Strange Powder Storage Idea?

[Offthehook]

In my reloading room in the basement there is a steel insulated door that leads to the hatchway to the outdoors. It is concrete and about 4'x 6' x 6' with a steel Bilco type door on the outside. I was wondering if this would be an ideal storage space, or would the temp variations in summer and winter be too much for powder to take. I have a bit more powder than I am comfortable with.

Just thinking. More dangerous than reloading by the book

 

[ku4hx]

The experts say in a dry cool place. If your space meets the "requirements", you'll be fine. You can download the guideline by searching on smokeless powder storage or similar wording.

With that being said, I've seen decades old powder stored under altogether "wrong" conditions that still burned and went bang.

 

[Gadawg88]

Long-term exposure to HIGH temperature is the concern. Cold is no problem.

 

[Dave P]

Old Styrofoam coolers will help stabilized temperatures.

 

[Drail]

I would buy a humidity gauge and monitor the relative humidity in that space. Temperature won't be as much of an issue as the humidity level.

 

[moxie]

I think you're referring to a "bulkhead door" setup.

Two BIG problems:

1. The area gets REALLY hot in there in the summer. VERY bad for powder or ammo.

2. Likely get some water in there when it blows and rains real hard. That's what the drain at the bottom of the steps is for. VERY BAD for powder and ammo. Even if this isn't the case, #1 above puts the spike in this idea.

 

[bfoosh006]

A used kaput fridge will make a good storage locker... it will also moderate any harsh temp. swings.

Nice shelves.. etc.

 

[Average Joe]

Depending where you live, I would say its pretty moist out there. keep it on a shelf in a cool , dry place.

 

[spitballer]

Cool, dry, and away from curious youngsters.

 

[BSA1]

Ditto on a old refrigator. Take the motor out to reduce it's weight and put a hasp on it for security if you have young ones around.

 

[HKGuns]

Depending on how much powder you have, you may need a special storage solution compliant with federal guidelines.

Good luck finding something compliant, I had to have one custom built.

http://www.saami.org/specifications.../download/SAAMI_ITEM_200-Smokeless_Powder.pdf

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

While the old refrigerator will protect the contents from fast temperature swings, it is a strong cabinet with strong hinges and latches. As the SAAMI document notes, you want a container that will vent pressure at relatively low temperatures (and have the capacity to vent a lot of gas). If you use a refrigerator you should install some type of pressure relief vent, or a weak latch that would allow the door to open at leas partially with a pressure buildup.

 

[au_prospector]

Hey man do yourself a favor and read this.

http://www.saami.org/specifications.../download/SAAMI_ITEM_200-Smokeless_Powder.pdf

Some things you should know IMO. These things will contradict some statements above, your mileage may very.

1) Smokeless powder IS heat sensitive. Any temp prolonged above 100 degrees F should be of concern. Powder decomposes faster and in proportion to warmth. Cold is of no concern. Temp swings no concern. For example, I keep my powder simply in my garage. In the summer it may get 90 for a few hours here and there, but quickly drops off at night and of course winter is about 50 degrees. For me this is no big deal.

2) Smokeless powder IS NOT humidity sensitive, but very old metal powder containers will rust. Powder IS hydrophobic which means it will not absorb water from the air, it is NOT hygroscopic, it DOES NOT readily absorb water... In fact some powder manufactures force water molecules into the formulation to help stabilize the powder. High heat can drive off these water molecules, see point 1 above. Keep it in original tightly sealed container, you will be fine with humidity.

3) Powder storage areas/containers should always be made with fire resistant materials and have loose joints/hinges. That is, if it catches fire the fire should be slow to spread and should not be allowed to be contained to build ANY pressure. For this reason an old refrigerator is out of the question in my book. In particular the really old ones with a latching handle. The general recommendation is a loosely made wooden crate.

I dont see any problems with powder on the shelf in your basement? It is cool there? Relatively dry, that is your basement doesnt leak? Stored in original plastic containers should last decades there.

 

[HKGuns]

What a novel idea there Goldie, really wish I'd thought to post that one.

 

[skeet028]

According to your location YMMV Legally speaking
Actually an old reefer is a very good powder magazine They have a rubber gasket sealer to keep the hot out insulation for the same thing and in the newer latchless ones with magnetic sealer when (if) a fire occurs the gasket will release and burn out of course. There should be a loose hasp with a lock on it. I worked with a fire marshals office and the only concern we had was that they had to have the plug cut off so they couldn't be plugged in. It is actually legal(or was as it is a completely different world) to store up to 100 lbs in one if I remember correctly. Most will not hold quite that much. I stored powder on the farm that way in 5 refrigerators. Had a gun shop on the place and had as much as 1500 lbs at any one time. I did have a powder magazine back in the edge of the woods though. Had to be a certain amount of feet from the closest occupied dwelling. I have powder stored in an old unused root cellar on the ranch here. But, Wyoming is dry. Where I live we get a whole 4-5 inches of rain a year(that includes the snow also)

 

[gonoles_1980]

I store my primers in a stryofoam cooler with a layer of rice on the bottom. I keep the primers in the big and little boxes. I just store my gunpowder in a wood box that has a one in hole in the top in my computer room which I keep no higher than 75F.