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Wags
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Post subject: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:58 am |
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| Tournament Grade |
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:00 am Posts: 201 Location: Port Clinton, OH
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I have a 16oz can of Goex FFg Black Rifle Powder that I purchased in 1997 (7 years ago). It's been stored accordingly in a cool dry place.
Would this powder still be reliable for this deer muzzle loading season? Or should I dispose of it and purchase new? I don't want to see the big one and the gun goes "snap" instead of boom.
Thanks.
Wags
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Thomas Krupinski
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 12:42 pm |
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| Presentation Grade |
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Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2003 2:17 pm Posts: 687 Location: Glendale/ Munds Park, Arizona
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It should outlast the shelf that you have it set on. It really does not degrade.
_________________ Tom Krupinski
Glendale/Munds Park, Arizona
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srd1965
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:40 pm |
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| Tournament Grade |
Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 1:19 pm Posts: 117 Location: ky
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I agree. Properly stored (as you have done) the powder will be fine for years and years.
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Brayhaven
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 10:13 am |
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| Field Grade |
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:06 am Posts: 37 Location: florida
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As a gunsmith, I've worked on old originals that have been passed though generations, still loaded. On unloading them, I sometimes ignite the powder & compare the burning to "new" powder. Usually see no difference. Even powder that has been soaked, can be dried & used normally. Your powder is fine
Greg
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rmbj
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:38 pm |
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| Field Grade |
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:46 pm Posts: 70 Location: West Mobeetie
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I just shot the last of a can of GOEX ffg that was stored in 1988. Shot fine.
Good luck
rmbj
_________________ if i'd known i was going to live this long, i'd have taken better care of myself
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Guest
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:24 pm |
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I know a guy who bought a civil war musket. Took it to his basement to clean while taking it apart it discharged. That's over 130 years.
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Clayslayer
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:50 am |
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| Crown Grade |
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Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 3:51 pm Posts: 4079 Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
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Your powder should be fine. After you shoot it all up I'd recommend Pyrodex.
_________________ Clayslayer
"Point and shoot, don't think about it too much"
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rmbj
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:15 am |
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| Field Grade |
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:46 pm Posts: 70 Location: West Mobeetie
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Clayslayer wrote: Your powder should be fine. After you shoot it all up I'd recommend Pyrodex.
If you are shooting flintlocks, i'd avoid Pyrodex. Be sure and use hot caps with the Pyrodex. I am shooting up some older Pyrodex, it may have degraded somewhat, misfires, hard to ignite, etc. Regular black doesn't seem to degrade and have failure to fire issues as much as Pyrodex.
A possible explanation for the differences (?) in degredation is that black is a mechanical mixture (i think) while Pyrodex may be a chemical mixture (??). Don't know for sure.
At any rate shoot it all up and get some more. Whichever works best for your gun, GOEX or Pyrodex.
rmbj
_________________ if i'd known i was going to live this long, i'd have taken better care of myself
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rmbj
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:16 am |
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| Field Grade |
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:46 pm Posts: 70 Location: West Mobeetie
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Clayslayer wrote: Your powder should be fine. After you shoot it all up I'd recommend Pyrodex.
If you are shooting flintlocks, i'd avoid Pyrodex. Be sure and use hot caps with the Pyrodex. I am shooting up some older Pyrodex, it may have degraded somewhat, misfires, hard to ignite, etc. Regular black doesn't seem to degrade and have failure to fire issues as much as Pyrodex.
A possible explanation for the differences (?) in degredation is that black is a mechanical mixture (i think) while Pyrodex may be a chemical mixture (??). Don't know for sure.
At any rate shoot it all up and get some more. Whichever works best for your gun, GOEX or Pyrodex.
rmbj
_________________ if i'd known i was going to live this long, i'd have taken better care of myself
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rmbj
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:16 am |
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| Field Grade |
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:46 pm Posts: 70 Location: West Mobeetie
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Clayslayer wrote: Your powder should be fine. After you shoot it all up I'd recommend Pyrodex.
