Powder storage question

S

stagpanther

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I should probably know this but don't--is there a particular reason you can't store kegs of powder on their sides rather than straight up and down (other than if they ignite they will be blowing sideways over a greater area)?

thanks!
 
Tagged to follow because I never heard that before . I have stored powder on it's side before do to the space needed . They fit better that way . In fact I have a box of 17lbs of powder I put away for long term storage that I'm sure there are a few lbs that are on there sides .

Interested to see if I need to unpack them and make sure they are all up right .
 
Actually couldn't find a single thread when I googled--except for an OSHA guideline about general explosives--saying that the container needs to be stored with seam side down if stored on it's side. :confused:
 
I believe technically smokeless powder is NOT an explosive , it just burns . I believe black powder is an explosive or at least much closer to an explosive then smokeless powder . Here in CA you can have and store 20lbs of smokeless powder with no real special treatment( besides the common sense stuff) . On the other hand you can only have 1lb of black powder and I believe it's storage is more regulated . I don't use black powder so I really don't know the specifics on it's storage .

I'm not sure if that's splitting hairs or not but when you get into technical data . Sometimes splitting hairs is important .

FWIW , http://www.saami.org/specifications.../download/SAAMI_ITEM_200-Smokeless_Powder.pdf
 
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I'm torn between storing in my basement--which is always cool but gets humid easily--or upstairs--which is warmer than the basement but drier. Where I live extreme cold is much more of an issue than heat.
 
I buy in 8# jugs, they are too slippery and do not stay sideways, even if I wanted them to..

Smokeless powder is classified as a flammable solid, not an explosive like BP, as already mentioned.
 
I know that it's not an explosive--I just couldn't find any other reference as to any possible consequences of storing a container on it's side other than the OSHA explosives guidance.
 
Like any flammable, it can become a dangerous explosive if kept enclosed in a small space that can build pressure. An unvented cabinet or safe can become a "pipe bomb".
 
Store upstairs, the temperature for storage is less important than humidity, as the old saying goes, 'Keep your powder dry'.
 
There is a difference between black powder and smokeless powder. I know, most want answers in 10 words or less. I am the fan of filling the area between the primer and back of the bullet with powder. I am also the fan of seating the bullet with no space between the bullet and black powder.

I am not the fan of using 8 pound jugs, standing or lying on the side of the container. I am the fan of reducing the atmosphere inside the container. There was a claim jugs of powder just burst into flames suddenly and without warning. Then there was that lecture about gassing, seems it was always the machine gun powder. The one thing no one would consider is the white one gallon milk looking plastic jugs should have never been used for the storage of powder or used for storing anything that did not fill the jug

Back to atmosphere; changing of temperature causes the plastic jug to flex and fail. Add that problem to changes in atmospheric pressure does not help the longevity of the plastic bottle. So if a reloader is going to make a set of rules up for storage consider approved storage bottles and use smaller containers. Stabilizing the temperature can not hurt and then there is changing of atmospheric pressure.

And do not forget exposing a large area of powder to a flame front can render your fire arm scrap.

F. Guffey
 
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Before they do what and what is it’s?
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I know assuming is the root of all evil but I assume the powders original containers are approved to store the powder in . At least I don't see anywhere on the bottle where it says . After opening place contents into an approved storage container .

I stored some powders on there sides only because the shelf height only allowed for one group of bottles to be upright and another to sit on top of those on there sides .
 
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I should probably know this but don't--is there a particular reason you can't store kegs of powder on their sides rather than straight up and down (other than if they ignite they will be blowing sideways over a greater area)?
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Never heard of this before, you have a citation?


Store upstairs, the temperature for storage is less important than humidity, as the old saying goes, 'Keep your powder dry'.
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This is terrible advice, someone told you wrong. Heat is by far the worst condition to store powder. Humidity is bad, heat is worse. Keep your powder dry and cool, and never store up in the attic or in hot conditions. Heat accelerates the deterioration/decomposition of powder and the rate is directly proportional to the Arrhenius equation, which is an exponential function. Maybe this is a simpler way to say it: the lifetime of ammunition decreases exponentially as temperature rises. This table is instructive on how quickly heat deteriorates smokeless propellants:


UN manual on ammunition inspection. See section 7.3.

Surveillance and in-service proof - the United Nations[/B

http://www.un.org/disarmament/conva...20-Surveillance_and_In-Service Proof(V.1).pdf


Propellantdeteriorationyearsversustemperature_zps29357560.png
 
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I should probably know this but don't--is there a particular reason you can't store kegs of powder on their sides rather than straight up and down (other than if they ignite they will be blowing sideways over a greater area)?
Never heard of this before, you have a citation?
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Nope--that is simply what I assumed since every account I've heard of where a keg "blows" usually the top blows off--so if that happened with the keg on it's side I assumed that lateral dispersion would be greater--but I've already admitted I'm weak in the Phizzics area so I could be wrong.
 
Although I agree 100% with slamfire I feel there is a caveat to that . I'd rather have my powder upstairs ( not attic ) where it gets in the 80's some times rather then a basement where humidity can be 95% some times .

Would I be wrong in that line of thinking ?
 
How is the powder inside the can going to know if it is laying on it's side, or if it's right side up? Shake it up, it'll be all confused! :confused::p:rolleyes:

I would take low temperature storage over low humidity storage every single time. If your powder cans are tightly sealed like they should be, in a relatively temperature stable environment, there will be very little if any "breathing" of the cannisters. Humidity should be a non-issue.
 
How is the powder inside the can going to know if it is laying on it's side, or if it's right side up? Shake it up, it'll be all confused!

I would take low temperature storage over low humidity storage every single time. If your powder cans are tightly sealed like they should be, in a relatively temperature stable environment, there will be very little if any "breathing" of the cannisters. Humidity should be a non-issue.
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Beats me--THAT"S WHY I ASKED! :rolleyes: I will say this: I periodically check the tightness of the caps and I'm convinced that over time--for whatever reason--they can become loose.
 
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