How long will Triple 7 last if stored dry?
 

I have pellets and powder that I have not used for about 3-4 years. It has been kept cool and dried. How long will it stay effective?

More than 4 years if it was stored right. Not sure about the pellets though. They seem to absorb moisture more than the powder.

Thanks. I live in Utah and its pretty dry most of the year.

I have dehydrated pellets in my food dehydrator and they worked great even though old , so if moisture is a possibility just dehydrate them .

I have some jugs of Triple Seven that are getting real old. Some of the unfired jugs are pushing three years. The main thing is keep the powder dry. If you open the jug and you see clumping, you might have some problems.

Last week,i had wondered the same thing! I called Hodgdon powder company and ask that question. A fellow named Cody talked to me and said " As long as it is kept dry,it will stay good the same as black powder."
I bought a pound of it,i can't remember how long ago,but it has been years! I've had it stored in a dry place. I am going to use it this week to shoot an inline 50 cal and some sabots,for my son.
I guess i will find out?

You'd have to chrono new powder, and the old powder to know for sure if it lost power. Just going bang isn't a good test.

The main thing I would look out for is the pellets they do NOT seal out the moisture the jugs of granular do if the are still sealed or closed tight.

I agree. I've never tried pellets, but i've seen the containers. If I shot pellets i'd put them in a ziplock baggy when they were new.

Just like my lunch. :D

Here's a great trick for preserving ANY powders or pellets.
You'll need a "FOOD SAVER" or other vacuum packing machine, but just put your powder or pellets in a roomy sleeve, and suck the air out and seal her up. No way any ambient moisture can get in.

Food Saver machines are awesome for storing more than just foods or meat for a loooooong time. Just found a packet of Oryx backstraps in the back of freezer from 2009. No freezer burn & still delicious!
Also a half used box of Pyrodex pellets from 2003. Took em out & fired em all. They worked perfectly... just like the Oryx steaks.:party0005:

That, or you can shoot more. :)

I just checked the bottle I am currently using... It was made in 2009 no problems at all with it. It shoots the same POI as any.

It really is in how you seal the bottle and keep it sealed over time.

i have some containers that are 15 years old that are kept cool and dry and never had a problem. fyi i use the old ones for target shooting not hunting so i rotate them out. i always date them as well that way i know exactly how long iv'e had them.

Yes, Vacuum sealers are great for protecting meats and such from freezer burn as long as absolutely no moisture gets to the seal when vacuuming which will cause the package to appear sealed but within a short time it will be loose allowing freezer burn. Packages get tossed around and handled in the freezer and if any vacuum sealed package gets so much as a pinprick hole in it, there again it will become loose and allow freezer burn. I don't trust them to last so I check them often and use any that are loose right away.

But, as jimsmokepole says, they are great for dry storage of bulk spices, seasonings, etc., and even powder! :biggrin:

BPS

I bought 6 one pound bottles of loose way back in 2006 after hunting season ended and the gun shop was clearing shelves for summer stuff. I put them on the top shelf in the safe which has a golden rod inside. I just opened one of the four remaining bottles a few weeks ago and it is just fine.

:D Al

Triple Seven is a very stable powder. Been running some load development. One can of Triple Seven was opened in 2007: It has been kept tightly sealed. That can of powder performs like the new can opened this fall.

I've had the same longevity with pyrodex. I have shot some that was over 10yrs old with no issues. I believe as long as they are stored dry and cool, time doesn't seem to hurt.

I'll chip in my 2 cents. I've used T7 powder that was 4-5 years old, stored in the original can with the lid on tight. Stored in the basement gun safe, no special preserving techniques. It seemed to shoot the same as new T7 powder.

Long-time away from this sport. I just opened my jug of Trip-7 FFF from 2004 and it only had a couple of tiny clumps in it. I removed the entire contents and did not return the two tiny clumps to the jug.

I'll let you know in early December how well it shoots. In the meantime I'm using a .270 and .300WSM in the Northern Lower Peninsula, starting tomorrow evening.

The boxes the pellets come in do not seal moisture out, this is one of the biggest problems with pellets .
I would believe that at the price they charge for them they would at least provide decent packaging.

No worries, a friend of mine last saturday took the top of a bucks heart off at 193 yards with 2 triple 7 pellets and a 240 grain bullet. the pellets are at least 7 years old and hit exactly on the money.

I was just given some unknown age pyrodex pellets. Almost a full box. I don't shoot them but a buddy does, so I want to give them to him.

After reading that they can be dehydrated, I figured I'd do that before I pass em along since I have one.

How long do you recommend / approx temp?