Powder RE packaging

[Walkin Stick]

I got into BP / muzzleloading 25-30 years ago and as did several others I’m guessing sort of took a hiatus from the BP when the inlines and different substitutes came along. Now I’m sort of backtracking and find that I have 4 or 5 older cans of Goex 2 and 3 F that are starting to rust considerably around the top and bottom seams. It’s been stored dry so I don’t think the powder’s compromised at all but I’d like to repackage it into better (plastic? ) containers. Anyone had to deal with this before and what are your suggestions? I use a lot of smokeless powder too but just don’t have any empties yet.

 

[Phil Coffins]

The last batch of Goex came in plastic so that’s an exceptable container.

 

[64Springer]

If you don't have any smokeless empties, you aren't reloading enough.

I would suggest plastic mustard and ketchup bottles.

Like the ones you see in diners.

Or empty plastic soda bottles.

 

[Walkin Stick]

Well I still have some smokeless in the metal cans too so you’re right I’m not doing nearly as much as I used to. Old age and arthritis will alter your priorities!
The soda bottles don’t seem durable enough but that’s a direction of thought that hadn’t occurred to me before. Thanks

 

[Notchy Bob]

The steel cans are probably okay on the inside. Black powder isn’t necessarily corrosive… it’s black powder fouling you need to clean after shooting.

I don’t know if anybody else does this, but I still have a few steel cans of black powder. I inspect them now and then and wipe down the outsides with a greasy rag. This seems to inhibit rusting.

With some trepidation, I could probably round up a couple of empty black powder bottles to send you, if you feel you need to transfer your powder to newer containers. My reason for concern is that it is extremely important that powder containers be properly and correctly labeled. You would need to come up with permanent, legible labels for the used powder bottles.

There are also container manufacturers out there who sell plastic, glass, and metal bottles and and containers of every description. I’ll try to find a link to post. New containers with proper labeling would be preferable to any kind of repurposed, relabeled bottles.

Notchy Bob

 

[64Springer]

Well I still have some smokeless in the metal cans too so you’re right I’m not doing nearly as much as I used to. Old age and arthritis will alter your priorities!
The soda bottles don’t seem durable enough but that’s a direction of thought that hadn’t occurred to me before. Thanks

Tupperware is sturdy.

 

[Notchy Bob]

This is what I was thinking of when I posted previously:


This is from Berlin Packaging, and they call it a 32 oz. Steel F-Style Can with 1.25in Alpha Cap, Item #1900T09, priced at $4.95 each. One like this would probably hold two pounds of powder. They sell similar cans in smaller (and larger) sizes for about the same price per unit. Just guessing, but the pint size would probably hold pretty close to a pound of powder.

If you want to re-package your powder, I think new containers are the way to go. Something like this would be my suggestion, but there are other vendors and other options if you want to pursue it.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[springfield art]

I got into BP / muzzleloading 25-30 years ago and as did several others I’m guessing sort of took a hiatus from the BP when the inlines and different substitutes came along. Now I’m sort of backtracking and find that I have 4 or 5 older cans of Goex 2 and 3 F that are starting to rust considerably around the top and bottom seams. It’s been stored dry so I don’t think the powder’s compromised at all but I’d like to repackage it into better (plastic? ) containers. Anyone had to deal with this before and what are your suggestions? I use a lot of smokeless powder too but just don’t have any empties yet.

The last batch of Goex came in plastic so that’s an exceptable container.

That seems to be the trend; but I'd think it's a high quality plastic, with some sturdiness.

 

[leadhoarder]

Sounds like it is time for a new horn or two.

 

[Walkin Stick]

Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions. I have 3 or 4 empty smokeless cans coming from a friend so with new labels I think problem eliminated.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Just hang around some muzzlelaoding guys and wait for them to empty some newer plastic cans. I threw away a couple recently that would have worked fine. No need to complicate things.

 

[Greg Y]

Mason jars are the old reliable.

 

[SOLANCO]

If you can't find something suitable at the local recycle center you live in a weird area.

 

[necchi]

I have 3 or 4 empty,,,, cans coming from a friend,, so with new labels I think problem eliminated.

Perfect, just make sure the old labels are removed or completely covered, and the new labels are plain to see and easy too read,

 

[billraby]

Don't store powder in some random plastic container!!! Most plastics are very good at holding a static electric charge. All of a sudden you have a nice little bomb. The containers that powder comes in from manufacturers are made of a type of plastic that is designed to be anti static. Plastic containers originally used to for powder or some other explosive will be fine.

 

[Tumbledown]

Mason jars are the old reliable.

And are bombs.

 

[Greg Y]

And are bombs.

Please explain. Glass doesn't promote static like plastic can, have I been missing something?

 

[LME]

Mason jars are the old reliable.

There is a reason that powder is not packaged in glass containers.

 

[Mikekj]

There is a reason that powder is not packaged in glass containers.

Please elaborate, while looking at these GLASS flasks.

 

[Greg Y]

I wouldn't choose glass for horseback....but it serves me well in my reloading room. I'd be more nervous about static (which I am not) in plastic than glass randomly breaking.