Would you prefer to store powder outdoors or load it and store ammo outdoors?

[CQB45ACP]

I no longer have climate controlled outdoor storage for my powder (15lbs), no prospect for regaining it, and am not willing to store it inside my home.

Would loading the powder and keeping ammo outdoors be better, worse, or no difference?

Unairconditioned garden shed only option.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

I would never keep powder, ammo or firearms outdoors in uncontrolled environment

 

[CQB45ACP]

I would never keep powder, ammo or firearms outdoors in uncontrolled environment

Thanks but that’s not helpful as I described my circumstances.

 

[Thomasss]

I would think loaded ammo would be better than powder outdoors. However, you would need to take precautions with that too. Dry, cool, little humidity, probably air tight to prevent rapid changes in all of the above. I've heard of time capsules for rifles and ammo. I wondering if a person could create something out of a camp cooler. But that leads to a bigger problem of security from prying eyes or outright theft.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I would think loaded ammo would be better than powder outdoors. However, you would need to take precautions with that too. Dry, cool, little humidity, probably air tight to prevent rapid changes in all of the above. I've heard of time capsules for rifles and ammo. I wondering if a person could create something out of a camp cooler. But that leads to a bigger problem of security from prying eyes or outright theft.

Uncontrolled garden shed is the only option. Hot, cold, high humidity, all the worst conditions.

 

[CopperClad]

Uncontrolled garden shed is the only option. Hot, cold, high humidity, all the worst conditions.

No. Not a good option. Find a space in your home, even one locked cabinet would do.


That said, perhaps in army 50 cal cans, if the seals are good. Add a indicating desiccant and away you go. For better or worse.

 

[CQB45ACP]

No. Not a good option. Find a space in your home, even one locked cabinet would do.


That said, perhaps in army 50 cal cans, if the seals are good. Add a indicating desiccant and away you go. For better or worse.

No can do. Bad option is only option. The question is only in what form do I store it?

 

[reloaded_in_pa]

Uncontrolled garden shed is the only option. Hot, cold, high humidity, all the worst conditions.

That's a tough one. Best storage of ammo is the same as powder or components. Only option I can think of would be sealed in a good cooler with something to attract the moisture. That would slow the temperature changes at least.

 

[ballman6711]

Given those two choices, I would store loaded ammo before storing gunpowder outside in uncontrolled conditions.

But I don't believe in limited options.

Maybe a friend or fellow reloader could store your excess ammo or powder. Maybe store a pound or two inside the house, or a few hundred rounds. Access it as needed.

Try to think outside the box, there has to be a solution to your problem.

chris

 

[N555]

Hot storage is the best way to guarantee your powder will deteriorate.

 

[edwardware]

. . . and am not willing to store it inside my home.

Found your problem.

Your wife's aerosol can of hairspray is at least as dangerous as a pound or two of powder. The camping stove fuel cylinder is equivalent to another couple pounds, and who knows how we'll survive if you had the derring-do to store paint thinner or fingernail polish remover in the house. The propane grill tank on the back porch could kill us all!

Stop being superstitious, put it on a shelf in the second bedroom closet. It's smokeless powder, not a case of olde timey Dynamite with nitroglycerine slowly puddling out the bottom.

 

[CopperClad]

No can do. Bad option is only option. The question is only in what form do I store it?

Either form, sealed in surplus ammo cans. With indicating desiccant packs.

 

[barnfrog]

So, your question as posed in your OP, as opposed to the one posed in the thread title, is which option is worse. Essentially, I don't see much difference from the standpoint of powder degradation. Assuming the powder containers still seal well when you close them, storing loaded ammo is just the same except you're storing it in lots of little containers. There is the issue of bullets cold welding to the case mouths, depending on how long the ammo is stored.

I think @ballman6711 is on the right track. Find another option. Sell what you have and buy in small quantities? More expensive, but by your own admission you are unwilling to store the powder inside, so maybe the reason causing you to make that decision is more important to you than cost.