If you are shooting flintlocks, i'd avoid Pyrodex. Be sure and use hot caps with the Pyrodex. I am shooting up some older Pyrodex, it may have degraded somewhat, misfires, hard to ignite, etc. Regular black doesn't seem to degrade and have failure to fire issues as much as Pyrodex.
A possible explanation for the differences (?) in degredation is that black is a mechanical mixture (i think) while Pyrodex may be a chemical mixture (??). Don't know for sure.
At any rate shoot it all up and get some more. Whichever works best for your gun, GOEX or Pyrodex.
rmbj
_________________ if i'd known i was going to live this long, i'd have taken better care of myself
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Clayslayer
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 6:29 pm |
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| Crown Grade |
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Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 3:51 pm Posts: 4079 Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
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Black powder is charcoal, sulphur, and saltpeter. That's about it. There are different variations but they're all made up of those three components as far as I know.
The charcoal is the fuel, the sulphur is the catalyst, and the saltpeter provides oxygen.
Pyrodex? I've got no clue what's in that stuff. I do know that Pyrodex is equal to black powder volume wise, not weight wise. I have no clue what is in Pyrodex though.
_________________ Clayslayer
"Point and shoot, don't think about it too much"
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IRISH9
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:43 am |
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| Limited Edition |
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Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:26 am Posts: 335 Location: vic. Australia
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Pyrodex is based on Potassium Perchlorate for an Oxidizer, what it's got in it as fuel I don't know.
It give 30% more power (W/W) or whatever it says on the can due to the Perchlorate having a fair bit more Oxygen in it than Potassium Nitrate.
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rmbj
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:57 pm |
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| Field Grade |
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:46 pm Posts: 70 Location: West Mobeetie
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So the oxidizeing potassium perchlorate is the agent responsible for corrosion if left uncleaned, (well, in in combination with the remaining ingredients, but the oxidizing role must be the main effect..) ??
or do i have it mixed up??
rayb
_________________ if i'd known i was going to live this long, i'd have taken better care of myself
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IRISH9
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:56 am |
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Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:26 am Posts: 335 Location: vic. Australia
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The corrosion will be mostly from various Chlorine compounds from the reaction, it shouldn't be as corrosive as B.P. and it's Sulphide containing residue (along with other nasty's).
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biggawd
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 6:56 am |
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Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 6:54 pm Posts: 53 Location: simpsonville south carolina
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ive got some new blackpowder 12ga shells with paper hulls what do yall think the shelf life might be on those.
_________________ JOIN THE NRA AND HELP KEEP OUR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS..........
cduvall@charter.net
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IRISH9
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 6:35 am |
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Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:26 am Posts: 335 Location: vic. Australia
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Your blackpowder shells if you store them correctly should last a couple of hundred years, when they do go bad it will more than likely be the primers  .
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biggawd
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:09 pm |
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| Field Grade |
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Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 6:54 pm Posts: 53 Location: simpsonville south carolina
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thanks alot,i guess i better run on out there and shoot them all up 
_________________ JOIN THE NRA AND HELP KEEP OUR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS..........
cduvall@charter.net
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greywolf
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:42 am |
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| Utility Grade |
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 5:10 pm Posts: 3 Location: durham mo
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i never saw the point to pyrodex-it's still dirty- it's doesn't fire as fast- it will still ruin your gun if you don't clean it-i've shot exclusivly muzzloaders for 20 yrs now-nothing works as well as real black-all others are just pretenders
_________________ sometimes the simple things make all the difference
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biggawd
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:19 pm |
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| Field Grade |
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Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 6:54 pm Posts: 53 Location: simpsonville south carolina
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yea its still dirty but the part of the country in its about the only thing that most sporting good stores only sell i have to drive about 45 miles to buy black powder.its crazy but what can i do. 
_________________ JOIN THE NRA AND HELP KEEP OUR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS..........
cduvall@charter.net
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IRISH9
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Post subject: Re: Black Powder Shelf Life? Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:18 am |
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Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:26 am Posts: 335 Location: vic. Australia
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Make your own ? It's not too hard to make really good blackpowder with a bit of work and a lot of experiance  .
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