How Long is Powder Good For?

[Sackett]

So, I've been considering reloading and have quite a few components handed down by my grandpa. Among them are several different powders. What is the typical lifespan of powder, stored in a cool, dry room (inside home)?

[RifleBowPistol]

If the powder is stored properly and the cans are sealed up good, where moister can not get in them. The powder should stay good for many years. I have some powder, that I got recently, that is probably from the 1950s. I was not planning on using it, just wanted the cans. But since I have found that one of the powder I got, is a powder that works well for a round I am working on. I have loaded some rounds up with that powder.

My suggestion is to take the powder, you plan to use, pour it out into a bowl then use a spoon or something and push the powder around. You are looking for clumps of powder, sticky powder. If any of it sticks together, get rid of it. If you want a secondary test. Take some of the power, put it on the ground, maybe a spoon full. Then light a match and touch it. The powder should instantly light and burn all of the powder very close to instantly. The flame should be very large and hot.
If the powder burns, starts off small or moderate and then the flame gets bigger. And or it slowly tapers off and has a small flame burning for a couple of seconds. Really if you put out a spoon full, it should be gone, very close to instantly. Different powders have different burn rates, but any of them even magnum powders should burn a spoon full extremely fast. There should be no small lingering flame.

[RifleBowPistol]

That old powder I have, it came from a estate sale, the guy who owned it, obviously did a whole lot of loading. I think he had a ammo company. He had about any kind of brass you could imagine and then a lot more. Lots of dies, presses, ECT. He obviously knew what he was doing. I have poured out the powder from the can I am going to try, that powder is very dry, definitely none of it is sticky. So I am going to give it a try.

[Billy Bad Bass]

As a teenager I reloaded shotgun shells for my Dad and 2 brothers (mid-1970s) When I started reloading again in 2010, I used the last of the green dot powder from the earlier time. Worked fine. YMMV

[coker737]

I have heard of some Vac Pac powder

[Radar]

The problem with any old powder is how do you know what it is truly in the can. It is dangerous to assume that whoever owned the powder before never spilled some and accidently put it in the wrong container. Or someone was messing around with them and mixed some together.

A Lot of gun powder looks the same visually but if you put pistol powder in a 30-06 case, someone will get hurt. I would suggest to empty the cans out in the yard and keep them because they were grandpa's.

[ken800]

I had some 50 year old bullseye that was always stored climate controlled and closed up and it worked as good as the new stuff. I've read that you can tell by the smell...

[Drycreek3189]

The problem with any old powder is how do you know what it is truly in the can. It is dangerous to assume that whoever owned the powder before never spilled some and accidently put it in the wrong container. Or someone was messing around with them and mixed some together.

A Lot of gun powder looks the same visually but if you put pistol powder in a 30-06 case, someone will get hurt. I would suggest to empty the cans out in the yard and keep them because they were grandpa's.

Jeff, Elmer Keith used to blend powders.......

[Radar]

I had some 50 year old bullseye that was always stored climate controlled and closed up and it worked as good as the new stuff. I've read that you can tell by the smell...

Glad that worked out for you. I would never recommend anyone to shoot powder that I was not sure about, way too dangerous for me. Would be hard for a smell test to verify a certain powder or its shelf life. Not one that I would trust.

[Radar]

Jeff, Elmer Keith used to blend powders.......

Mr. Casull used triplex loads, Elmer called him a fool.

[Sackett]

Appreciate it guys. My Grandpa was very meticulous and would never have mixed powder. I'm certain whats in the bottle is as-marked. When I'm ready, I'll use his powder.

[muzzlebrake]

I have recently loaded with some H4350 I've had for over 15 years and it still shoots as good as it did when I bought it. Always stored inside cool and dry.

[Button]

I keep my cache in air/water proof ammo cans with 02/H20 absorbers

[RJH1]

It is bad for sure and any primers you have are bad too. But don't worry, I can come dispose of them for you

[Old Bald Guy]

Appreciate it guys. My Grandpa was very meticulous and would never have mixed powder. I'm certain whats in the bottle is as-marked. When I'm ready, I'll use his powder.

I would. I have powder I bought in the late 60’s and it works just fine. Only difference is it gets a tiny bit lighter due to drying out I think. If you load by volume(Culver measure) you won’t see any difference from new powder but if you load by weight might back off a tad.