 

[Cheesemaker]

One option - why ask a question?

 

[CQB45ACP]

So, your question as posed in your OP, as opposed to the one posed in the thread title, is which option is worse. Essentially, I don't see much difference from the standpoint of powder degradation. Assuming the powder containers still seal well when you close them, storing loaded ammo is just the same except you're storing it in lots of little containers. There is the issue of bullets cold welding to the case mouths, depending on how long the ammo is stored.

I think @ballman6711 is on the right track. Find another option. Sell what you have and buy in small quantities? More expensive, but by your own admission you are unwilling to store the powder inside, so maybe the reason causing you to make that decision is more important to you than cost.

I didn’t see the two questions as that different—title line has limited available space for characters.

Unwilling to store inside and unable to do so. No flexibility there.

I like the sell and buy in small quantities approach if powder was readily available to buy. Cost in an affordability sense is no issue, but if one wants/needs a pound of sport pistol and it’s not available, cost makes no difference.

 

[CQB45ACP]

One option - why ask a question?

Two options…load as ammo or don’t load. But if it makes no difference WRT longevity then right, no actual option.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Found your problem.

Your wife's aerosol can of hairspray is at least as dangerous as a pound or two of powder. The camping stove fuel cylinder is equivalent to another couple pounds, and who knows how we'll survive if you had the derring-do to store paint thinner or fingernail polish remover in the house. The propane grill tank on the back porch could kill us all!

Stop being superstitious, put it on a shelf in the second bedroom closet. It's smokeless powder, not a case of olde timey Dynamite with nitroglycerine slowly puddling out the bottom.

Not being superstitious.

 

[Cheesemaker]

OP said: Unairconditioned garden shed only option.

Two options…load as ammo or don’t load. But if it makes no difference WRT longevity then right, no actual option.

OP said: Unairconditioned garden shed only option.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Given those two choices, I would store loaded ammo before storing gunpowder outside in uncontrolled conditions.

But I don't believe in limited options.

Maybe a friend or fellow reloader could store your excess ammo or powder. Maybe store a pound or two inside the house, or a few hundred rounds. Access it as needed.

Try to think outside the box, there has to be a solution to your problem.

chris

Im looking, I’m looking. Thanks

 

[Atavar]

I would be willing to bet that *many* of the reloaders here have their bench, ammo and powder cabinets in a garage that is not climate controlled.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Unairconditioned garden shed only option.Unairconditioned garden shed only option.


OP said: Unairconditioned garden shed only option.

I did say that and meant it but should better say it’s the only current option for keeping outdoors on my property. You guys have me thinking

 

[CQB45ACP]

I would be willing to bet that *many* of the reloaders here have their bench, ammo and powder cabinets in a garage that is not climate controlled.

I think so too.

 

[bullseye308]

Get a broken freezer and store it inside with a goldenrod.

That said, if for whatever reason you can’t store it inside, maybe find a friend close by that can? I have stored everything in either my bedroom or living room, wherever my bench ends up when the wife decides to redecorate and I end up. No problems in 30 years and I have had the max allowable of powder and primers at times, and had to store some with family a few times just to stay legal.

If space is limited, I have at times stored powder and primers under a couch, in the back of a closet, and many other out of the way places.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I’m already keeping 5000rounds in the workshop and that seems (and looks) like about enough to me, but let’s say I double it…That’s only very roughly 5 pounds of powder, right?

 

[Riomouse911]

Since we only have two genuinely lousy options to preserve powder and/or ammo in a consistent and useable state for any length of time; I would buy powder in a small amount (pound), load it all, store it in gasketed ammo cans as low and protected as possible in the shed, then shoot it quickly and start over.

I personally would not trust the ammo, or powder stored in similar conditions, for very long. As the guys said; poor climate storage is the enemy of powder longevity. YMMV

Stay safe.