BLACK POWDER STORAGE

How a bout some input on storing powder? I have several pounds of powder in my basement.cool, dehumidifer runs 24-7 It's in a explosion proof steel box with four heavy latches. I'm told by an oldtimer that it was used in the navy for big ships cannon. I wan't to relocate the box to a building that has no ventilation in summer,and portable heater in winter months. Will it store well? no chance of degredition in this enviromental storage? I have several pounds of powder, enough to last me till I pass over. Don't want to take a chance if it's the wrong thing to do. Also how a bout caps? will they hold up in this environment? I appreciate any input and forsite you may offer.

Dehumidification shouldn't play into it if the jugs are air tight. In theory you could store them in a fish tank.
I think explosion proof may be a problem. You lock it in a steel box and have a house fire it may go boom due to the confinement. Good for keeping the kids out, but...
Sitting on a shelf in the plastic jugs it comes in like mine, add fire and it may go whoosh, not boom. I tend to keep many pounds in both the bedroom and the kitchen, away from heat sources.

I have kept black powder on hand by placing it in a cool dry place generally in cans or now plastic bottles. When more then a few are here they stay in the cardboard box they came in or a wood cabinet. A steel container changes the flammable powder into a bomb. Caps need a cool dry place as well and an out side building or garage for either would be the last place I’d choose. Control of these types of things for safety is first for me.

Same here. Mine sits in its original container on the work room shelf. For safety sake I store no more than 2lbs at any one time.

Sidney Smith said:

Same here. Mine sits in its original container on the work room shelf. For safety sake I store no more than 2lbs at any one time.

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If I’m down to 2lbs it means I forgot order powder.

tom berwinkle said:

It's in a explosion proof steel box with four heavy latches.

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Would think powder stored in an ‘explosion proof steel box’ could be classified as something that could cause a lot of destruction.

If you must put it in a container, think insulation and something that won’t contain pressure if powder inside it ignites. Store as low as possible (heat rises) and as far a away from potential heat sources as practical. In a situation where it ignites, it most likely will be the least of your problems.

The box is identical to a (day box) the a.t.f. had me purchase when I had my small muzzleloading supply business in 1972 through 1982, It was designed to hold 50 lbs. of one pound cans,wood lined thick steel.At that time their regs.were no more than 50 pounds in your location. I got around the requirements of having a magazine by storing my bulk powder at an explosive co. magazine. The owner was an uncle of a good friend. He gave me a corner in one of the bunkers. When I ran low I drove out an reseuplied my inventory. Then my powder was stored with high explosives in an hot, non ventilated magazine. My question was an opinion of long term storage in these enviromental conditions. I think I would rather have my powder in the box than storing it in my closet, or under the sink or where unauthorized people or children have access to it.

So is your box ventilated so it will release the pressure if the powder caught on fire? If not, then I would not store powder in it. Otherwise it would just be a big bomb. As long as the powder isn't contained, then it will just make a big poof and not cause shrapnel to fly everywhere. The caps are more sensitive to humidity and temperature changes then the powder as long as the powder is sealed in the plastic containers so moisture cannot get to it as far as long term storage goes.

I have stored bp on shelves in the house, outside unheated shed, basement, wherever. Never a problem. I have some caps from the early 1970s similarly stored. Still work fine. I did have a couple decades old 1/2 pound cans of unknown brand of 4Fg that started to rust from the outside. I wiped them with Johnsons paste wax, solved that problem.

tom berwinkle said:

I got around the requirements of having a magazine by storing my bulk powder at an explosive co. magazine.

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Well a "day box" is just that... meant to hold the explosives for a day. The wording in the regulations is "for the transfer and temporary, supervised storage of explosives". Not meant to leave the stuff in for long periods of time subject to seasonal temperature changes.


You can opt for a magazine that is intended for High Explosives, which by default will suffice for black powder since it is the original "low explosive", and folks "in the know" will point out that it doesn't actually "explode" but deflagrates at a pretty good speed. These are indoor storage containers.


