About two weeks ago I purchased a pound of Varget powder at the local Sportsman's Warehouse. Well, this afternoon I was making up some rounds and went to open the new container. As I was unscrewing the plastic bottle, the damn thing popped much like a blackcat firecracker, and powder went everywhere. It didn't hurt anything but damn sure startled the shit out of me!! I looked around at the powder all over my reloading bench and noticed the safety seal was laying on the table too. There was enough pressure inside the bottle to effectively blow the safety seal off the bottle onto the bench.

The only thing I can think explains this is the altitude. My house is just a few feet shy of 7200 feet, which might explain the minature eruption and excessive pressure inside the bottle.

What do you guys think?

First, it is a good thing you were not smoking

As long as there is nothing unusual about the powder, smell, etc I would think you assumption about the altitude is correct.

Hey Graybird, Never heard of it happening before, so I'm glad you made the post.

Looks like Altitude would have "reduced" the External Air Pressure, so you might be correct.

Interesting!

Your explanation is plausible. If there was no evidence of deterioration in the powder (acrid smell, powder residue), then the Varget is probably good. The sudden release of pressure does indicate that the seal was quite good on the packaging. I am not anywhere near the altitude you are at, but I will pay closer attention to powder in the future. Thanks for the post.

I think you are on the right trck with the elevation explanation.

I have never heard of anyone having a can of powder do that, however.

Just last week my wife and I went camping at nearly 7000 feet elevation. We left home at around 300 feet elevation. When my wife went to open a container of mayonaise the stuff sprayed all over her.

I have had potato chip bags burst while driving up into the mountains to go hunting. Lots of pressure change.

I have had a few pop but nothing like you experienced.

Altitude makes a difference to sealed containers, I’ve had a couple bags of unopened Lays potato chips that I bought in Denver explode while going over Monarch pass heading for Taylor Park. Believe me they were loud sitting at ear level right behind me in the back seat of my crew cab. And needless to say it was a little unnerving because I had 2 ATVs and 2 weeks of provisions in the bed while pulling 8,000 pounds of overloaded travel trailer behind that.

Well, altitude is the only thing I can think of right off hand.

I travel a good bit and notice similar pressures in things like my aftershave and shampoo bottles after traveling to lower altitudes, esp. Florida, etc. I've even notice things like water bottles that won't set evenly on the table because the bottoms of the bottles show the excessive pressure until you open them, releasing the pressure, and they then sit properly.

Altitude is my best guess at the moment. Didn't notice anything unusual with the powder.

I bought a lb. of powder from a gunshow several years ago and checked to make sure the seal was in place on the plastic bottle before I purchased it. The vendor was from Denver and got kind of preturbed at me for removing the lid. He said they often blow the seal when the lids are removed.

When you put together your loads at that altitude, just make sure to give them a solid crimp. Otherwise your bullets might get sucked into the case when you go down to the shooting range ...

On an airplane flight recently, they gave us bottles of water. I drank most of mine, and put the top back on while at altitude. Upon the landing the bottle was nearly crushed. Difference in atmospheric pressure is a real thing, and works both ways. Kudude