Old Powder and Primers

[Constable 1]

OK this is the question. In the past i did a lot of reloading and shooting but 6 or so years ago due to career assignments and a serious illness of a child I put the Dillon and all my primers and powder in storage, I haven't touched them since,

Now I am digging all my equipment out and setting up again to load .223 and .40 S&W to start. I have 3 pounds of 748 and 3031 that have been sealed and in temperature controlled storage in the house. I have also 2k+ of small rifle primers that have been in an outside storage building for most of that time exposed to 100+degree summer temps.

Does any one have any experience with powder that has been stored for long periods of time, or should I consider it a loss and dispose of it.:confused:

I think that the primers are a total loss but I wanted to see if anyone has any input into their storage or possibilities for use, I have always been told that storage in high heat conditions was the worst thing that can happen to Ammo, primer and powder for long periods of time.

any thoughts

[762xIan]

As far as the powder is concerned, you will be fine. I have used powder given to me (friends father passed away) that was AT LEAST 20 years old or older....the prices on the cans were $6 per pound. The powder worked fine.

The primers I would suspect a little more, but I would still use them and limit them for plinking ammo. I have used old primers that were stored in a damp basement for many years, no corrosion on the primers and they all worked.

[tracker722]

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[MarshallDodge]

My friends father passed away a couple years ago and he gave me a bunch of 4895 that had 1971 written on the bottle. I am not sure how it was stored but last year I loaded up 800 rounds of plinking ammo and it all ran great, not a single misfire or anything to think that there was something wrong.

Someone told me that you could do a sniff test on powder and that it should not have a strong acrid chemical smell, just the usual powder smell.

There would be no harm in loading up a couple dozen rounds and trying it out. The worst that would happen is the primers wouldn't go bang.

[HelloLarry]

Give the primers a try too. I'll bet they are OK.