Can powder go bad quickly?

[Deeznutzr6]

I have a 2 lb can of VV N550, that I bought in Sept. 2006. It stayed in my garage all year inlcuding the summer. My estimates based on the direction the garage faces and the year we had that it would have been consistently 80-85 degrees in the garage this summer possibly more.

I wonder if this temperature for a summer is enough to ruin this powder or make it become very inconsistant. Any opinions?

I am trying to narrow down some reloading problems I am having and wondered if this could be a compnent.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Derek

 

[Guest]

If the powder is bad, you'll be able to smell it. Test it against other similar powders and see. I doubt 85 degrees is enough to create a problem.

What kind of problems are you having?

 

[Mike Fontaine]

dubyam

"If the powder is bad, you'll be able to smell it". How does bad powder smell? Is it a moldy smell? I hope it doesn't smell like the package of moose meat I found dated 1987 :shock: Still think I should have tried it :wink:

 

[smitty81]

Anyone can correct me if im wrong, but if its bad it will have a very strong sulfuric smell. Some other smells you might know it as would be, a stinky fart, or rotten eggs......lol :lol:

 

[JD338]

Deeznutzr6

Powder should be stored in a cool dry place. If you are unsure, send an email to the powder manufacture and ask them what they think.

JD338

 

[Guest]

Good powder will smell a little solvent-like. I've never had powder go bad, so I am only guessing, but it is supposed to be pretty rank. Compare it to some other powders you have and see what they smell like.

 

[matts318]

I live in Texas and store powder in our garage and never had a problem, but one time not to long ago I left the lid off a can one night on accident and I got horrible results, Im guessing the humidity got it. Was the lid on tight so moisture didnt get to it?

 

[FOTIS]

I have some over 12 years and no problems.

 

[JD338]

You guys got my curiosity up so I checked some old powders in have in my inventory. IMR4320 and WW760 are both 20+ yrs old and they still have that fresh powder smell. They have always been stored in a cool dry enviroment.

JD338