Are ziploc bags alright for storing powder?

[instr8]

I have bunches of pulldown powder and I have always stored it in whatever jugs I could find, milk, 2liter, arizona tea..... The problem with jugs is that they are not all the same and are irregular heights for stacking in tall military air-tight ammo cans. I was thinking about double bagging it into ziplocs. It would really save room. Just wondering if theres any downside to doing this I hadn't considered.

[daschnoz]

Other than the powder spilling, or the seal on the bag sucking, and your powder absorbing moisture, I don't see a problem.

I would buy (or save) a bunch of water bottles. Dry them out, and there you go. Soda bottles should work too. You'd have to wash them to get the sugar residue out. Less chance of a spill, and the cap seals much better than a zip-lock bag.

[brownknees]

I've never gotten a good, lasting seal with a ziplok. For that reason & the static previously mentioned I'd be real wary of doing this.

[owlcreekok]

I have been known to have klutzophrenic tendencies. Any baggie in a hunnerd yard space of me or my junk is subject to get a hole poked innit.

But that's just me. :sad:

[instr8]

Originally posted by daschnoz

I would buy (or save) a bunch of water bottles. Dry them out, and there you go. Soda bottles should work too.

I don't drink much water or soda. How about beer cans....Yeah!, i'll start saving them up. If I can get a pound per can, I'll be good to go but it may take a day or two. Better make another beer run.


:rofl:








Just kiddin. Guess I'll reconsider the bag idea.

[aardq]

How about empty powder containers that you have, or from your reloading friends? Just be sure to put a big label on them first!

Dan

[ftierson]

Plastic powder jugs from the manufacturers are made out of appropriate plastics that will not react with chemicals in the powder...

It's never a good idea to store smokeless powder in plastic jugs unless you know, for sure, that the plastic is inert to the ingredients in the powder...

In addition, as mentioned, static electricity is to be avoided...

On top of all this, the storage container that the powder is in should be completely opaque to keep light from the powder...

Ziplock bags fail these 'requirements' across the board...

Glass would be better than plastic, but opaque glass is hard to find...

Your best bet is to find a bunch of old powder containers and make sure that you CLEARLY mark them for whatever powder you're storing inside. Clearly marking them should include making the original markings illegible...

Mistaking a little HP38 for 870 will really ruin your day...

Forrest

[instr8]

Originally posted by ftierson


Your best bet is to find a bunch of old powder containers and make sure that you CLEARLY mark them for whatever powder you're storing inside. Clearly marking them should include making the original markings illegible...

Mistaking a little HP38 for 870 will really ruin your day...

Forrest

Forrest,

I appreciate your response. Lots of good advise therein. but if I could find powder containers, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I wonder if I couls buy empty ones somewhere online?

[brownknees]

Try U.S. Plastics.
They have multiple sizes, shapes & materials of cans, bottles & just about darn near everything else.
Most of the containers you see everyday & wonder where the manufacturer got them from are available there for a reasonable price.

[instr8]

Originally posted by brownknees
Try U.S. Plastics.
They have multiple sizes, shapes & materials of cans, bottles & just about darn near everything else.
Most of the containers you see everyday & wonder where the manufacturer got them from are available there for a reasonable price.


Thanks Browny. I've been searching the interweb since my last post and to no real avail at a reasonable price. I did notice however that powder containers are HDPE. Milk jugs are the same stuff, just yellow vs. black. I'll look over at US plastics.

[brownknees]

I think HDPE is available from them. If you order a (free) catalog then there's a table in the back about what materials are suitable for what application.

[ammolab]

Chase down those proper jugs....the residual solvents in powders and some of the stuff in double base powders will literally destroy some plastic bags in short time.. Bags not good!

[shootist87122]

Originally posted by instr8


I don't drink much water or soda. How about beer cans....Yeah!, i'll start saving them up. If I can get a pound per can, I'll be good to go but it may take a day or two. Better make another beer run.


:rofl:


So! Yer too good to buy beer in quart bottles? ;)

[brownknees]

If you do the redneck thing with a 'fridge then you can build a "kegorator":rofl:
Just how much 4895 does fit in a beer keg:eek: :? :beer:

[jerrymrc]

I just put some powder in a couple of Folgers coffee cans. They are made of HDPE. I gave them a quick black paint job on the outside to make sure that they were opaque. They seal pretty darn good and around here moisture is not a problem.

Now I did clean them out but if I start smelling coffee on the line I guess I will try something else.:biggrin:

[mosbysmen]

ok , i have pulled down some rounds and put the powder in a powder bottled labeled junk powder ,
what are you all doing with that much powder that you need more then one bottle ? i mean are you going to reuse it ? are you mixing powder types ?