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< 16ga. Ammunition & Reloading ~ Powder Shelf Life? |
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Posted:
Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:06 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2350
Location: West MI
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MSM2019's response in another thread prompted a search for Powder Shelf Life but nothing came up. So...
In figuring out an issue with some of my 10ga loads (and dialing in a 16ga 1 3/8oz Biz load) I've learned of an issue with the evolving energy levels of Alliant Steel Powder through it's time in the marketplace and how some reloading data needs to be scrutinized and retested almost w/each new lot#.
Then the other day I went to purchase some Steel Powder and the born-on date is 9/98 Lot#005. I think current lots are in the high 30's low 40's. The store owner offered a generous discount since it was so old and I picked up 3 "new" 1#'ers.
Question; what if any is the shelf life of shotgun powders? Do they loose significant energy over time?
I will be searching the web beyond our forum but look forward to learning from our knowledgeable members.
Thanks in advance... |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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Posted:
Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:29 am
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Joined: 04 Mar 2019
Posts: 1844
Location: Central ND
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If the powder is in it's original sealed container and it has been stored in temperatures that are 50's to 70's, the powder will be just fine. I have and I still am using some lot#5 of Alliant Steel and it performs just as it did when I first bought it. That powder has always been kept in the 60's to low 70's with the humidity held at 50% or less. Powder will last for decades if properly stored.
Hi temps, in the 90's and higher, high humidity, and unsealed containers are conditions that accelerate deterioration of smokeless powder. How fast it deteriorates is anyone's guess. Bad powder has an acrid aroma and will look brownish instead of dark gray.
Alliant Steel was/is not changed with every lot number, but it was changed once possibly twice since it was introduced.
The change(s) happened after Lot #5, but I do not have any idea what lot numbers were involved. The change, at least from my view, was to slow the powder down a bit, to allow more powder to be used, which produces more powder gas for higher velocities at the same or slightly lower chamber pressures than the original lots.
The issue is, if you use old data the loads will not perform as well with the new powder lots. This is NOT a dangerous sitiuation, but the velocities will be lower than published.
For Lot #5 you would want data published in the late 1990's and/or before. |
_________________ Mark...You are entitled to your own opinion. You aren't entitled to your own facts. |
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Posted:
Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:05 am
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Joined: 07 Sep 2014
Posts: 419
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I have pounders that are 30 years old, partial cans, that still are just fine. As long as they haven't gotten wet. |
_________________ Robert Kittine
Sag Harbor and Manhattan, New York
WA2YDV
16 Gauge O/U Browning 525 Sporting
16 Gauge SxS Rizzini Islide
16 Gauge Pump Browning BPS Upland
16 Gauge Semi-Auto Remington 1100 Sporting |
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Posted:
Fri Dec 20, 2019 8:39 am
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Joined: 01 Oct 2007
Posts: 962
Location: Minnesota
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Not sure it’s a perfect comparison, but in the 1970s, I used lots of WWII surplus powder in rifles. It worked great. |
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Posted:
Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:45 am
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Joined: 22 Feb 2019
Posts: 63
Location: United States
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I recall a story about Hercules Unique that is stored at the Alliant plant . It is under water a sample is dried and tested every so often. the powder still performs as it should even though it is over 50 years old. |
_________________ This is really Byrdog with a new E-Mail address.
I make the Shortcut Shotshell Cutter. PM me here to inquire |
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Posted:
Sat Dec 21, 2019 2:19 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2350
Location: West MI
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Truly appreciate the input, kinda what I've heard through the years, nice to have the confirmation. The powder doesn't have that nice acetone smell of brand new but certainly not acrid and is chalkboard grey so should be good to go.
I do have reloading data of similar vintage so will be building some test ammo from this 005 as a comparison to the rest of my lot 025 and current data. Will be sending this stuff over my xmas gift in the form of a Caldwell chrony so looking forward to this added dimension in my reloading hobby.
I've read on other forums that it is common practice to mix/blend succeeding lots with older lots as a way to attenuate the differences in energy.
Thanks again... |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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Posted:
Sat Dec 21, 2019 3:46 pm
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Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Posts: 393
Location: St. Charles, MO
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Putz Wrote'
The powder doesn't have that nice acetone smell of brand new but certainly not acrid.
If you shake it up you will get the solvent or acetone smell that you are looking for that it is good.
Griff |
_________________ Griff |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 16, 2020 3:27 pm
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Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 11
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putz463 wrote: |
I've read on other forums that it is common practice to mix/blend succeeding lots with older lots as a way to attenuate the differences in energy.
Thanks again...
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Never mix powder lots....disaster waiting to happen. |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 16, 2020 3:27 pm
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Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 11
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putz463 wrote: |
I've read on other forums that it is common practice to mix/blend succeeding lots with older lots as a way to attenuate the differences in energy.
Thanks again...
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Never mix powder lots....disaster waiting to happen. |
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Posted:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 5:30 pm
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Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 1008
Location: Sandy Lake, PA
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Over the years, the writers of Handloader magazine say that, double-base powder has an almost indefinite shelf life. |
_________________ ------------
Davy 03C&R FFL |
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Posted:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 4:50 pm
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Member
Joined: 19 Nov 2013
Posts: 381
Location: NW Arkansas
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Attached is an interesting read about Hodgdon Powder Co., which got its start buying, repackaging and selling surplus WWII H4895. The article doesn't say how long they sold this surplus powder, but I suspect it was for a number of years. I have used a number of older containers of powder (~20-40 years) through time--still using some. As long as I know the source or the package is unopened, I trust it. No problems to date.
http://ns.hodgdon.com/history.html |
_________________ 16 gauges:
1954 Win M12 IC
1952 Ithaca M37 Mod
1955 Browning Auto-5 Mod
1940 Ithaca NID M/F
1959 Beretta Silver Hawk
Ranger 103-II M/F
Browning A-5 Sweet 16
Browning Citori Invector
Rem 870 Remchoke |
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Posted:
Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:48 pm
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Joined: 11 Dec 2017
Posts: 77
Location: South Dakota
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Bobshouse wrote: |
putz463 wrote: |
I've read on other forums that it is common practice to mix/blend succeeding lots with older lots as a way to attenuate the differences in energy.
Thanks again...
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Never mix powder lots....disaster waiting to happen.
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Why? As a shotgun reloader, it's not like we work up loads to where they start loosening the primer pockets after a few firings like some rifle shooters. What difference does it make if I mix the 1/2 lb of 10 year old unique with the brand new unique rather than load it separate? It's going to be fired with the same load data anyway. |
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