what is shelf life of powder in a POWDER HORN?

[pilgrim]

      Every time I go to a bp shoot, everyone is using bp powder right from the Goex can.  I understand that the powder has no expiration date when left in original 1# can and kept tightly sealed.    I keep wanting to get a powder horn, actually think about making one.  But what is the shelf life of  the powder in the horn assuming it does not get wet.  Can powder be dried and used if it would get wet. How do you keep your powder dry when the humidity hits 80 to 95%?  I have this picture of Dan'l Boone in my thoughts and don't see him with goex can. But in his day powder was measured from a 50# keg, into a horn.  I prefer to be a bit more pc correct. 

[Red Badger]

there are examples of powder horns being found after several years with powder stored in them and it still burns.  I know I have used powder that has been wet then dried out and it still functions..... maybe not as god as fresh but I could not tell and difference....

To put it this way I keep powder in my horn all the time so all I have to do is grab the horn and go.  Remember that for a long time powder came in kegs instead of cans and there was no surefire way to keep it dry.

I am sure others will chime in with theri opinions also

[William]

Unless you store your powder in one of those Indian water buffalo horns the powder should keep indefinitely.

[mongrel]

Humidity will dampen black powder and that's a fact of life that shooters from the days of hand cannons right to the present have had to deal with. I'm living just the northern side of the Ohio River from where Boone and Kenton and the rest hunted deer and bear and dodged Indians, so I expect that the problems I've had in the past with powder going gummy on me is something they likewise had to cope with.

An airtight horn will keep your powder dry and volatile almost indefinitely. Unplugging the horn, though, does away with its "airtight" status, and in high humidity, as your shooting day goes on, your powder is liable to give you fits.

Powder got wet, back in the day, and had to be dried out; it can be done. The only method I'll describe here, for safety's sake, is air-drying in as dry a place as you can get to. There is a faster way that is pretty much unaffected by anything short of actual rainfall, but we like our members to remain in one piece and will not pass along tidbits of historical detail that could lead to injury (or worse).

[flintboomer]

It is pretty dry here in Colorado and I keep powder in horns and flasks almost indefinitely, but it definitely will have less power on a rainy day.

[Smokin_Gun]

About the same here Flintboomer, I'm in the High Desert of the Mojave in CA ... I've had powder from Rondy to Rondy every March in my orn and it's sttill as good as ever... now them Rondys that it snows on us big time i use it all up afore headin' back to the flatlands at about 2700 feet.

[pathfinder]

I have A LOT of guns and powder horns and although I couldn't tell ya fer sure exactly how old some of the powder is in some of the horn's,but safe to say some are close to 10 years and no problems at all. 1,2,and 3 f powders have a graphite coating to help with moisture control,4 f doesn't. Thats why when hunting and sitting for long periods of time,I prime with powder from the main horn. Probably really doesn't make any difference,I feel better doing it anyway.

[pilgrim]

     Thanks to all for all your help,  there is a powder horn out waiting for me.  July 28, 29 & 30 I am going to Dixon's Gun Fair and intent to attend a seminar on powder horn making.  Then I will decide if its I have the  ability to make one or need to buy one.  Either way, there is a powder horn looking for a new home.  Thanks again

[beowulf]

you should try your hand at it at least once .  made my first horn when I was 21 ,danged horn was a better quality than the gun I was shootin .( little .28 guage smoothbore they used to sell in the national rifleman for $27.00 ) and the guys are right ,in a good air tight horn bp lasts a very long time . I`ve had more problems with pyrodex , seems to take to moisture the way a politician takes to lying !

[pathfinder]

What's Pyrodex?

[Red Badger]

What's Pyrodex?

It's that there fake stuff some flatlanders like to use.....        but it beats throwing rocks if you can't get real black! so don't beat up on those that use it too much....          

[beowulf]

kinda hard to find the real thing around here ! but I have two pounds of the good stuff coming ! can finally wring out my flinch locks , been a while !

[pathfinder]

Understood Red Badger! As long as guy's are shootin' I really don't care WHAT they use,as long as they are ejoying our sport!!!!!!

[mongrel]

Understood Red Badger! As long as guy's are shootin' I really don't care WHAT they use,as long as they are ejoying our sport!!!!!!

+1000

[flintboomer]

I just went downstairs and gave an old horn that hasn,t been used in about 15 years a shake--There is about 3 ounces of powder in it and shook around just fine. I can see through the horn and it was flowing just fine. This is Colorado and I am not surprised. I have several horns and flasks and I have never had any problem even if it has been 5 or 10 years since a given one has been used. You may have different results in high humidity areas.