How much powder and primers are too much for 1 man
- Thread starter HANDLOADER
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I used to buy primers in 5K chunks. I know I had more than 10,000 at a time. Probably don't right now though.
I used to buy powder in the 8 lb kegs, but have switched to the smaller kegs even though the price is somewhat higher. I am reasonable sure I am under the 20 lb limit right now, although I am pretty sure at some point I was above it.
I just don't reload as much as I used to.
Archie
Member
If I may...
Follow the guidelines posted about storage units. I'm in process of building a plywood cabinet for gunpowder and separate cabinet with individual bins for primers. (I consider primers much more dangerous than powder.)
Make sure the items are safely stored and not likely to become a bomb if a fire breaks out. I think they would be better stored in a building or shed or shelter apart from the living quarters; a garage, workshop or storage shed. Be responsible.
I would further suggest NOT calling the local 'authorities' and getting them involved. Unless you know otherwise, they are probably only partially knowledgeable of the actual law, very ignorant of the real nature of gunpowder and prone to panic, panty wetting and knicker twisting when faced with this nature of thing. (Ant local authorities reading this may be the exception, but look at your co-workers.)
Something about forgiveness being easier to obtain than permission.
Just the opinion of your old suspicious uncle Archie.
Follow the guidelines posted about storage units. I'm in process of building a plywood cabinet for gunpowder and separate cabinet with individual bins for primers. (I consider primers much more dangerous than powder.)
Make sure the items are safely stored and not likely to become a bomb if a fire breaks out. I think they would be better stored in a building or shed or shelter apart from the living quarters; a garage, workshop or storage shed. Be responsible.
I would further suggest NOT calling the local 'authorities' and getting them involved. Unless you know otherwise, they are probably only partially knowledgeable of the actual law, very ignorant of the real nature of gunpowder and prone to panic, panty wetting and knicker twisting when faced with this nature of thing. (Ant local authorities reading this may be the exception, but look at your co-workers.)
Something about forgiveness being easier to obtain than permission.
Just the opinion of your old suspicious uncle Archie.
ReloaderFred
Member
Everyone gets all upset about how to store powder and primers, but go into the local gunshop and buy primers and powder off the shelf.
At the local store where I sometimes shop, they have roughly 15,000 primers on the shelf, and about 60 pounds of various powders. The firemen shop there and there has never been a question about how the stuff is stored or displayed.
Different areas have different regulations about both display and storage, so you'll probably have to go by the local guidelines/laws/ordinances.
The only policy the Clinton Administration had that I agreed with was the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but only in regards to firearms related materials.......
Hope this helps.
Fred
At the local store where I sometimes shop, they have roughly 15,000 primers on the shelf, and about 60 pounds of various powders. The firemen shop there and there has never been a question about how the stuff is stored or displayed.
Different areas have different regulations about both display and storage, so you'll probably have to go by the local guidelines/laws/ordinances.
The only policy the Clinton Administration had that I agreed with was the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but only in regards to firearms related materials.......
Hope this helps.
Fred
scrat
Member
disagree. all local shops around me have a safe or storage device for the powder. primers are on the shelf but i really never saw primers to be a problem. but the powder whereever i go is in a safe of some type
ReloaderFred
Member
Like I mentioned, there are varying local ordinances, and your local business will have to abide by them. In my area, all the powder and primers are stored on the display shelves.
Powder burns, but primers explode, so there is actually more inherent danger from primers, if mishandled. That's why the warnings to keep them in their original packaging, where each primer is held separately, with the exception of Remington primers. In years past, there were several instances of people pouring all their primers in a glass jar, in the mistaken belief that they needed to be kept from moisture. When the jar was shaken, it went off like a hand grenade. Powder won't do that. All powder does is burn hot.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Powder burns, but primers explode, so there is actually more inherent danger from primers, if mishandled. That's why the warnings to keep them in their original packaging, where each primer is held separately, with the exception of Remington primers. In years past, there were several instances of people pouring all their primers in a glass jar, in the mistaken belief that they needed to be kept from moisture. When the jar was shaken, it went off like a hand grenade. Powder won't do that. All powder does is burn hot.
Hope this helps.
Fred
snuffy
Member
Smokeless powder has to be forced to become a bomb. That means being tightly confined. That means a very thick walled vessel, sealed with an ignition device inside.
Simply putting a container of smokeless powder in a safe, does NOT make it into a bomb.
However, powder does burn quite hot when ignited. It will add to a fire greatly, possibly making it very hard to put out.
As far as how much I have, that's nobodies business. Just suffice it to be enough to load whatever brass I have IF I had enough bullets for all of it, and room to store the results.
