Is Smokeless Powder Affected By Damp Storage In Unsealed Container?

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driz

driz

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I’ve always dumped my Powder back in the container. Last Spring I left my Lyman powder measure 3/4 full of Bullseye . My basements not wet but gets damp with humidity when it’s rainy for a few
Days.
I just noticed that I’ve suddenly got a significant number of squib , low power and erratic sounding shots . I’m rather doubting that it’s the primers as those are stored in a sealed can and I’ve used some 30 years old that were fine. So does smokelss suck up moisture. That badly?
 
I read an article some time back that suggested smokeless powder does absorb moisture. I seem to remember the conclusion was that this would affect the charge weights, but I don't remember it mentioning poor ignition. I have to wonder, though. And I also have to wonder if some of the propellant components might evaporate away if unsealed.

How many loads have you made from the questionable powder?
 
You really should store your powder and primers in a dry location. Reloading in your basement is probably not a problem but I would not store any powder or primers down there regardless of what kind of container it's in. You have seen why. Leaving powder in a measure is also a really bad idea.
 
driz said:
Last Spring
Click to expand...

Good heavens! I wouldn't have touched that stuff with a 10' pole... it would be yard fertilizer.

I'm sure there are different scenarios where that would have turned out better (extruded powders come to mind, but I don't know, I'm not a chemical engineer...) but because powder is such a critical component, I wouldn't have taken any chances.
 
Toprudder said:
I read an article some time back that suggested smokeless powder does absorb moisture. I seem to remember the conclusion was that this would affect the charge weights, but I don't remember it mentioning poor ignition. I have to wonder, though. And I also have to wonder if some of the propellant components might evaporate away if unsealed.

How many loads have you made from the questionable powder?
Click to expand...


About 200 38s. Just plinkers so it’s no big deal. I was surprised they ended up so all over the place to the extent they were. That was my new powder too. I had powder and primers that were ancient prior and they worked perfectly having been in sealed Tin containers Ah well, live and learn.
 
Drifting away from best practices whether in the shooting world or elsewhere rarely end up in our favor.
It's always a crap shoot when pushing limits. I once inherited 4 pounds of Herco that appeared to be full but had been opened. After testing a few field loads I decided GTG! Well like your example things didn't go well. The first few rounds were fine but after that Puff shotgun pellets dribbled out the barrel! We were hunting Chucker 40 miles from the nearest store of any kind. Partner had extra ammo for me to use.
The good news was learning an important lesson. Never use questionable components without thorough testing.
20200321_102543.jpg
50 year old primers! These worked OK for these 73 year old eyes! I found these packed away in an ammo box I had found hidden away! The insert holding the primers is made of wood!

Smiles,
 
Enough moisture will affect powder burn.
I had that happen with damp cases.
The bullet exited but unburned powder everywhere.

I would be temped to bag the powder with some dessicant for a month just to see if it would come back.
 
If you've got the time try drying it out with a can of DAMP-RID and a five gallon bucket. I get 16% humidity using this configuration.
 
Just had this happen with some old cylindrical container Herco Bullseye. When I aquired it 6 months ago, I loaded up 50 rounds of my normal recipe as a check. All seemed well. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago and while testing out my new chrono and my recently acquired Hi Power, nothing but problems. They all left the barrel, but velocities were highly erratic, and most didn't even push the slide all the way back. I do recall a little more fluctuations in the powder drops from the auto disc. As the pro 1000 is permanently set up for 9mm, I tossed some powder from my 6 month old bottle of Alliant Bullseye and ran 50 rounds. Consistent powder drops, and case fill. Shot them this past weekend. They were good to go..
 
Damp powder is throw away powder.
Ask any one who wet tumbles and do not completly dry their cases.
Look at your problem as a learning curve and a $15 mistake.
 
"...put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry" - Oliver Cromwell

This is an old adage but good advice. From a strict safety standpoint, probably best to dump it in the flower bed and take away a valuable lesson.

