Letting Cartridges Loaded With Pyrodex Sit in Ammo Bunker

When I reload for a BP cartridge rifle should I shoot what I load or can I store some rounds for next time. Thanks

Compare your reloads to BP cartridges bought at the LGS or wherever. They are stored for some time after being loaded and before purchase, and usually some time after purchase too. I accept your reloads are at least of the same quality and, therefore, should be storage safe for at least the same period as any factory cartridges. We're not talking years are we?

Think of how long BP cartridges were stored when they were the only cartridges available, and under what conditions. Your storage would probably be a 100% better than those.

If you have any concern, reload only what you are soon going to shoot. However, hopefully your reloads are going to be shot very soon after loading?

I have fired pb rounds loaded in 1889 . They all shot very well .

If stored properly and loaded properly, loaded cartridges last for a very long time, including black powder and pyrodex. Take a look at the manufacture date of the propellant you are using right now, eg how long did the primers and propellant you used, sit in the store since manufacture before you purchased it? That gives you an indication of a minimum period acceptable to the industry.

In my experience, the problem, if any, lies in greased lead bullets. Note that I am referring to grease, not wax.

I usually only load enough rounds for a training session or a competition, with an appropriate reserve for sighting-in etc. A number of rounds that I had overlooked after an autumn competition and then rediscovered next spring still went bang, but the grouping was sub-standard. Dismantled rounds revealed that some of the grease had penetrated through the wad and caused the top layer of powder to become caked. Plus some verdigris forming aound the case mouth.

For this reason, I now take care to store loaded BP rounds with the bullet down.

I have also often seen old .22 ammo that looks decidedly crusty, and have experienced that it may not chamber properly because of the grey layer of lead that has been chemically affected by the grease.

So:maybe BP cartridge rounds will last for some time and still function. But IMHO, if you want accuracy, don't keep them for years!