench and powder in a big hallway cabinet

I need to take heed to this, but I bought a big safe.

 

[GLO123]

My 10 powder jugs are in one room inside a plastic bin that is kept between 50-70 deg and has a dehumidifier. My 6000 some primers are keep in another room inside a plastic bin with desiccant packs. That room is kept between 65-70 deg and has a dehumidifier. I would make two wooden boxes if I were you. I think I will make two boxes this winter.

 

[6MMsteve]

I store my powder n primers downstairs in summer and upstairs in winter, cool n cool

 

[potatojudge]

Nobody seems to stress powder storage like they should.

Gunpowder manufacturers do us no favors with their canister designs.

I don't really know of affordable, large storage crates that meet criteria.

Most of us probably have more powder than can be safely stored easily, or that can be stored properly but economically.

If aftermarket storage friendly canisters made to fit storage crates of appropriate dimensions were available at a reasonable price, I'd love to have that setup.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Do you guys keep loaded ammo out of the safe also?

 

[JimPag]

Do you guys keep loaded ammo out of the safe also?

I've kept loaded ammo in my safe's as long as I can remember. Never had an issue. Never ever kept powder or primers in it though. That's a bad idea.

 

[JMayo]

I've got kitchen cabinets in my reloading room full of powder jugs & Primers in bench drawers.
I'm thinking... Don't store them in a place pressure can build up ....
aka the B word...

 

[Ernest T]

Can someone explain what they mean by don't store primers and powder together. Like together in the same cabinet, in the same room, same house? What is the criteria. I don't keep large quantities of either. I have about 8000 primers right now and have never had over 20,000, and usually have less than 15 lbs of powder. I could build two small wooden trunks and keep them in the garage, one on one side and another opposite. With the current powder/primer shortages I keep buying both when I find them so I might end up with more than normal, but I still wouldn't need a large box to store them.

 

[Jager]

I keep 1lb canisters of powder and bricks of primers (separately) in medium-weight Bankers Boxes. I then write on the outside, top and facing side, what's in each Bankers Box. They're reasonably cheap and strong enough to stack and to lift when full.

8lb canisters of powder just go on the shelf the way they are.

I keep one or two 1lb canisters of each powder and a single brick of each primer type on shelves at my reloading bench (which is upstairs in a bedroom). That's my active supply. When I run out or get low on one of those components I'll go downstairs to the den/gun room and get a fresh canister.

Regardless of location or how they're stored, the important things are temperature and humidity.

 

[Fuj]

I use a defunct Sears refrigerator as my magazine with magnetic
doors, so it's less of a bomb hazard. Lower section holds my powder
and the freezer section holds my primers. Both sections have several
large deliquescent bags to absorb moisture. Fridge is in the basement
that stays cool. I also run a dehumidifier in the warmer more humid
months like currently. I don't worry about powder since nowaday's
it's in plastic containers with a good sealing lid. It's the packaging of
primers that always concerned me. Keep them dry and cool as much
as possible.

 

[CharlieNC]

Seems like quite awhile ago I read a recommendation not to store in metal, but use wood cabinets, due to the potential for a static buildup to arc and cause an explosion.

 

[FNSafari]

I have some 40 + year old 2400 in an original one lb container that is just fine to use today. Stored in my home. I do check powder periodically. Everyone should.

 

[jk80]

I've bought old coolers at garage sales to keep powder and primers in. Ammo just goes on a shelf.

 

[Spoonbill]

I store powder and primers in a file cabinet.

 

[JFrank]

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 ?

 

[joshb]

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 ?

Because some powder has been known to spontaneously combust! It’s rare, but it has happened. Do you feel lucky?
Every once in a while you’ll read about a recall or see a post about powder “breaking down with red dust”. That’s the problem.

 

[painter]

I use a small chest freezer for powder storage, I opened it to get some powder I didn't like the smell it was most likely the plastic containers I have propped it slightly open to allow it to breathe.