Powder Storage

[Davey Boy]

I know this has been a topic that has been kicked around, but I have a question. I want to move my powder from house to garage. Garage is heated to 41F in winter, but can get up to 80-90 F in summer. It will be in a sealed box so no drastic temp changes quickly, it would be a gradual change. Also never heard of this, but can I throw a few nuggets of water softener salt around the containers to act as a dessicant?

Is 90F to high a temp to store powder for say 2-3 months a year.

Oh and have a Happy New Year everyone. Best wishes for 2023. Hope it is better than 2022.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I think you will be ok short term except for the salt idea. I would not store it long term (several years) in that fluxuating temp.

 

[Jager]

"Cool and dry" is what all the powder manufacturers will tell you when asked how to store their powders.

I've still got perfectly good powders - tested via chronograph against their modern counterparts - that were purchased in the 80's. But those powders have always been stored in the same living space that I and my family enjoy.

I wouldn't do it.

 

[Davey Boy]

But my wife wants it out of the house as she considers it a fire hazard. Hard to convince otherwise. Also wouldn't the salt nuggets keep moisture at bay? I've been in a salt mine before and it was hard to breathe because the air was so dry.

 

[Doom]

Bad idea on the salt. Your powder will be fine. As for humidity keep just keep the containers closed..

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I think you will be fine on the 90 degree temperatures. It’s not like you have it out sitting in the sun.

 

[kd4avp]

I have stored my powder in my old workshop, unheated and not cooled for quite a few years. Never had an issue. They were stored in several wooden boxes I constructed from 3/4 inch russian birch plywood. Still store it in the same boxes only now in a climate controlled dedicated loading building. Bought a repo utility building 12x24 that was split with a wall. Made a nice 12x12 loading shop. Insulated it and put in one of those free standing AC/Heat units. Keeps the shop a nice even 65 degrees in winter and a comfy 74 in summer.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Explain to the wife what the current replacement value is. Get some appropriate sized ammo cans to store the powder in and keep it in the house! It's still the same fire hazard or worse in the garage!

Frank

 

[Walt Krafft]

Build a proper wood storage cabinet and make it look like a piece of furniture.

 

[D Coots]

Ever think of putting the wife in the garage?

 

[DaveTooley]

The high temp spec'd by the military for ammo is 160 degrees. Tens of millions of rounds of ammo are/have been stored at high temperature with no ill affects. I can't say this with authority but I would suspect temperature swings would, over time, cause more of a problem than extreme high temps with the expansion and contraction of the air in the containers. Seals do fail.

 

[shortgrass]

Explain to the wife what the current replacement value is. Get some appropriate sized ammo cans to store the powder in and keep it in the house! It's still the same fire hazard or worse in the garage!

Frank

Confining smokeless powder in a space , such as an ammo can, is where it derives its energy. Confine it in a cartridge case or a latched ammo can is how it derives pressure when ignited in any possible way. A ventilated storage cabinet is what is recommended. When not confined, smokeless powders burn, they don't explode.

 

[46and2]

Explain to the wife what the current replacement value is. Get some appropriate sized ammo cans to store the powder in and keep it in the house! It's still the same fire hazard or worse in the garage!

Frank

Confining smokeless powder in a space , such as an ammo can, is where it derives its energy. Confine it in a cartridge case or a latched ammo can is how it derives pressure when ignited in any possible way. A ventilated storage cabinet is what is recommended. When not confined, smokeless powders burn, they don't explode.

In other words you are making a bomb.

Do not store powder or primers in metal ammo cans!

 

[Davey Boy]

Thinking of storing it in a wooden set of drawers. And like Kracken mentioned he has never noted a problem in 90 degree heat. I have often heard of people storing in heat like that in places like Texas, Florida and other southern states and they have stated no problems. I would rather not store it this way, but after 45 years I know when to rock the boat and when not to. My wife and daughters are not really keen on my shooting hobby. The change in temp. is gradual not erratic.
Also again why not the little bit of salt nuggets amongst the containers to act as a dessicant, just as a precaution.

 

[LHSmith]

For one thing, some powder cans like Hodgdon and Winchester use metal lids and if you live in a state that uses salt on the roads you know salt and wreaks havoc with ferrous metal.

 

[Davey Boy]

LHSmith thank you for that, it explains why it is not a good idea, never thought of that and I live where there is too much salt use and rusty vehicles.

 

[46and2]

For one thing, some powder cans like Hodgdon and Winchester use metal lids and if you live in a state that uses salt on the roads you know salt and wreaks havoc with ferrous metal.

Man it's been several years since Hodgdon has made metal lids.

I still have some old metal lids but not one in a few years.

 

[snert]

I would store it in the house personally. The powder is not going to cause a fire. If you have a fire, you have more to worry about than powder. Stored properly, it is safe. It simply burns, just like the wood frames of the house. More deadly are lithium batteries, laptops that are plugged in, foam insulation (toxic fumes while burning) upholstery in the faux leather sofa.

I bet a google search of house fires caused by smokeless gun powder would result in a fat zero.

It is not going to explode unless you put it in a safe, etc., and contain it in a fire.

I wouldn't store my powder in fluctuating humidity or temps, especially since it costs so much. I have powder from 1952 that I still use (bulk 3031) because it has been stored well.

As far as salt, why wouldn't you buy real desiccant? It can be bought in bulk lots, and reused. Salt based dehumidifiers suck (water) and I tried some in a gunsafe. I started getting corrosion on my firearms. Moved the safe into a smaller room, ran dehumidifier and problem went away.

 

[kd4avp]

Confining smokeless powder in a space , such as an ammo can, is where it derives its energy. Confine it in a cartridge case or a latched ammo can is how it derives pressure when ignited in any possible way. A ventilated storage cabinet is what is recommended. When not confined, smokeless powders burn, they don't explode.

Excellent point. As a former volunteer firefighter, that was one of my reasons in using plywood boxes. They are not sealed tight and will allow air exchange but also help maintain some sense of temp exchange.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

y, but after 45 years I know when to rock the boat and when not to.

Ain’t that the truth, 41 years here.