Powder storage

[Vette]

I do my reloading in a shop building that is very hot during the summer. There is a/c when in use but most of the time is very hot. Powder is to be stored in a cool dry place. Is there any problem storing it in a small refrigerater? Would it absorb moisture when removed?

 

[Caliber]

Not sure about the refrigerator idea but I keep mine in my garage which is very humid and have not had any problems. As long as the bottle is closed tightly I think its always good. I don't leave powder in my dispenser's very long though.

 

[Curt Blunt]

My garage can get to 100 or so in the summer so I keep my powder in my bedroom closet in a foot locker.

 

[Revolver218]

I suggest keeping it in its original container until you need it. Then take out only what you need for the moment. I don't know anyone who stores powder in a refrigerator. Condensation inside the container, with the powder, isn't a good idea which might happen if you take the powder from 40 dry degrees to 90 and humid. Have you thought about the primers? I store them in an air-tight container with some Damp Rid to absorb the moisture.

 

[Hondo 60]

Some veteran reloaders here have said they store their powder in a hot humid garage, as long as you keep it in the original container it should be OK.

Me personally?? I have my reloading bench in a spare bedroom & keep the powder & primers there.
So it's inside all the time.

 

[mgmorden]

Just my own thoughts with no experience, but IMHO condensation from going from cool to warm again would do FAR more damage to the powder than just letting it sit in the heat. My shed out back gets well into the hundreds during the summer too. Never had any powder go bad and some of it has been in there for years.

 

[gamestalker]

I wouldn't personally store it in a refrigerator or expose it to extreme high or low temparatures, such as in my garage. Prior to having my own reloading / recreation room I would store powder and primers in the house. I one had a bunch of powder and primers in a storage unit in South Dakota for almost 10 yrs. and it wasn't well protected from the element either. I've since used it up and didn't experience any noticable issues, but I wouldn't store it like that by choice.

 

[jcwit]

Considering the storage of ammo and high explosives in ammo bunkers in the Middle East for use by our troops with an ambient temp of 140 degrees let alone how hot it is inside the bunker I seriously doubt that most any storage here in the U.S. is a problem.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Good point. Hodgdon used to store their powder in a railroad boxcar. I'll bet it got pretty warm inside it in the summer and pretty cold in the winter.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have stored my powder in my garage---some over 30 years. It appears to work just fine.

 

[FROGO207]

I recently found some old propellant that my grandfather had in his unheated workshop tucked in the rafters. It was in a paper sack that stated it was for 30-30 and 3006 dated 1949, on the sack with a pencil. I am sure a surplus powder that was an unknown brand to him. I would assume it was fine to load but not enough to work up a good load and then use it in a bunch of ammo, so I just used it to make the lawn a little greener. I am sure it was just fine after all the cold winters and hot summers so the storage thing is not a great point to worry about mostly. I do however store my supplies in a spare room inside my home and the temp remains fairly constant and believe this does extend the useful life of my primers/propellant. YMMV