For long term, outdoor, non-temperature controlled situations you need a small magazines that will have vents, and these magazines tend to be painted white or silver to reflect sunlight away. This is to keep the temp down. They are pretty big and probably waaaay too much for what you need.

I'd suggest you look into an MTM "Survivor Ammo Can" which is a water proof, plastic cache device, that will hold 6 of the old steel cans used for powder, and is intended to be buried to keep the temperature controlled year round. Yes you may need more than one and it may be a pain to bury them just below the surface of the grass.... but the redundancy is also good for ensuring your remaining supply survives without damage


https://www.amazon.com/MTM-SAC-Survivor-Ammo-Can/dp/B00AU67M5K

LD

SDSmlf said:

If I’m down to 2lbs it means I forgot order powder.

Would think powder stored in an ‘explosion proof steel box’ could be classified as something that could cause a lot of destruction.

If you must put it in a container, think insulation and something that won’t contain pressure if powder inside it ignites. Store as low as possible (heat rises) and as far a away from potential heat sources as practical. In a situation where it ignites, it most likely will be the least of your problems.

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I don't need to order powder. When I need some its a simple matter of running down to our local hardware store for more. Besides I don't shoot ML often enough to warrant more than a pound or two per year.

I wish to God I never asked this question, The only Thing I asked an opinion of was degrition of powder stored in the non controlled environment. I have used black powder since 1970,safely, The regs on storage im sure qualifies my storage. I had an FEL, federal explosive license, from when I applied for one and the B A T F inspected my premises and had no issues with my storage of powder, As a mater of fact they told me where to obtain my day box When I decided to close my business the chief officer in the B A T F office , in those days their was an office here in Clarksburg,told me not to surender my license but to let it lapse in case I ever wanted to renew it. I appreciate the input and see there are some people who want to take a chance for some to not giving much thought to safety. Like the old cowboy said,( This ain't my first rodeo)

I had 40+ lbs of fffg stored in a locked chest in the garage. My house and attached garage burned (crazy ex wife) and the powder went off pretty much all at the same time (cause it was contained). It blew almost straight up and consumed all the nearby oxygen putting the remaining fire out. Think Fred Adair! I've rebuilt, store it in the detached garage, got a sane wife- all good now.

The recurring statement to store is DRY

I keep about 15 lbs of powder in my detached garage in locked heavy duty plastic ammo cans that have a rubber seal. I also vacuum pack canisters except for the ones I am using powder out of as well as extra primers just to keep humidity out. If it gets hot during a fire the ammo boxes will melt before powder goes off. Just the way I do it.

Ames said:

Dehumidification shouldn't play into it if the jugs are air tight. In theory you could store them in a fish tank.
I think explosion proof may be a problem. You lock it in a steel box and have a house fire it may go boom due to the confinement. Good for keeping the kids out, but...
Sitting on a shelf in the plastic jugs it comes in like mine, add fire and it may go whoosh, not boom. I tend to keep many pounds in both the bedroom and the kitchen, away from heat sources.

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Yeah, I keep a few lbs. out in a backyard shed; no sense having it ignite if there was a house fire and injure someone. I have a big tag on it, No Smoking, and contents. Locked heavy old safe box.

I have a couple of lbs. of powder stored in a filing cabinet/safe that has a one hour 350° fire rating. I've been wondering if this might be too 'bomb' like.

tom berwinkle said:

The only Thing I asked an opinion of was degrition of powder stored in the non controlled environment. I have used black powder since 1970,safely, The regs on storage im sure qualifies my storage

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Black powder stores very well at temperatures to at least 120 degrees F. You won't have a problem.

Lots of old guns and cannon were found to be loaded after a century. They shot well.

Interior bedroom closet (not beside an exterior wall) in the cardboard shipping containers from PowderInc. Cozy all year round.

Big "FWOOM!" but no shrapnel if it cooks off.

Stumpkiller said:

Interior bedroom closet (not beside an exterior wall) in the cardboard shipping containers from PowderInc. Cozy all year round.

Big "FWOOM!" but no shrapnel if it cooks off.

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And realistically if it goes ‘FWOOM!’while your are there because of heat and flame it won’t much matter.