Long term primer & powder storage data point

[Napoleon]

A couple of weeks ago, I retrieved some reloading supplies that I stashed away in the early 1990's when we had the first AWB panic. The supplies contained maybe 1000 blue-lubed boolits, brass, about 2,000 large pistol primers (CCI & Winchester) and three one-lb cans of Winchester 231 powder. All caliber items in 45 ACP. They have sat unmolested for 20 years in an area with temperatures mostly 50 - 70 deg. F, dry but with ambient humidity. No special container, just sitting in a cardboard box and in the original factory packaging.

I loaded up a box of these a few days ago and headed out to the range today. I only loaded one box because I wasn't too sure what to expect & didn't want to have to pull boolits out of a bunch of dead rounds. For comparison, I also had a box loaded with fresh powder and primers and using the same load data.

Well, I was very pleasantly surprised to have all rounds fire strongly and accurately. The "old" loads all felt and performed identically to similar loads using fresh powder and primers.

I have read about guys storing powder and primers for decades but, when it's YOUR powder/primers and YOUR decades (and you know all that went on in the storage area and the many possible ways stuff can get damaged/corroded/wet/etc.) -- you have misgivings about using that old stuff. At least I did today.

Anyway, I was impressed and intend to shoot up this old stuff until its gone. Once the prices of the supplies come down a little bit, I'm going to restock and I'll be set for another 20 years!

Hopefully, millions of us are doing this nowadays and I thought that my experience might encourage you to try long term storage yourself.

[ken6881]

that is good to know I have started my hording of supplies and to know that if its still there years from know it will most likely be good makes me feel better.

[Bigtw]

I have a similar scenario but my small Winchester pistol primers went partially dead. Have to shoot single action/hammer cocked to get them to fire. They are from late 90s. All Federal primers work fine. My old powder is fine as well.

[guncrank1]

As long as the powder is dry and not stored in a hot area

Powder and primers are not hydrosopic.
Lead bullets will oxidize and copper will corrode, especially with dissimilar metals and galvanic reaction.

So store those items accordingly.

Wow a whole post with big words and it makes sense

[kyswede]

I am still using Red Dot and Blue Dot powder purchased in 1994.