Do powder and primers go bad

[MeanderingCuban 8]

I decided to reload after one of my friends who is also a NJGF member got me going by giving me a press, powder, primers and bullets. Since I'm on a budget due to things called responsibility I have to slowly buy my supplies on a monthly basis. I am thinking about getting what seems to be the most scares supplies first, powder and primers.

 

So my question is, if I purchase pistol and rifle powder now as well as pistol and rifle primers do these have a long (say 2 or more years) or limited shelf life?

[mikeyjones 88]

Keep them in a as cool dry place and they'll last years

[GRIZ 3,369]

I'm using primers and powder that are 10-15 years old with no problems as they have been properly stored. No loss of performance.

[MeanderingCuban 8]

Keep them in a as cool dry place and they'll last years

I guess the best place for it would be my basement? It's anywhere between 65 and 70 degrees during the winter and at most 75 degrees during a heat wave. As far as humidity goes I run a dehumidifier spring, summer and fall and leave it set at 50% relative humidity.  I take it these are somewhat ideal conditions?

[FishHunter 0]

Keep powder and primers in iriginal containers. Store in a cabinet that is NOT air tight, in a place that does not have any cleaning chemicals or lawn chemicals near by.

Your stash can last decades.

[MeanderingCuban 8]

This topic brings up another question. What's the best way to preserve powder once the bottle has been opened?

[MeanderingCuban 8]

Keep powder and primers in iriginal containers. Store in a cabinet that is NOT air tight, in a place that does not have any cleaning chemicals or lawn chemicals near by.

Your stash can last decades.

Thanks

[10X 3,296]

This topic brings up another question. What's the best way to preserve powder once the bottle has been opened?

 

Close it again when you are done.

 

I'm not being snide, that's about all it takes.   Room temperature is fine, basement temperature probably better, reasonably dry environment is good...but I've never worried much about the storage conditions.  I just close the can and put it back on the shelf.   

[T Bill 649]

I have powder and primers I am loading now purchased in '91 and '92 no problems here.  Primers next to forever. Powder as long as when you open the container there is no acidic smell its OK.

[Jon 264]

Just to piggyback off this thread, any problems with storing powder in it's original sealed/unopened container in an outside shed? I can't imagine the humidity getting to it if it's factory sealed.

[GRIZ 3,369]

Just to piggyback off this thread, any problems with storing powder in it's original sealed/unopened container in an outside shed? I can't imagine the humidity getting to it if it's factory sealed.

Done that for years with no issues.

[Jon 264]

Done that for years with no issues.

 

Thanks Griz.

[carl_g 568]

Thanks Griz.

Good to know as my new place has a nice big shed.

[msokad 3]

I had some primers and powder that were at least 12 years old. No problems loading or shooting. Like others have said, look at the powder and check for signs for degradation before using.

[T Bill 649]

I have been using some bullseye powder and primers from the 60's and I have not noticed any problems in new 45acp hand loads using LSWC  I am also using data from OLD reloading manuals that I purchased from a garage sale.

 

.........HOWEVER, 45acp rounds loaded with these back in the day by the shooter that was using them, run fine in revolvers but not so much in the 1911......wont cycle reliably

 

upon further inspection the loads appear to be 'tuned' down for bullseye shooting and not semi operation.

 

All that being said, use common sense storage parameters and you should be good to go......hell I am running sixties era M2BALL and they run great.

 

Ironically my winter goal for 2014-2015 is to load as much of the raw components into actual rounds of various calibers I shoot as possible........ 

Bullseye shooters would down load rounds for matches.  Done it myself. In fact I still have some loaded in the early nineties.  They will not work with a 1911 with factory standard spring (16LB).  We would cut down a 1911 spring until it would cycle reliably or install reduced power springs (5LB and up) from Wolff Spring.  Typical standard Bullseye load with Bullseye powder and a 200 LSWC would be 3.5 grains.  Some would load as low as 3.3 if they could get all the variables on target.  I'm sure they would work fine with reduced power springs.

[alec.mc 180]

My powder usually doesn't last that long