Rifle Powder - Bottles or Jug?

[Garandimal]

In the past, have loaded the .270 field rounds I needed fifty at a time.

A pound of powder lasted awhile.

Have added a 6.5x55, which will be, after harvesting the PPU brass, a hand-load only proposition.

Will likely step up the .270 reloading as well.

Need ~ 8 lbs total of the same powder for both cartridges, but the reloading will be protracted over quite some time.

Economy would dictate an 8-Lb jug. But 1-lb bottles are in the budget if it is better for the powder.

How is the shelf-life of Rifle Powder (IMR 4831/4350) affected after the container is opened?


TIA.




GR

 

[forty_caliber]

Nearly forever if stored properly. If you are comfortable the powder will be comfortable too.

.40

 

[kcofohio]

A few years ago I was gifted several 1 lb. metal cans, the same shape as a 1 pt. 3in1 oil, of IMR4350 that was produced in the 70s. One can had been unsealed a couple decades before I received it. No rust or abnormal odors. I used the rest of that can, and have since used up a good portion of another. Though IMR 4350 is not ideal for 8x57, all reloads have fired fine. I would expect that the new plastic containers would hold up just as well, without the worry of the can rusting.

 

[Orcon]

Bottles for testing, handles for committed loading. If you can swing it buy two or more at a time; powder isnt getting any cheaper and it's been my experience that 8lbs never sits on the shelf as long as you'd think. Plus federal elections are comming up so might as well hedge against the incipient frenzy.

 

[Charlie98]

What .40 said. Added to that is... once you work up a load, you don't have to keep reworking it with new lots of powder.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Always buy as much as you can once you know what you like/need.
That said I agree with the above when testing get as little as possible.

Personally I like to have a few powders for pistol and a few more for rifle. This way when things get hard to find I have what I usually use and a few fallbacks if I run out.

 

[Walkalong]

It should last 30/40 years no problem, but there are no guarantees, I had a jug of N130 go bad at around the ten year mark, while I have others older than that in perfect condition. Powder starts to deteriorate as soon as it's made. Temp and time. High temps break it down faster, much faster. Keep it cool and stable inside and it will likely outlast you, but no guarantee.

 

[forrest r]

I was given these 8 cans of un-opened powder last summer. They don't have a bar code on them and the prices on then range from $3.88 to $5.99. Not sure how old they are guessing from the late 60's/early 70's.


I've opened and used 3 of them so far & the powder was still good. No smell or degrading of any kind with consistent performance.

 

[RodII]

My reloading bench is in my uncooled workshop, and only enough heat in the winter to keep the pipes from freezing. I have been living here 25 years and I have powder that predates my move here and it is still good to go.

 

[Rule3]

If you have the same powder in 1lb containers, just use the 8 lb jug to refill it. (more convenient and keeps the larger jug from being opened)

If you are really OCD and/or anal, Write the new lot number/date on the smaller container.

If kept in a cool dry place it will out last you.

 

[Bbear]

Last June I finished off the last of some 'pull-down' powder I had given to me. This was from shells loaded for the Korean war. Powder worked just fine up until I finished it off. I keep my powder in the house in a closet on a shelf so it's not going through the summer/winter temp swings. And, when not in use, keep the lids tightly closed.

 

[Charlie98]

If you have the same powder in 1lb containers, just use the 8 lb jug to refill it. (more convenient and keeps the larger jug from being opened)

If you are really OCD and/or anal, Write the new lot number/date on the smaller container.

If kept in a cool dry place it will out last you.

That's what I've gone to... 8#'ers, and I just keep refilling the 1# can for use. It certainly has cleaned up the bench and simplified load verification between powder lots.

 

[mdi]

If you keep the containers capped snugly, powders will last a very long time (it's silly to give a specific length of time. I read somewhere that a 100+ year old jug of Bullseye is taken out of storage and tested by the manufacturer annually. No degradation.). I have purchase 6 and 8 lb jugs of "surplus" powder and transferred powder to empty 1 lb. powder bottles so I won't have a gallon jug on my reloading bench. I have some WC 820 purchased in 1985 which is as good as new, and a newer jug of BR-5, purchased 6-8 years ago that I also pour into a 1 lb bottle. I have some canister/commercial powder that's over 20 years old, and I use the same data and get the same results I did 20 years ago. I keep all my powder in a non-climate controlled, shop/shed, with all the caps on snug/tight, and expect all my powders to last longer than I'll be around. Unless I shoot 'em up...

 

[Garandimal]

Thanks all.

Will get an 8# jug (or two, and 2K of primers).

And liked the idea RE: the 1# bottle, and will get one if I end up switchin' from IMR 4831.




GR

 

[Riomouse911]

I use RL 22 from a jug in both .270 and 6.5x55, I love the stuff.

Stay safe!

 

[243winxb]

shelf-life

10 years.

 

[Random 8]

4350 and 4831 are very stable powders, as are all of the single base IMRs. I'm still shooting powder from a steel can of IMR4320, loaded the last of it last year. It was made and opened sometime in the '80s. I'm also still shooting some WWII dated M2 ball, AP and Tracer that was loaded in various arsenals from 1941-1945 with IMR 4895. So long as your storage is decent, you should be GTG.