Hello guys and gals!!

Been a ML hunter all of my life (over 20 years experience). Started hunting with a TC Hawken at age 11, moved up to a Rem 700ML and have graduated to a TC Encore. I realize some here don't like this gun, but my performs wonderfully and I love it. Back to the topic.

I consider myself more then knowledgeable about ML issue. I am not a pro that tinkers with his rifle and loads on a weekly basis, but there is little about ML theory and practice that I am at least familiar with. Christmas 05 I received a ML book, one of those novice primers that really would not help me out much. So I sat it aside and never read a page until just a few weeks ago. As I thought, not much in there that was new to me. Then I came across a statement on powder (loose and pellets) that I had never heard. The author claims that once the seal of a powder keg or box of pellets has been broken and exposed to air, the powder should be used within 4-6 months. Powder used after this time frame significantly begins to degrade and does not provide the performance of freah powder.

Now as I have said, I am not a weekly shooter and dont chronograph my shooting to have eveidence to support or refute the author. In fact, it is hard for me to shoot a whole can of powder or box of pelletsduringhunting season. Therefore I often have powder left over to get me through next season. The powder is stored in a humidity controlled atmosphere, but I seems as though every year I need to always adjust my rifle's scope. This makes me think that maybe the author is correct.

Anybody have feelings on powder longevity? The author may just be trrying to sell more powder, but I would like some info if anyone has it that might show what kind of performance loss one might see when using "old" pwder.

Thanks
TW