POWDER QUESTION
- Thread starter RAY
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,850
- 7,627
An accumulation of noticeable dust, a colour change, and especially an acrid odour when you open the lid. Keep the powder in a dry place and out of areas that will heat it excessively. Keep it in the original container.
Keep it dry and at a normal temp not too cold and not really hot and in the original container and it will last longer than you will. I am shooting powder IMR 4895 that was pulled down from Korean war vintage M2 ball ammo and it is as good today as it was new. When smelling the powder don't confuse the either smell for acid smell of bad powder. Bad powder will usually have a red dust tint to it also.
- Thread starter
- #4
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,654
- 4,144
Acidic odor. Never happened to me and I have powders from 1995.
- Thread starter
- #6
RiverRider
Handloader
- Dec 9, 2008
- 1,469
- 138
The sour smell is ONE symptom. And yes, powder can clump together, big time.
- Thread starter
- #8
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 8
Strong solvent smell, gets worse as it ages.
RiverRider
Handloader
- Dec 9, 2008
- 1,469
- 138
If it clumps, I think you've got fertilizer. I would definitely NOT try to use it!
Ray
The powder I have stored for future use, I never open or break the seal, until I plan to use it. So I guess I will say, that inspection takes place upon opening. The symptoms of bad poder have already been covered. I have sme "cans" that were purchased for under $10.00, and when opened were still good. I have a closet, on an inside wall, away from the room heater, where I store my supply. It's stored in the original containers, inside of insulated heavy plastic, waterproof containers, inside that room.
The powder I have stored for future use, I never open or break the seal, until I plan to use it. So I guess I will say, that inspection takes place upon opening. The symptoms of bad poder have already been covered. I have sme "cans" that were purchased for under $10.00, and when opened were still good. I have a closet, on an inside wall, away from the room heater, where I store my supply. It's stored in the original containers, inside of insulated heavy plastic, waterproof containers, inside that room.
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 8
I store my powder in a laundry closet in the hall where the temp stays very constant pretty much all of the time.
