New to reloading, curious as to how the rest of you store your powder. As my garage is attached to the house. I'm tempted to build a magazine in the back yard, from 6x18" slumpstone, filled with slurry, and the roof eaves well vented. But how big. Thinking about 3'deep x 4'wide x 4'tall, and placed under a tree for shade. Want to be able to store up to 25 lbs of powder, along with primers in seperate boxes, or cabinets of 1" wood construction. What do you all think? Or is this over kill.

My home is on a 10,000 square foot Residential lot, so it's not like I'm out in the country.

Phil

Phil,
I think you're going a bit overboard on this. Most of the guys I know who reload (and myself) store our powder in their original containers in our reloading area in the house.
As long as the powder stays at stable temperatures and isn't exposed to excess humidity, it will be fine. The only way anything is going to happen is if it is exposed to a spark or flame- and that won't happen with a properly closed original container.
Remember that gunpowder doesn't explode- it burns- and the containers are made out of material or construction methods that allow them to simply come apart so as not to contain the fire and cause catastrophic pressures.
Just store them properly inside and you'll be fine.- Sheister

Hi, Greyghost:
I agree with Sheister on this one, unless you're shooting a lot of black powder. Some folks get an old refrigerator and put a padlock on it. Good temperature control and it keeps the little tykes out. Both IMR and Alliant (& likely other powder manufacturers) have powder storage recommendations & regulations in their reloading manuals.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/
http://www.imrpowder.com/

For some reason the Alliant on-line guide wasn't readable the last time I tried downloading it. You should get the free paper versions from both of them anyway.

Bye
Jack

Sheister, the stuff is supposed to arrive tomorrow, and for the time being is only going to be stored in a wood box in the garage. My problem is I have my welder and cutting torches in the garage also. And while most iron work is done out side. Some small projects are done on the bench. My wife won't allow powder in the house. She doesn't even want the guns in the house. Maybe a heavy wood cabinet out on the patio, but then again, that would be having to build something. As it is my reloading is going to have to be done out in the garage, or on the patio for awhile too. Till I decide if I want to rip the carpet up in one of the bedrooms.

Phil

GrayGhost I accquired one of those old (heavy) metal desks, which I use for my reloading bench. The former file folder drawer is where I store my powders. The "pencil" drawer holdes the small stuff like calipers, deburing tool, etc.(primers could go here also). The "normal" drawers are where I store the die sets, and would also work for bullet and primer storage. The trimmer, powder measure and press are bolted thru the top (with a reinforcing plate under the press).
The above and a (used) swiveling roll around chair and I'me good to go.

No guns in the house??? I would hate to see her go, if it were my wife saying that to me. Hope she never gives an ultimatum such as that. I'm quite attached to her after 31 years of wedded bliss. I keep my powders in plastic shorage tubs. My primers are in a separate tub. The lids allow for ventilation. Bullets are kept on shelving where almost all labels can be read. Casings are kept separated in .50 cal. ammo cans. I use stick on labels to identify the cases and various data about them. There are a few plastic trash cans about with range pickups in them. They don't pick up moisture or dirt that way. PAK

Considerations for Storage of Smokeless Powder

Smokeless powder is intended to function by burning, so it must be protected against accidental exposure to flame, sparks or high temperatures.

For these reasons, it is desirable that storage enclosures be made of insulating materials to protect the powder from external heat sources.

Once smokeless powder begins to burn, it will normally continue to burn (and generate gas pressure) until it is consumed.

D.O.T. approved containers are constructed to open up at low internal pressures to avoid the effects normally produced by the rupture or bursting of a strong container.

Storage enclosures for smokeless powder should be constructed in a similar manner:

1. Of fire-resistant and heat-insulating materials to protect contents from external heat.

2. Sufficiently large to satisfactorily vent the gaseous products of combustion, which would result if the quantity of smokeless powder within the enclosure accidentally ignited.

If a small, tightly enclosed storage enclosure is loaded to capacity with containers of smokeless powder, the walls of the enclosure will expand or move outwards to release the gas pressure � if the powder in storage is accidentally ignited.

Under such conditions, the effects of the release of gas pressure are similar or identical to the effects produced by an explosion.

Hence only the smallest practical quantities of smokeless powder should be kept in storage, and then in strict compliance with all applicable regulations and recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association (reprinted at end of leaflet).

Recommendations for Storage of Smokeless Powder

STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. Be sure the storage area selected is free from any possible sources of excess heat and is isolated from open flame, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc. Do not store smokeless powder where it will be exposed to the sun�s rays. Avoid storage in areas where mechanical or electrical equipment is in operation.

Restrict from the storage areas heat or sparks which may result from improper, defective or overloaded electrical circuits.

DO NOT STORE SMOKELESS POWDER IN THE SAME AREA WITH SOLVENTS, FLAMMABLE GASES, OR HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.

STORE ONLY IN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROVED CONTAINERS.

Do not transfer the powder from an approved container into one which is not approved.

DO NOT SMOKE IN AREAS WHERE POWDER IS STORED OR USED. PLACE APPROPRIATE "NO SMOKING" SIGNS IN THESE AREAS.

DO NOT SUBJECT THE STORAGE CABINETS TO CLOSE CONFINEMENT.