That's my fear as well. I'm probably over stocked according to that BS that was posted earlier. If I were to tell them, I would have to find alternate storage for some of it.
Felony In Ca
Possession of more than 1 pound of black powder or 20 pounds of smokeless powder is a felony in the state of CA unless you obtain a special explosive permit prior.
This is in California's
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 12101
It is too long to post in its entirity, but essentialy it is possession or storage of an illegal explosive without permits to have more than 1 pound of black powder or more than 20 pounds of smokeless powder as a private individual.
The exception that applies to shooters is section 12102 of the Health and Safety Code:
"12102. This chapter does not apply to any possession or use of 20
pounds or less of smokeless powder, or one pound or less of black
sporting powder, provided that:
(a) Smokeless powder is intended only for hand loading of small
arms ammunition of .75 caliber or less.
(b) Black sporting powder is intended for loading of small arms or
small arms ammunition of .75 caliber or less.
(c) All such powder is for private use and not for resale, and, in
the case of black sporting powder, there shall be no gift, delivery,
or other disposition to another person.
(d) The storage, use and handling of such smokeless and black
powder conforms to rules, regulations, or ordinances of authorities
having jurisdiction for fire prevention and suppression in the area
of such storage, use, and handling of such explosives."
Here is the code that outlaws it except under the above exemption:
12101. (a) No person shall do any one of the following without
first having made application for and received a permit in accordance
with this section:
(1) Manufacture explosives.
(2) Sell, furnish, or give away explosives.
(3) Receive, store, or possess explosives.
(4) Transport explosives.
(5) Use explosives.
(6) Operate a terminal for handling explosives.
(7) Park or leave standing any vehicle carrying explosives, except
when parked or left standing in or at a safe stopping place
designated as such by the Department of the California Highway Patrol
under Division 14 (commencing with Section 31600) of the Vehicle
Code."
Possession of more than 1 pound of black powder or 20 pounds of smokeless powder is a felony in the state of CA unless you obtain a special explosive permit prior.
This is in California's
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 12101
It is too long to post in its entirity, but essentialy it is possession or storage of an illegal explosive without permits to have more than 1 pound of black powder or more than 20 pounds of smokeless powder as a private individual.
The exception that applies to shooters is section 12102 of the Health and Safety Code:
"12102. This chapter does not apply to any possession or use of 20
pounds or less of smokeless powder, or one pound or less of black
sporting powder, provided that:
(a) Smokeless powder is intended only for hand loading of small
arms ammunition of .75 caliber or less.
(b) Black sporting powder is intended for loading of small arms or
small arms ammunition of .75 caliber or less.
(c) All such powder is for private use and not for resale, and, in
the case of black sporting powder, there shall be no gift, delivery,
or other disposition to another person.
(d) The storage, use and handling of such smokeless and black
powder conforms to rules, regulations, or ordinances of authorities
having jurisdiction for fire prevention and suppression in the area
of such storage, use, and handling of such explosives."
Here is the code that outlaws it except under the above exemption:
12101. (a) No person shall do any one of the following without
first having made application for and received a permit in accordance
with this section:
(1) Manufacture explosives.
(2) Sell, furnish, or give away explosives.
(3) Receive, store, or possess explosives.
(4) Transport explosives.
(5) Use explosives.
(6) Operate a terminal for handling explosives.
(7) Park or leave standing any vehicle carrying explosives, except
when parked or left standing in or at a safe stopping place
designated as such by the Department of the California Highway Patrol
under Division 14 (commencing with Section 31600) of the Vehicle
Code."
Down South
Member
I have about 20# of different powders on hand and about 14K primers. I could always use more.
Grandpa Shooter
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2007
- Messages
- 948
Are you folks leading me to believe that you abide by a local jurisdictions attempts to regulate your daily lives? What is in my house is my business and no one elses.
zxcvbob
Member
I think the point was, if you're over the limit you might wanna keep quiet about it. 
buck460XVR said:
I wouldn't keep ammo in a fire-proof safe. Fire-proof safes are not fire proof but are fire resistant. Given enough time the fire will penetrate and you will have created a heavy sealed pressure chamber.
I have seen many suggest keeping your powder in a wooden box made of two layers of 3/4 inch plywood with a lid that doesn't tightly seal. I agree with those suggestions. Just my opinion.
Angry Beaver
Member
I think storing powder and primers is and should be what you can economicly and safely store. asking the local authorities for limits is like putting a sign in front of your home.
I belive in the saying "it is better to be thought the fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
I belive in the saying "it is better to be thought the fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
Down South
Member
You know, I don't really know what the restrictions are for how much powder and primers I can have on hand and I really don't give a rats butt.
