I've used plenty of powder over 10 yrs old. Never had a problem. How would you tell if its off?
I've used plenty of powder over 10 yrs old. Never had a problem. How would you tell if its off?
Great comments and thanks to the OP for starting this thread as I've a few tubs of various powders that have not being used for a few years since me buying them due to my shooting changing. What is 'proper/correct' storage?
How suitable would a cool, dry, unused room in our house be?
The UK climate is probably about as good as it gets for power storage. No extreme heat or humidity.
As long as its not stored in the loft the powder would keep for a very long time.
I keep mine in a blackpowder storage box as I don't use black anymore and its somewhere convenient to keep it.
I've a tin of Nobel no.80 from 1983 that seems absolutely fine. No idea what I'll do with it I don't reload for shotgun.
The 10 years come from the single temperature NATO AOP 48 stabilizer depletion test, this is simply a pass or fail criteria, a pass giving 10 years storage in temps of <25'C. In reality the shelf life will be far longer!
So what about the 50 year old mil-surp ammo that people are still using.. that powder is obvioulsy still ok..
kirkleese guns ( Huddersfield) are still selling 1998 /99 powder @ £75-kg & assure us it perfect .....