Is my powder okay in the garage?

[igotta40]

I live in the Houston area, and it gets hot in the garage. My primers & powders are in a cabinet in the shop, which is attached to the garage, not insulated or air conditioned. Do I need to bring it in the house?

 

[sharp.shooter]

Yes. You want to keep your powder and primers in a cool, low-humidity (relatively speaking) environment.

 

[Walkalong]

Heat is the enemy of powder, if you can avoid it, don't store it where you know it will be hot.

 

[BigBoreBubba]

Here in Tennessee the humidity is a constant. No way around it, inside or outside. Therefore all I can do is keep mine cool. I keep all of my equipment and supplies in my den. Makes for a comfortable environment to load in as well.
I recently passed on a great deal on a bunch of older powder because I had no idea how it had been stored. All together it was around 25 pounds of powder for $210. I just didn’t feel comfortable since most of it had been opened and had a lot of dust and cobwebs on it. It led me to believe that it had probably been in a garage or shed for a long time.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I keep my powder in the Garage, but it’s a underground garage and stays cool all year!

 

[Rodfac]

Heat and humidity are the problems...and in Houston, you've got both 10 months of the year. Store them in a cooler dryer place or face the deterioration that's going to set in. Rod

 

[AJC1]

I keep my powder in an ice chest in my room. It's in the ac and protected against temprature swings as much as possible. In a fire I can grab my stash and save it...

 

[bluejay75]

If you’re going to keep it in a cooler make sure to keep it vented.

 

[AJC1]

If you’re going to keep it in a cooler make sure to keep it vented.

It's an ice chest like you take to the beach, no real seal. Lid just pops open closed no lock.

 

[edwardware]

Heat is the enemy of powder. . .

This.

It's probably not a problem in the first few years, but the heat is definitely shortening the useful life. Make room in a closet in the AC, and don't put it in the safe.

 

[bluejay75]

It's an ice chest like you take to the beach, no real seal. Lid just pops open closed no lock.

mine is one of those rotomolded coolers that seal. I just take the drain plugs out. But my shooting Bud told me not to and I looked it up and he was absolutely correct. I keep maybe 10-15 pounds at home. The rest is in that cooler in storage.

 

[Jim Watson]

My shop is air conditioned. If I am comfortable loading it, I figure my powder is comfortable sitting around waiting for me to get around to it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It's an ice chest like you take to the beach, no real seal. Lid just pops open closed no lock.

I keep my powder in 5 gallon buckets with a lid, and label it “ Smokeless powder”

 

[CQB45ACP]

I keep my powder in an ice chest in my room. It's in the ac and protected against temprature swings as much as possible. In a fire I can grab my stash and save it...

I know you’re joking about the fire. I just know it.

 

[Jim Watson]

I bet he is.
Powder was the last thing on my mind as I bailed out of a burning house.

 

[AJC1]

I know you’re joking about the fire. I just know it.

But do you.

 

[CQB45ACP]

But do you.

Can’t be sure

 

[Mark_Mark]

But do you.

I Believe you!

Believe all Reloaders

 

[HOWARD J]

I had over 20 #'s of powder stored in loft in garage for over 20 years in MI. Powder shot well !

 

[AJC1]

I Believe you!

Believe all Reloaders

Unfortunately many of us are also fishermen so.....

 

[Mark_Mark]

Unfortunately many of us are also fishermen so.....

I fish at night in Seattle! Big ole Rock fish here

 

[AJC1]

I fish at night in Seattle! Big ole Rock fish here

Get on those ling. Dam sea monsters with meat of an alien.

 

[Palladan44]

All I know for sure is gunpowder disappears at 392 degrees, lasts indefinitely long at zero...and somewhere in between turns to S#!T

 

[Mark_Mark]

Get on those ling. Dam sea monsters with meat of an alien.

It’s Cabazone Season, I have caught some monster right off the street! It’s good to be the only fisherman out here.

Catch and release here: Chunky Rocks, barbless hooks too

 

[dcloco]

HEAT and power or primers is BAD.

This is the element that breaks down the powder.

COOL and dry are the best.