I'm like Grampa Shooter, What's in my house is my business altho most of my powder and primers are stored in my shop (safely).
I'm a grampa shooter too. I've been training three of my grandsons firearms safety, shooting, reloading and now casting.
I go through a lot of ammo thus I buy my supplies in bulk. It saves me a ton of money which relates to more time at the range with the grand kids.
I'm like Grampa Shooter, What's in my house is my business altho most of my powder and primers are stored in my shop (safely).
I'm a grampa shooter too. I've been training three of my grandsons firearms safety, shooting, reloading and now casting.
I go through a lot of ammo thus I buy my supplies in bulk. It saves me a ton of money which relates to more time at the range with the grand kids.
Plans or photos anyone?
"Quantities exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 50 lb (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness."
Can anyone point me to plans or photos of such a box? I think it would be handy to have, particularly if I were to ever count what I have and find that it adds up to over 20lbs. Current storage is in a smaller wooden box or 20mm ammo can, in original containers.
"Quantities exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 50 lb (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness."
Can anyone point me to plans or photos of such a box? I think it would be handy to have, particularly if I were to ever count what I have and find that it adds up to over 20lbs. Current storage is in a smaller wooden box or 20mm ammo can, in original containers.
Sagetown
Member
Crawfobj: Here is a nice NRMA reloading bench. I looked at the picture and built one almost identical to it. I built a plexiglass door for the top center shelf, and a powder box under the bench on one end. Look closely at the shelf in the center, and you'll notice it is a drop down lid that is held level with an attached chain. Makes a sturdy table for your powder scales.
You can build the box underneath a portion of the bench, or if you have room, add it to one end using 1" wood, or particle board, or marine plywood.
You can build the box underneath a portion of the bench, or if you have room, add it to one end using 1" wood, or particle board, or marine plywood.
elkhuntingfool
member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2007
- Messages
- 393
Hmmm....30# of powder, 8k primers, more than enough brass, 2 presses, bullets - well, guessing around 10k. No idea what the city limits really are - never bothered to ask - don't really care to ask either. Told my wife if the house is on fire - run fast.
JimKirk
Member
The boat that had all my guns in it...sank about six months ago ....it had all my powder, bullets and primer in it too....all but the sugar and flour!
JK
JK
Sagetown
Member
I've been hearing of alot of that happening lately. 
rockhound758
Member
+1 on the "safes are fire-resistant, not fireproof" comment. Think about what could happen if 10-15 pounds of powder started burning inside your average 28cf gun safe. I'm not sure what would happen, but the thought of the safe turning into a 900-lb hand grenade is decidely unpleasant.
I've moved my powder to my unused, unplugged upright freezer in my basement, along with a box of moisture absorbing material The door doesn't latch so it will pop open if, God forbid, there was a fire. I'll probably build a storage compartment like mentioned earlier.
Not sure what to do about the primers (they're currently in my safe), but they do NOT go with my powder.
I've moved my powder to my unused, unplugged upright freezer in my basement, along with a box of moisture absorbing material The door doesn't latch so it will pop open if, God forbid, there was a fire. I'll probably build a storage compartment like mentioned earlier.
Not sure what to do about the primers (they're currently in my safe), but they do NOT go with my powder.
edSky
Member
I'm sure there are plenty of wild-west safe-crackin' movies where someone drills a hole in a safe and pours powder in in and ... BOOM!!! The door flies off.
10K primers is measley compared to 20# of powder, for pistols, anyway. It's nice to see the guidelines though.
10K primers is measley compared to 20# of powder, for pistols, anyway. It's nice to see the guidelines though.
Sagetown
Member
rockhound758; it's a good thing you're using moisture absorbant in that ole freezer. I had one in my barn, and put some electric clippers in it along with some other tools, and they rusted up bigtime.
moooose102
Member
IMO, a years worth is practical. more than that, unless you got a heck of a deal on something is just overkill. besides, i want fresh powder / primers in my loads, not something that has been laying around for 10 years. there are laws concerning large quanities of this stuff. some local, and some not. besides the law, if you ARE storing large quanities, there is the safety aspect of it. just seems like a big headache to mess with a bunch of the stuff laying around. on the other hand, if you got a super deal, on a large quanity, for some rediculous price.............
Redneck with a 40
Member
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- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 2,273
I'm sitting on 10,000 small pistol primers and 10 lbs of powder, Unique and Longshot. With the current panic buying situation and components being pretty scarce, I'm glad I've got a stash.
zxcvbob
Member
Piker.
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