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Shotgun powder deteriorate in the attic?

JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in Ask the Experts
I was in the attic the other day and saw my box with all of my shotgun shell re-loading equipment in it. I noticed that I had left my 8lb can of red dot powder up there for 4 years. It must have been 90 degrees or better. I had sealed the cardboard container lid with packing tape, but I am interested if anyone knows wether it's density or charge weight may have been affected in any way. Can I still use it with the standard charge bars or do I have to take something else into consideration now?

A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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Comments

  • RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most all Powder Companies have a telephone number written on their containers for Customer Service. I would be on the safe side and call the Manufacturer with my concerns. Who would better know their own powder characteristics? I wouldn't take the advice of anyone less knowledgeable on such a subject.

    If You Can't Buy a Pair, Get a Spare!
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Temperature and humidity affect powder. If well sealed, then temp is your only concern- but it doesn't sound as if your can was well sealed. Open it and observe. If it is starting to change colors, has an acrid smell, or the powder kernels are no longer whole, it is junk- but good fertilizer. Otherwise it is fine and treat it as normal. I keep a lot of ammo in my attic where temps regularly reach 100 degrees. I have noticed over time that it loses accuracy and suspect that the powder is degrading. This happens over a long time though, like 10 years. I have some that is up there about 4 years now and it is fine.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,887 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Powder must be stored where it will always be cool and dry. Under these conditions it will retain full power for 100-200 years.

    It should never be kept in an attic or anywhere else where the temperature will be high. Sealing the package is irrelevant. It quickly will break down and lose its potency. Throw it away.

    Neal
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If I light a small pile of it outside and it flashes like it normaly would, wouldn't that mean it was OK? Or would I not be able to tell the difference in a bad powder flash and a fresh powder flash? All I use it for is sporting clay loads, so the charges are not heavy enough to overpressure the semi-auto I shoot them in, I am just wondering if I can still just use it for light loads?

    Thanks for the no BS approach nmeyers, I may just do that anyway. Just seems a shame to throw a good 3-4 lbs away.

    Jonk, how well does it work after 4 years? Do you use red dot?

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Setting it on fire doesn't matter. It will burn even if trashed. If you REALLY want to use it and it is gone a bit bad, you could probably use it as a cast bullet rifle powder if you used really light loads in the 9-10 grain range in bolt action rifles.... though the accuracy and reliablity may not be great.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • aby80aby80 Member Posts: 245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Red Dot is a double based powder and does not deteriorate as fast as a single based powder. I would call the Mfg. and get their opinion.

    If you don't care where you are going, you can't get lost.
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  • azgunnut2@yahoo.comazgunnut2@yahoo.com Member Posts: 305 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One Thought : Throw it AWAY , is it worth the risk ?????
    one thing they told us in ballistics lab tech. school , smell the powder in question - if it has a rancid - bitter smell - its BAD !!!
    at the price of todays ammo (and powder) - why risk it ?????????????

    Join / Support the NRA
    Guns are my friends !!!
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  • modocmodoc Member Posts: 474 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Like explained,HEAT is powders worst enemy.My motto;

    KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY,BUT NOT HOT.......

    BILL
    KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.BUT NOT HOT.....
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  • Smoky14Smoky14 Member Posts: 531 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The temp in my attic yesterday was 165. It was only 92 outside.

    THROW IT OUT

    Smoky the cheap.

    Respect for self Respect for others Responsible for all actions
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you everyone. I will call the manufacturer and see what they say. Even after that, I will smell the powder for the tell tale rancid smell. I may just toss it anyway.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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