Is It Bad To Store Powder/Reloading Components In My Garage?

Just wondering if I'm wrong to be storing my reloading components at my reloading bench which is located in my garage. Its not near anything else that's flammable. Not in direct sunlight and always stays above freezing. I live in a low humidity part of the country also(another reason I love Idaho). Am I doing any harm to the open power or bullets? What about sealed ones? Maybe these are dumb questions, but I have a lot of money tied up in bullets and powder(unless you're my wife reading this) and don't want them to get ruined. Thanks in advance

Keep away from sunlight and heat are the first 2 rules for powder storage.

If garage is attached you might check your insurance policy-- if it burns they might not payout if you are not storing properly . I store mine in a fire resistant wooden box, insulated in a separated locked and home security protected shed .
Do you park in this garage? If so then there are flammable fuel vapors in there.

I would bet you dont have near the amount of powder as some of the other guys on this site do-- what do you call "a lot"?

I have about 20 pounds total of various powders.

Powder stored with lids tight in original containers should last decades as long as it doesn't get hot and in your case not too humid. Perhaps marking the purchase date on each container so you can use oldest first would be advisable. Copper on bullets will tarnish in time, but will easily polish off. Just check occasionally for the blue oxidation. Sounds like you are doing it right. Good luck

Garage works for me. What do you mean opened?

Many years ago I had powder and primers stored in the garage because I couldn't reload. I'd estimate the temperature could swing from -25 to 115. When I finally got back into reloading most of the powder was bad but the primers work fine.

Rich Coyle said:

Garage works for me. What do you mean opened?

Click to expand...

Not left open but have been opened. Not sealed from the factory anymore.

If you have the space, purchase a cooler(s) big enough to store your powder and primers in.
This is what I do and have never had powder go bad.

Cheers.

ShtrRdy said:

Many years ago I had powder and primers stored in the garage because I couldn't reload. I'd estimate the temperature could swing from -25 to 115. When I finally got back into reloading most of the powder was bad but the primers work fine.

Click to expand...

I`m really curious how many years you are talking about?? I have some 4350 that is probably close to 20 years old, & it is still fine??

MagnumManiac said:

If you have the space, purchase a cooler(s) big enough to store your powder and primers in.
This is what I do and have never had powder go bad.

Cheers.

Click to expand...

what kind of cooler are you referring to an ice chest? I need to get some powder and primer moved out of the house I live around the Wichita Falls area of Texas and worry about storing in the shed. any thought. thanks

MagnumManiac said:

If you have the space, purchase a cooler(s) big enough to store your powder and primers in.
This is what I do and have never had powder go bad.

Cheers.

Click to expand...

If a Deep freeze style do the need to run and get cold or do you need the just for the sealed aspect of it?

I've had my powder stored in my basement for 30 years now, never a problem. Some cans unopened and some cans that have been opened and resealed; maybe 15-20 pounds of it. The basement is dry, sometimes it is heated if I am doing woodworking in the winter time. I'm thinking that if you have 100 pounds or something like that stored you are supposed to store it in a special container. I've been to house fires where reloading equipment, powder, primers and reloaded ammunition have been burned with never any explosions due to stored powder. I would be quite concerned about black powder being stored in the basement, however no so with the smokeless powders. I had a 4-5 pound can of 30-31 stored in the basement, it had a price tag of $10 for the can, so you know it was old. The can was at least half full, I started using it in my my Whelen or 358 Winchester just to get rid of it, never any problem with it at all.

I have some H4831 from the Korean war still in the paste board keg. I used some last
year.

Rich Coyle said:

I have some H4831 from the Korean war still in the paste board keg. I used some last
year.

Click to expand...

I can remember 4831 coming in waxed, white paper bags @ $1.00 a bag. Everything was reloaded with 4831 back then. Actually 4831 and a 180gr bullet make a very accurate load in the 30-06.