Loaded ammunition giving off solvent fumes?

[119er]

I tried a search but did'nt find anything so,

I have loaded about 1000 .308 with H4895 and stored them in a steel ammo can and upon opening it, the smell of the solvent from the powder is very strong. The ammo cans are stored in a safe, inside. I have noticed this with Russian 7.62x39, both with and without bullet/primer sealer as well. I am not as much concerned as I am curious as to why this happens.

Any ideas why the solvent vapors leave the cases?

 

[blarby]

Any ideas why the solvent vapors leave the cases?

Its spreading the awesomeness as far as it can get

Simply, ammo isn't air tight.

Gasses are constantly in motion, and will diffuse from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration.

Specifically; brass, primers, and bullets are not total osmotic barriers.

 

[119er]

Awesome response and sig line too, blarby!

One further, aren't the solvents there for a reason? And would this cause degraded performance of the ammunition over time? For instance, the gases reach equilibrium and the can is opened and more gases leave the cases every time this occurs, assuming of course enough time has elapsed for equilibrium. Wouldn't this be the same as leaving your powder stored in open containers in a sealed locker that you open every time you load? That is surely not a recommended practice!

Perhaps I have a long term experiment to conduct with a chronagraph!

 

[hueyville]

It's a non issue. Smelled it for 30 years and all rounds go POP when I pull the trigger.

 

[BullfrogKen]

No, the ammo will not degrade. It will be fine.

 

[1KPerDay]

Smell an empty can. I've had some that started to smell weird and I traced it to the rubber seal around the top.

 

[kingmt]

The reason for the solvent is that is what the powder is washed with. Doubt that is what you are smelling tho.

 

[9w1911]

I have had rounds that smell like the 231 thats in them. Such a great smell.

 

[Reefinmike]

^really? I can hardly smell a scent on 231/hp-38. ive probably seen 12 pounds of it since I started loading last april. Now, varget, win748 and h335... those are yummy smells I will never forget

every can of 231/hp38 ive had has had a very very faint solvent smell. the rifle powders ive played with have 20x the scent.

 

[9w1911]

yep 231 is one of the strongest to me.

 

[blarby]

That H4895 smell in the morning ?

Thats ........victory.

That particular smell is I think one of the larger reasons I like H4895- besides its unbelievably wide use envelope, temperature non-senstitivty, ease of metering, and regular availablity.


Eventually, all powders will degrade- but that odor isn't what you will notice.

Unless you adhere to armory standards of testing, and plan on storing your ammo on the long side of a couple of decades- I wouldn't pay it much mind.
In short, listen to Ken.

Enjoy the air freshener.