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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

It should outlast the shelf that you have it set on. It really does not degrade.

I agree. Properly stored (as you have done) the powder will be fine for years and years.

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

I just shot the last of a can of GOEX ffg that was stored in 1988. Shot fine.

Good luck

rmbj

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.

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 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 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

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.

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.

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

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).

ive got some new blackpowder 12ga shells with paper hulls what do yall think the shelf life might be on those.

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 .

thanks alot,i guess i better run on out there and shoot them all up

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

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.

Make your own ? It's not too hard to make really good blackpowder with a bit of work and a lot of experiance .