.40
 
driz said:
I’ve always dumped my Powder back in the container. Last Spring I left my Lyman powder measure 3/4 full of Bullseye . My basements not wet but gets damp with humidity when it’s rainy for a few
Days.
I just noticed that I’ve suddenly got a significant number of squib , low power and erratic sounding shots . I’m rather doubting that it’s the primers as those are stored in a sealed can and I’ve used some 30 years old that were fine. So does smokelss suck up moisture. That badly?
Click to expand...

I strive to keep powder in the original containers with those containers in ammo cans when not in use. That said, I've left it in the measure on the bench for up to a month with no apparent issues.
 
Highland Lofts said:
Damp powder is throw away powder.
.
Look at your problem as a learning curve and a $15 mistake.
Click to expand...

I must admit... I'm scratching my head. We're not talking about a 8# keg of powder, we are talking about $2 of powder in the OP's case, and in MeanBean's case, less than a pound?!?! Chuck the stuff and move on... it's not worth the risk.
 
There was a Lyman powder measurer 3/4 full of powder that sucked up.moisturen probably close to half a pound. At todays uninflated price about $15.

All powder should be stored in it's original container in a cool dry enviorment.

My take on it is the same with food you have questions about that is towards it's shelf life.

WHEN IN DOUBT/THROW IT OUT.
 
I'm not sure if it's damp or just old. I keep all my powder in a large plastic ammo box in a cabinet. It is located in my basement, though. I did notice that the expanding plastic neck has some holes in it. I aquired this and many other modern plastic 1# powder jugs in a buyout. Most of that powder has been loaded in something for testing and has been good.
When was the Alliant buyout of Herco? When did the cardboard cylinder 1# containers go by the wayside?
 
Moisture content effects powders. If you really want to test move your powder to a climate controlled area, spread some out so it will dry out faster and test. I would let it set for at least a week before testing. I live in a high moisture area. We average 60-75% most year around. I had hand tools rusting in my shop that had not been a problem for decades till I moved out to where I'm at now. I ended up enclosing one end of my shop, added heat/cool to make it comfortable. The problem I ran into was the foam insulation sealed and insulated so well the ac did not run enough to dehumidify. I ended up adding a dehumidifier to my shop (12'x25'). It produces an average of 1 gal of water a day. And this is with my shop closed up, spray foam insulation all around. The only opening are for the door and AC/Heat window unit, no windows.
 
A problem of storing powder in a measure (leaving it in for long periods) was mentioned by the late 'Skeeter' Skelton some years ago. The powder interacted with the plastic in the hopper. Ruined the hopper and largely deactivated the powder.

I presume the measure makers have changed the plastic so this doesn't happen. Still, I think it is sloppy practice and it does stain the interior surface of the hopper over time.
 
Hercules used to keep a glass jar of original Bullseye (circa. 1900) submerged in water at their headquarters. Every 25 years, they would take a sample of the powder, dry it out and test it. After 90 years, it still performed like new. Hercules advertised this until they were taken over by Alliant. They even had a photo of the glass jar but I can no longer find it on the Net.
 
Otto said:
Hercules used to keep a glass jar of original Bullseye (circa. 1900) submerged in water at their headquarters. Every 25 years, they would take a sample of the powder, dry it out and test it. After 90 years, it still performed like new. Hercules advertised this until they were taken over by Alliant. They even had a photo of the glass jar but I can no longer find it on the Net.
Click to expand...

Yup!

The purpose of the testing was to ensure that the present B/E had the same characteristics as the original B/E!

A form of quality control.

Smiles,
 
Some powders are hygroscopic and will suck moisture from the air. I would store the powder upstairs and take it downstairs when needed, then bring it back up when done. Primers too.
All my powder, primers, and everything is in the living room where I load. Haven’t had any problems doing that for 30 years.
 
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