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Vacumn sealing powder

Just because eight pounds of powder will take a while for me to use up, I thought of separating a pound to use in a clean empty bottle. The rest I considered vacumn sealing for storage in marked plastic bags. Have any of you tried this? Do you foresee any negatives? Obviously exact labeling is crucial. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
I have a tin can of 700x from quite some time ago. I haven't had a single 357 mag round that even sounded funny in an the time I've had it. It is stored with the rest of my powder in my reloading area in my finished basement, humidity is kept under 50%, on a shelf that doesn't get any sunlight or temp variations. I would not store it any other way. I've got an 8 pounder of varget from 09 that shoots the same as new also.
 
I think that since powder doesn't come vacuum sealed from the factory that it probably doesn't need, or possibly shouldn't be vacuum sealed.

I'll add that I load a lot of powder that would be considered ancient by most folks. -- No problems. jd

Checked on Google....you are spot on

GUNPOWDER STABILITY
Reloading ammunition is a great hobby and saves money. Commodity cost increases in brass and lead in recent years have resulted in many new and/or returning reloaders trying to stretch their budget.

The following information is provided as an introduction on the stability, storage, and safe handling of modern smokeless propellant.

Smokeless Propellant
The main ingredient of smokeless propellant, comprising from about 55% to 90% of the composition, is nitrocellulose. The process of creating nitrocellulose leaves remnant acid in the material. This acid immediately starts decomposing the finished product. Left alone the decomposition will reach the stage where the propellant becomes unstable and self-ignites. This process resulted in massive explosions at U.S. Government arsenals after World War I.

To increase the life of the smokeless propellant, a stabilizing chemical is used. This “stabilizer” reacts with the acid to slow down the decomposition process. However, as the stabilizer reacts with the acid it is consumed. After the stabilizer is totally consumed, the propellant is no longer protected from the internal acid.

The entire stabilizer / decomposition process is a time and temperature function – the higher the temperature, the shorter the safe life of the powder. Even moderate temperature, over extended time, leads to propellant decomposition. As a rule of thumb, any temperature over that which is comfortable to a person is accelerating the decomposition of smokeless propellants.

Under proper storage, modern smokeless powder can last for decades. However, this does not mean the reloader can ignore how the powder is stored, particularly if in an uncontrolled environment such as a garage or storage building.
 
Just because eight pounds of powder will take a while for me to use up, I thought of separating a pound to use in a clean empty bottle. The rest I considered vacumn sealing for storage in marked plastic bags. Have any of you tried this? Do you foresee any negatives? Obviously exact labeling is crucial. Thanks for your thoughts.

Not likely to hapen but I would be concerned with creating static electric pouring gunpowder into a plastic bag. If stored at reasonable temp and humity it should be good for decades. You an check for deterioration by color change, odor, dust and sticking together.

Alliant powder co. safety and stoage recommendations.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/storage_handling.aspx#recommendations
 
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Not likely to hapen but I would be concerned with creating static electric pouring gunpowder into a plastic bag.

I have a chamber type vacuum sealer (as opposed to a Seal-A-Meal bag-end sealer.) I've noticed a distinct spark when the sealing bar actuates. Wouldn't want that anywhere near a large powder collection.

FWIW, I got back into shooting after a 30 year layoff. I'm just finishing up a 12 lb jug of WW452AA that I got in the 80's for 32SWL, 38, and 45. Stuff sat in my garage for (literally) decades.
 
I load in a detached building that is not heated/cooled. I store my powder in an old refrigerator. The temp is fairly stable in the frig year round. Have no issues with powder several years old. I have some pistol powder that is over 10 yrs old that shows no signs of degradation.
 
No one has powder any older than JD :)
Sealed in container, avoiding temperature SWINGS that can pump air into or out of the container.
Powder will outgas (you can smell it). Suck air into a cold container and the Oxygen will degrade it.
Get the container hot and the magic gas will escape.
 
Just because eight pounds of powder will take a while for me to use up, I thought of separating a pound to use in a clean empty bottle. The rest I considered vacumn sealing for storage in marked plastic bags. Have any of you tried this? Do you foresee any negatives? Obviously exact labeling is crucial. Thanks for your thoughts.

Topwater,

I have a bunch of empty 1lb powder bottles. Please PM me if you want them.
 
Just because eight pounds of powder will take a while for me to use up, I thought of separating a pound to use in a clean empty bottle. The rest I considered vacumn sealing for storage in marked plastic bags. Have any of you tried this? Do you foresee any negatives? Obviously exact labeling is crucial. Thanks for your thoughts.
This is not necessary if it stored properly. There's a lot of short range benchrest shooters still shooting the old 8208 and T-322 powders with great success!!
 
Just because eight pounds of powder will take a while for me to use up, I thought of separating a pound to use in a clean empty bottle. The rest I considered vacumn sealing for storage in marked plastic bags. Have any of you tried this? Do you foresee any negatives? Obviously exact labeling is crucial. Thanks for your thoughts.
I'm loading powder that is 5+ yrs old. I took a long break from shooting :) The powder smells fine, no clumps, shoots well. primers also. fwiw.
stored in original containers , 1 lb. I dropped some desiccant paks in the open containers.
 
Don't do it! You have no idea if there might be an interaction between the powder and the bag material. Use the factory bottles and tighten the top every time you close it up. Powder manufacturers have some very smart engineers working for them.
 
Last summer I finished off a container of IMR 4198 that I purchased in about 1988. Kept it stored in the original container . Never had a problem.
 
I have one tip. Different internet sources show you lots of sealers and tell you all of them are great. They talk about foodsaver as a good choice, but in fact it works for 5 month and works really bad. It is your choice, but my experience let me give advice.
 
I think vacuum sealing would be a bad choice as you'll draw off the volatile solvents (that nice smell when you open a fresh bottle) and probably shorten the life considerably. JMHOP.
And we have a winner! Only took 14 replies. . .

Now, if you'd proposed storing it under nitrogen, we could look at the solubility of the acetone/et al solvents vs in air, but storing under reduced pressure is definitely bad.

Also, you won't live long enough to enjoy any benefit. Store in a temperature-controlled environment, and go worry about something else; it'll still be fresh as spring in 20 years.
 

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