Shelf life of propellants?.......

[jmars]

I'm a bargain hunter, and every year after hunting season is over I scour the closeout aisle at Walmart. As a result, I have accumulated about 30 pounds of Pyrodex RS powder (averaging about $7 a pound). I also found CCI and Remington #11 percussion caps
for $1 per hundred and bought about 5500 of them.

I also purchased at an auction 14 pounds of Goex FFG dated '83, and a couple pounds of Meteor FFFG dated '72 for $25.

Is the shelf life of all of this basically forever?

Thanks for any feedback or comments!

 

[.38 Special]

I have used blackpowder that was more than 100 years old with excellent results.

I have very little experience with the substitutes and cannot comment on their longevity.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Jmars, the black powder if kept in a closed container away from moisture will last forever. Although the pyrodex is questionable. Caps...same as black powder...if kept air tight and away from moisture then theyre good. Dang i wish there were caps sold at walmart here in south texas...id buy them all at that price. Do they still have the remingtons at that price?

 

[damoc]

In my opinion Pyrodex does not store well especially once it has been opened its probably ok if kept very tightly sealed.

 

[jmars]

Jmars, the black powder if kept in a closed container away from moisture will last forever. Although the pyrodex is questionable. Caps...same as black powder...if kept air tight and away from moisture then theyre good. Dang i wish there were caps sold at walmart here in south texas...id buy them all at that price. Do they still have the remingtons at that price?

Sorry Outlaw Kid, It was probably ten years ago when I bought those caps, and haven't seen any
on closeout since then. (btw, I did buy all that they had)

 

[Rudedog]

Yes, I still have Goex 2 and 3 F I bought in the late 70s that still burn, plus caps.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Black powder, will work fine.

Pyrodex..., better shake the containers. If it is clumped or solid, dump it.

LD

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Mr.damoc...you are 100% correct about pyrodex. i wont even allow the stuff in my home...but i know that storing it doesnt fair well due to the container not being air tight and humidy really messes it up