Storing primers and powder?

[Steve1]

I'm like everyone else who buys reloading supplies.....sometimes I stock up, when I can find it.

I'm just wondering what the best practice is to store this stuff.....I've been storing my primers and powders in air tight ammo boxes. Do you think something else is needed in each box to absorb moisture? I think it may be called desitant.

I store my primers away from the powder.

One guy said he uses an old (non working) deep freezer to store his powder in. He said it helps keep the temperature at a more moderate level if things are stored in your garage. I imagine your primers and powder shouldn't be in the same deep freeze.

Do you think a guy should store powder and primers inside the house....for a more moderate, stable, temperature. I'm just curious what your ideas are on this.

I live in Montana. The air is usually fairly dry. The temperatures can very a lot in the winter.

Thanks so much, for all your ideas on this.....

 

[slayer_21420]

I keep mine climate controlled inside the house and keep a dehumidifier on. I think it's probably best to avoid extreme temperature swings.

 

[Pester]

There are a number of good threads out there that address this. Here is a rather recent one. http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...er-storage-cool-dry-more-specific-please.html

A common line of thinking is that you dont want to store items in a metal container as it could turn it, essentially, into a big grenade. That being said I am not sure of a freezer/fridge would react the same way if the door could open.

I tend to be more attentive to humidity and large temp swings over the max/min temps. Some folks store powder/primers and loaded ammo inside the house however I try to stay away from that. For humidity you can by the plug in units that dry themselves out and then, when they cant absorb more moisture a light changes on the unity. They are not expensive or you can go with the little packets in there and toss them when appropriate

 

[neiltus]

Powder in original containers goes in wood boxes 1" thick.
Primers in original containers goes in wood boxes 1" thick.

Both are separated.

 

[Steve1]

I was wondering neiltus.....is wood less likely to have a bomb type affect, if there was an accident....is that the reason for wood? Thanks....

 

[HodgdonExtreme]

Last summer I bought ~50lb of various IMR powders that had been sitting in an old semi-trailer for 15 years. This was in rural Michigan, subjected to 95°+ during the summer and -15° in the winter, and humidity varying between 30% and 90% throughout the year.

Of the 2 cans I've opened, both smelled great, and both shoot great.

Climate control is better, don't get me wrong... but don't overthink it.

 

[Twoboxer]

Link to SAAMI's Position

In part:

"11-3.7 Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities
not exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in original
containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg), but not
exceeding 50 lb. (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences
where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least
1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness."

Note that "1" nominal" normally means 3/4" when finished on both sides.

Wood storage is recommended because:

"Storage enclosures for smokeless powder should be constructed in a
similar manner:
1. Of fire-resistant and heat-insulating materials to protect contents
from external heat.
2. Sufficiently loose to vent the gaseous products of combustion
satisfactorily which would result if the quantity of smokeless
powder within the enclosure accidentally ignited."

The National Fire Code, and your local fire code, may be slightly different.

 

[samnev]

I live in the mountains in central AZ. My insulated garage rarely goes below 55 degrees in the winter and no more than 85 in the summer and of course the humidity is usually quite low. I do keep my primers separate from the powder in their original cartons and powder in their original kegs. Never had any problems.

 

[leadbullet]

I store my powder and primers in neat little brass containers, lots of them.

 

[My Toy]

Due to the ridiculous quantity limits on powder storage in my wonderful state and the recent action by our legislative criminals increasing potential penalties for various violations of law that would bar one forever from owning firearms (I'm not taking any chances for the remainder of time in this gun owners hellhole) - I store any powder over legal storage limits out of state. Unfortunately the storage conditions are not climate controlled. My powder is stored in the center of a large barn and contained in 1" thick wooden crates covered by a trap.
Worrying about this type of storage I talked to technicians at Hodgdon and Alliant and they both told me that rapid temperature changes such as storing the powder where it is exposed to direct sunlight will really shorten the life of smokeless powder. I described my storage conditions to them and they both said they didn't think I had anything to worry about as long as the powder was in the original unopened containers.
When you think about it the powder stored in surplus military ammo may be 50, 60, 70 years old and who knows under what conditions it was stored under - and I haven't run in to any that didn't go bang.