STORAGE CABINETS SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED OF INSULATING MATERIALS AND WITH A WEAK WALL, SEAMS OR JOINTS TO PROVIDE AN EASY MEANS OF SELF-VENTING.

DO NOT KEEP OLD OR SALVAGED POWDERS.

Check old powders for deterioration regularly. Destroy deteriorated powders immediately.

OBEY ALL REGULATIONS REGARDING QUANTITY AND METHODS OF STORING.

Do not store all your powders in one place. If you can, maintain separate storage locations. Many small containers are safer than one or more large containers.

KEEP YOUR STORAGE AND USE AREA CLEAN.

Clean up spilled powder promptly. Make sure the surrounding area is free of trash or other readily combustible materials.

10-3 Smokeless Propellants.

10-3.1 Quantities of smokeless propellants not exceeding 25 lb (11.3 kg) in shipping containers approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, may be transported in a private vehicle.

10-3.2 Quantities of smokeless propellants exceeding 25 lb (11.3 kg) but not exceeding 50 lb (22.7 kg), transported in a private vehicle, shall be transported in a portable magazine having wood walls of at least 1-in. (25.4-mm) nominal thickness.

10-3.3 Transportation of more than 50 lb (22.7 kg) of smokeless propellants in a private vehicle is prohibited.

10-3.4 Commercial shipments of smokeless propellants in quantities not exceeding 100 lb (45.4 kg) are classified for transportation purposes as flammable solids when packaged according to U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations (Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 173.197a), and shall be transported accordingly.

10-3.5 Commercial shipments of smokeless propellants exceeding 100 lb (45.4 kg) or not packaged in accordance with the regulations cited in 10-3.4 shall be transported according to U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for Class B propellant explosives.

10-3.6 Smokeless propellants shall be stored in shipping containers specified by U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.

10-3.7 Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities not exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg) may be stored in original containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 50 lb (22.7 kg), may be stored in residences if kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1-in. (25.4-mm) nominal thickness.

10-3.8 Not more than 20 lb (9.1 kg) of smokeless propellants, in containers of 1-lb (0.45-kg) maximum capacity, shall be displayed in commercial establishments.

10-3.9 Commercial stocks of smokeless propellants shall be stored as follows:

(a) Quantities exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 100 lb (45.4 kg), shall be stored in portable wooden boxes having walls of at least 1-in. (25.4 mm) thickness.

(b) Quantities exceeding 100 lb (45.4 kg), but not exceeding 800 lb (363 kg), shall be stored in nonportable storage cabinets having walls of at least 1-in. (25.4-mm) thickness. Not more than 400 lb (181 kg) may be stored in any one cabinet and cabinets shall be separated by a distance of at least 25 ft. (7.63 m) or by a fire partition having a fire resistance of at least 1 hour.

(c) Quantities exceeding 800 lb (363 kg), but not exceeding 5,000 lb (2268 kg), may be stored in a building if the following requirements are met:

1. The warehouse or storage room shall not be accessible to unauthorized personnel.

2. Smokeless propellant shall be stored in nonportable storage cabinets having wood walls at least 1 in. (25.4-mm) thick and having shelves with no more than 3 ft (0.92 m) separation between shelves.

3. No more than 400 lb (181 kg) shall be stored in any one cabinet.

4. Cabinets shall be located against walls of the storage room or warehouse with at least 40 ft (12.2 m) between cabinets.

5. Separation between cabinets may be reduced to 20 ft. (6.1 m) if barricades twice the height of the cabinets are attached to the wall, midway between each cabinet.

The barricades shall extend at least 10 ft (3 m) outward, shall be firmly attached to the wall, and shall be constructed of �-in. (6.4-mm) boiler plate, 2-in. (51-mm) thick wood, brick, or concrete block.

6. Smokeless propellant shall be separated from materials classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation as flammable liquids, flammable solids, and oxidizing materials by a distance of 25 ft (7.63 m) or by a fire partition having a fire resistance of at least 1 hour.

7. The building shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system installed according to NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.

(d) Smokeless propellants not stored according to (a), (b) and (c) above shall be stored in a Type 4 magazine constructed and located according to Chapter 6.

AND...as for a wife, live-in, or any other person telling me that I cannot keep my firearms or reloading equipment in the house...I had one do that once...she was history almost immediately. She was a wife...

Greyghost: Given the parameters you're working under, your proposed storage area will be just fine.

Good luck to you!

I store my powder (and primers) in "Sportsmen's Dry Boxes", available fairly cheap at places like Walmart. These have a lid latch similiar to GI ammo cans, and an O-ring seal. Although, being plastic and somewhat flexible, I doubt they seal all that well. They'll hold about half a dozen one pound cans of powder, or several bricks of primers. These are kept in my garage workshop, with the rest of my reloading equipment. It is insulated and A/C, although the A/C is not on all the time (window unit).

Thank you to all who have provided input so far to this members' questions. I have one of my own to piggyback on to it.

In the interest of keeping my powder and primers dry, I have stored them in a cabinet along with a container of "Damp Rid". This is a pretty effective dessicant that sucks the moisture from the air and prevents mold/mildew from building up on my firearms as well.

In your opinions, is this also a good practice? I ask because the absolute removal of moisture might contribute to a build-up of static electricity. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks,

Fin

I have about 10K primers and 12 lbs of powder in my bedroom closet. here in so cal, it's not temperate in my garage.