Household move with smokeless powder

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elktrout

elktrout

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I am moving to the south. My reloading powder poses a problem with the hot weather. What do you suggest.
 
Where do you normally store your powder, house, outbuilding? If stored in a climate-controlled space, no problem. For the powder I am currently using, I store it in a wooden magazine with 1 inch, sides top, bottom. I keep a thermometer in the box to monitor temperatures. The large containers I keep in a climate-controlled building. The magazine box will hold up to 50lbs of powder in two layers depending on size of container.
storage box 009 (Large).jpg
 
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Sorry for the vague OP. I am concerned about the shipping part of moving. I plan to box up the powder containers (some one pound and some 8 pound). They may be on a moving truck for several days or even stored in self storage unit for a few weeks. What is the best way to protect the powder from deterioration or other issues caused by heat? I am thinking about having my son ship them to me UPS or some other methods once I am settled in the new house. Storage at home is not my issue. Thanks.
 
I'll be doing this very thing in April. I'm retiring and moving to another house 950 miles away. I am dedicating one trip solely for the purpose of moving my guns, ammo, powder, primers, etc. Everything will be padded, tied down, locked up and out of reach of vehicle occupants. No long stops, just gas, restroom and go. About a 16 hour drive non-stop. I've done it many times over the decades, so I'm used to it.

I chose the pain of making a separate trip because I don't want to mix those items with a move of household goods, which will go in a u-haul trailer I'll pull with my truck. If that breaks down and I have to leave it on the shoulder of an interstate for some length of time, it won't be as nerve wracking.
 
There are things I would trust a moving company to move... my firearms and reloading components aren't one of them.

Smokeless powder is shipped in a cardboard box, and rough handled by the transit and delivery process... there is nothing to worry about. Box your powder in good cardboard boxes, in reasonable quantities, and pack it along. Nothing super duper.
 
off topic a bit. but after reading this - I looked at my supply of .... stuff...and other.. stuff.. and said. nope. Guess I'm either not moving - a massive sale - or I am having the mother of all 4th of July 'Choot em up parties before hand.

Just easier that way. I never thought of actually having to MOVE in any reap capacity, all of the firearm and reloading related stuff until this moment. The safes are going with the house. I'd lose any profit I made on the house just trying to hire someone to move them out of the basement. I bet I couldn't even give them away once someone looks at the stairway they need to haul them up.
 
This from the Allied Van Lines website:

Potentially Dangerous Items
Cross country movers often have a moving checklist with hazardous items they cannot move – and they’ll likely refuse to pack them as well. These items can include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Gasoline
  • Oxygen bottles
  • Lighter fluid
  • Matches
  • Propane cylinders
  • Nail polish remover
  • Paints and paint thinners
  • Fireworks
++End++

If anyone thinks smokeless powder wouldn’t be on this list if Allied gave it any thought, then you’re not giving it enough thought. And if anyone thinks it’s okay to just slip some powder in a box and not tell your mover, then you need a different hobby.

Here’s a link:

https://www.allied.com/moving-resources/moving-preparation/things-your-movers-cannot-pack
 
elktrout said:
Sorry for the vague OP. I am concerned about the shipping part of moving. I plan to box up the powder containers (some one pound and some 8 pound). They may be on a moving truck for several days or even stored in self storage unit for a few weeks. What is the best way to protect the powder from deterioration or other issues caused by heat? I am thinking about having my son ship them to me UPS or some other methods once I am settled in the new house. Storage at home is not my issue. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Movers can't take it, they'd have to treat the load as hazmat. When I was still in the military and PCS'ng all the time, I had a big cheap walmart ice chest that all my powder went into. Don't pack it with ice or anything, not necessary, and the humidity isn't good for it. The only reason I used an ice chest was to keep it dry, out of the sunlight, and so that it wouldn't get super hot. I just piled it all into the cooler and put it in the back of my truck. Wrapped it a couple of times with duct tape to make sure the lid didn't come off. The longest trip I did with that was from Ft Drum NY, to Ft Ord California in July. Was just fine. I've also left powder in storage while I was overseas for 4 years, and it was fine...stored in the same cooler, but with a pile of desiccant in the cooler around the cans of powder. That storage unit was down in S. AZ, and it was just fine. Though now there's probably all kinds of rules from the storage places, and you might not be able to do that.
 
Our movers wouldnt even touch ammunition. Let alone powder. We always have packed/moved the guns and powder ourselves. Three times to be exact.

The ice chest is a good idea, with a few freezer packs or a chunk of dry ice. Not trying to chill it, just keeping it cooler. I used to keep my powder in a mini fridge set at 50° and had no problems.
 
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