Powder storage failure

foo

I have always stored my powder in the same wooden cabinet for 30+ years. It's always been in a climate controlled area inside my home with a/c and a dehumidifier just in case.

I had numerous unopened cans of imr powders in the back of the cabinet. I have not accessed those for about 10 years. Recently I inventoried them and found one can in the middle of the pack had almost completely disinigrated. The rest of the cans are in tact?

Any ideas what happened?

pulsarnc

just a bad batch of powder. one or more of the stabilizers or components went bad . No way to predict or prevent this .sometimes stuff just happens .I personally know of a can of powder ,Dupont labeled that has been sitting on a shelf under a shelter for better than 50 years .Still looks and smells good . I have some cans that are 25 plus years and still going strong .By the way ,mine are stored in an igloo type cooler with some silica gel packs .Have been from the start about 40 years ago

waltermoe

I’ve been reloading 50 years now and only had one can of powder go bad. It was IMR 3031 can’t remember how old it was, maybe 15 years old. When pouring it it had a lot of fly/dust coming off of it, and the powder had a reddish rust tint to it. Always kept my powder in ammo cans, and kept in dry place.

Horse Plains Drifter

So the powder disintegrated, or the can disintegrated? Steel cans, or the newer plastic cans?

foo

The can disintegrated. The powder appears fine?

Maybe it is something about the batch or the type of powder. This can is also imr 3031

Tflogger

If you could post the batch number it may be of interest. I have used 3031 that I've bought at estate sales for years.

mmppres

That sounds like something got on the outside of the can to make it go bad. If the powder still looks good,then it would have been from out side in. I do not know if i would still take a chance on the powder. If the can particals got into the powder due you want to chance haveing a gun come apart or worse. Just a thought ??