i just got my order from graf and sons. i got some swiss brand and some of there own graf brand of black powder. the graf&sons brand bottles say its from feb. 2005. kinda bummed because the re-search i found on the internet said the newer version of this powder which is actually made in germany by another company was supposed to be better formulated. the order cant be returned but do you think getting over 3 year old black powder is not such a great deal. they do have the new stuff in stock but they tell me they need to sell the old first. what is the shelf life of regular good old black powder?

Sounds like you got kinda hosed. But, it's my understanding that as long as the can hasn't been opened it's ok.

Seems to me though like they should do something for you.

Vince

Sealed BP doesn't go bador need to be dated coded like Budweiser.
Itcan stay potentbeyond many,manydecades.
I don't think that you got a bad deal, they didn't promise anyonea latedate code.
I'm curious about where the research was found?
Maybe the German manufacturer doesn't even make Graf's powder using thesame formulaas they do for their own brand, or the researchthatwas found could bebiased.

My Graf's & Sons black powder is also dated 24-02-2005 which does not bother me in the least. As long as it is sealed, it is fine. If you look in the lower right hand corner of the front label you will notice it says; Mfg by Wano Schwarzpulver GmbH Kunigunde, Germany. This is imported by Schuetzen Powder LLC. Schwarzpulver is German for black powder.

I am on my second case of this powder and none of it has been bad or gone bad. One of the beauties of black powder is .. age does not effect it assome of the other powders. That's why old muskets on walls of people home, which have hung there for a hundred years, unknowinglyloaded, end up killing people. Some one caps them and they act just like one loaded yesterday.

I have some floured blasting powder I bought when a rock quarry when out of business 20+ years ago[ would you believe for a dollar a pound] it has been kept seal in plastic jugs. I use it for priming powder and it still works as good as the day I bought it. Lee

What "articap" said.[8D]

I've got quick loads left over from past hunting season older than that, black powder isn't like mayonase, as long as it is kept dry it's good.

Recently a guy was killed while inerting a Civil War cannon ball: The round blew up whilehe was drilling it. I have an EODfriend who wasbadly injured by a Parrot round in about 1988. He was the last USMC casualty of the Civil War and was medically retired for his injuries.

If kept in a sealed can blackpowder will stay potent for a very long time.

let's go to the other propellants, how about T7 and the subs? Do they have a shelf life?

I think the subs are more susceptable to age deterioration, especially if they are exposed to moisture or changes in environment. I suspect if kept sealed in cool even temperature they will last quite long also but probably not as long as real black powder which is as stated capable of remaining close to original decades later. I have read reports of Pyrodex and Tripple Seven losing some power over time but personally I have not seen that although my conditions are quite dry and temperature stable (Arizona and stored in air conditioned buildings).