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Powder Storage
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paulvallandigham
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As long as Black Powder is stored in a dry cool location , it can remain in the powder horn for years, and will not deteriorate. Pyrodex, and the subs begin to weaken when the cans are opened and the powders are exposed to both air, and moisture.
Moisture is more the problem with pyrodex. Some people who live in very dry climates have no problem with it even after years of storage.
Where it humid, some people are reporting problems. Moisture is even more a problem with other subs.
Putting the powder back in its original container will not help. Once the jar is opened, you need to use up the stuff. As it weakens, the velocity drops, and so does the point of impact of your ball or bullet on target. Note that most of the subs are sold in what appears to be a 1 lb. can, but usually only contains 12 oz. That makes it even more expensive than Black Powder, which is still sold in 1 lb. containers. You may need to use less of the subs by weight, but that is only because the substance is " fluffier" and is not as dense as Black Powder. Black powder is still the standard, and the subs include instructions to use an equal VOLUME of those powders to what you would use if shooting Black Powder.
This weight, vs. volume measuring is often confusing to new shooters of MLers. Its not really all that difficult to understand. Black Powder is measure both by volume, and by weight. But, we normally don't weight powder charges like you would smokeless powder. A couple of grains difference in weight is not going to create dangerous chamber pressures as it might with some smokeless powders. BP is measures, usually in an adjustable powder measure, until a load is fixed on for a particular gun. Then, a fixed measure or scoop is made, of wood, antler, horn, etc. for that particular gun, and is often attached to a powder horn, so that the measure is at hand to pour the powder into from the horn, and then into the barrel.
We discuss powder charges in weights, but then measure it in volume measures, marked with arbitrary weighs. If you pour a series of charges from the volume measure, and weigh each of the charges on a powder scale, you will find that the volume loads are pretty close in weight, but can vary as much as a couple of grains.
That slight difference in amount of powder by weight makes very little difference for most shooting purposes. Only target shooters, shooting at long ranges, measure their powder charges to get the consistency they need to hit their targets.
Moisture is more the problem with pyrodex. Some people who live in very dry climates have no problem with it even after years of storage.
Where it humid, some people are reporting problems. Moisture is even more a problem with other subs.
Putting the powder back in its original container will not help. Once the jar is opened, you need to use up the stuff. As it weakens, the velocity drops, and so does the point of impact of your ball or bullet on target. Note that most of the subs are sold in what appears to be a 1 lb. can, but usually only contains 12 oz. That makes it even more expensive than Black Powder, which is still sold in 1 lb. containers. You may need to use less of the subs by weight, but that is only because the substance is " fluffier" and is not as dense as Black Powder. Black powder is still the standard, and the subs include instructions to use an equal VOLUME of those powders to what you would use if shooting Black Powder.
This weight, vs. volume measuring is often confusing to new shooters of MLers. Its not really all that difficult to understand. Black Powder is measure both by volume, and by weight. But, we normally don't weight powder charges like you would smokeless powder. A couple of grains difference in weight is not going to create dangerous chamber pressures as it might with some smokeless powders. BP is measures, usually in an adjustable powder measure, until a load is fixed on for a particular gun. Then, a fixed measure or scoop is made, of wood, antler, horn, etc. for that particular gun, and is often attached to a powder horn, so that the measure is at hand to pour the powder into from the horn, and then into the barrel.
We discuss powder charges in weights, but then measure it in volume measures, marked with arbitrary weighs. If you pour a series of charges from the volume measure, and weigh each of the charges on a powder scale, you will find that the volume loads are pretty close in weight, but can vary as much as a couple of grains.
That slight difference in amount of powder by weight makes very little difference for most shooting purposes. Only target shooters, shooting at long ranges, measure their powder charges to get the consistency they need to hit their targets.
Real black powder and Pyrodex aren't the same beast. Black powder can last pretty much forever if kept dry. Even if it gets damp, it can be dried out again and work fine.
Pyrodex, however, will degrade over time once it's opened. It degrades even faster as it absorbs moisture. And if my test of a few old cans is accurate, it can degrade over time even in a sealed, unopened can. I shot a couple of old cans that just had no "oomph" whatsoever.
Pyrodex, however, will degrade over time once it's opened. It degrades even faster as it absorbs moisture. And if my test of a few old cans is accurate, it can degrade over time even in a sealed, unopened can. I shot a couple of old cans that just had no "oomph" whatsoever.
Perhaps this will explain why it reacts the way it does.
"Pyrodex, like BP, is a mechanical mixture of oxidizers with fuels,
actually, it is a mixture of BP and a whistle mix. The patent gives an
example with potassium nitrate, sulphur, charcoal, potassium
perchlorate, sodium salicylate, dicyandiamide, wax and wetting agents.
In addition to this, pyrodex contains several per cent of water. The
water content probably explains, why pyrodex has a much lower surface
propagation rate of the flame than BP. Also, the dicyandiamide
certainly slows down burning and makes ignition slower."
Here's a link. http://yarchive.net/explosives/pyrodex.html
"Pyrodex, like BP, is a mechanical mixture of oxidizers with fuels,
actually, it is a mixture of BP and a whistle mix. The patent gives an
example with potassium nitrate, sulphur, charcoal, potassium
perchlorate, sodium salicylate, dicyandiamide, wax and wetting agents.
In addition to this, pyrodex contains several per cent of water. The
water content probably explains, why pyrodex has a much lower surface
propagation rate of the flame than BP. Also, the dicyandiamide
certainly slows down burning and makes ignition slower."
Here's a link. http://yarchive.net/explosives/pyrodex.html
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