 

[neiltus]

I was wondering neiltus.....is wood less likely to have a bomb type affect, if there was an accident....is that the reason for wood? Thanks....

I have never tried to set anything off. The containers I use are basically some old 1x crates. I found them at a junk sale and they were in decent shape. They hold 8#'ers upright and have plenty of ventilation.

I had an older wood crate that I have stored some stuff in since I was 12 or so. I recently found a sleeve of 100 CCI LG rifle primers from back then (25+ years old) and used them during the component run we had last year. Chrono'ed with a known load and could not tell one bit of difference.

 

[308Gunner]

We use a food saver to store primers in we will take a 1000 and put them in a bag, it comes in pretty handy the wife does look at you alittle crazy when you do this the first time. Powder stays in the factory jugs, in a wooden cabnet.

 

[VTSEAL]

So that I could have separate storage, and be able to lock up both my powder and primers I built a plywood cabinet with a partially open back to store powder. Used adjustable height and depth shelves to accommodate various heights/sizes of powder jugs. The back panel is only loosely attached, to serve as the "vent" in the unlikely event we have a fire. One upgrade that I considered was to cover the outside in sheetrock. But I figured that if I had a fire in the house long enough/hot enough to ignite the powder, I had much bigger problems than a couple jugs of powder burning...

Primers get stored in their original packaging on a shelf in a cabinet with loaded ammo. Both are located in a basement where it is cooler/drier than the rest of the house.

Goal was to be able to keep curious kids from being able to access the stuff, and should any nosy moms ask before a playdate or sleepover, I can say:
"Mrs. XXXXX, I am a responsible parent and firearm owner. My children are trained in the Eddie Eagle program, Project Gun Safe, and the Winchester/NRA programs; so they are aware of firearms safety precautions and proper handling procedures. But since I cannot attest that all their friends' parents responsibly train their children to protect them in this manner; all firearms, ammunition and related materials in my home are locked up... By the way, everyone says you're on anti-depressants --- how do you store your prescription medications?" Still haven't had any parents ask - they probably all know I have firearms; but I'm waiting...

 

[7.62x67]

I been reloading ammo since the late 70's . I built a room off the side of my shop just for reloading . I have no heat or air in this room and have stored primers in military ammo cans ( they were made to keep moister out ) for years and my powder sits on the cement floor. Not once have I had a misfire in all these years . I have one metal can of Imr 4831 left and it even has rust on the outside . I used it to load some 270 rounds last deer season . If the seal on an ammo can is still soft and the can it self is not damaged , they've always worked for me .

 

[Steel head]

 

[BullGear]

I have a small safe I store my powder in. Primers are stored in a plastic container which is then put into a cabinet along with most of my other reloading components.

 

[Rlandry]

Individual states and even some municipalities have their own regulations regarding the amount of powder and primers and how it is stored. I ignore them, as does everyone else I know. That said, be assured I won'y be inviting the fire marshal over for pie and coffee.

 

[eelman308]

Primers in GI ammo cans. Powder in original jugs and stored in a Hardigg case

 

[TicTacTex]

I realize this is an old thread that has been resurrected, but I thought I'd ask... Why does the majority of interwebz peeplez make a big deal about storing primers and powder together? Most say to store them separately "in case something happens."

Last time I checked, primers don't ignite themselves, and neither does powder. So if there's a fire, you're screwed anyway, regardless if they're stored together. After all, how is it any different than loaded ammo? Primer and powder stored right next to each other.

Myself, I store my primers and powder in a fireproof safe. Again, how will they "self-ignite" in a fireproof safe?

 

[6.5SH]

Because both are more exposed to a spark/flame than if loaded in a cartridge is the difference. A mine wouldn't store blasting caps and dynamite in the same magazine either. I don't think "self ignition" is the concern but accidental ignition.