Pellet Storage

[philpot 5,122]

Today I was sorting through various shooting bits and amongst all my stuff was approx 40 tins of pellets. I like to buy a tin whenever I am doing pellet tests and so over a period the stock starts to build up. Many of them will not be used in the guns I now own but you never know when I might want to try a particular brand/type but where to keep them.

I have a nice steel drawer unit in the garage with 15 draws in it so just perfect to fit the tins in but not sure if the cold will cause issues with the pellets. Just wondered if anybody has had any issues when Keeping them in a garage.

 

 

Phil

[mattwhite 1,993]

I've done a very similar thing last weekend Phil.

Sorting through my old fishing gear I came across a few tins of pellets from 4 or 5 years ago still in their tins and never moved from a cold garage.

All I can say I noticed is that they looked like they make have tarnished a bit? What I mean is they seem to look a bit darker or dirtier than a new tin.?

[stealthy1 3,964]

Give the tins a quick skoosh of WD40, job done.

[philpot 5,122]

I had thought of sealing the tins back up with insulating tape to keep damp out....................just a thought.

 

Phil

[PeskyWabbits 464]

Mine are under my bed. I think they oxidise wherever you store them. Maybe at different rates though.

You shouldn't get condensation if they are in a container, in a container though.

[mark williams 7,568]

Ditto to Pesky`s thoughts.

 

I`m sure you get a lead oxide, or sulphide patina to old pellets if stored unsealed.

Whether this affects performance ? I don`t know.

 

I buy in bulk Phil, kept in the house and in sealed tins by the manufacturer. Never see any oxidation and always as good as the day they were made.

 

 

atb Mark

[Rabid 1,936]

I found an unsealed (opened) old tin of pellets in my workshop not long ago, I would guess they had been in there around ten years (educated guess as I bought them for a specific rifle and have a good idea when I sold it).

 

They looked very dark, and had a very few tiny white spots on the top layer, I gave them a rinse and they looked as good as new, just a slightly darker shade, now bearing in mind the workshop they are in is a pretty damp affair, I think they stored pretty well considering.

[philpot 5,122]

Hmmm thanks guys, I think I will find a place for them in the house. Not much point holding on to pellets for testing if they have perished in some way.

 

Phil

[walshie 2,804]

Surely as they use lead for water mains and roof flashings, it must be pretty waterproof.

[philpot 5,122]

True but I think the atmosphere has effects on the surface coating of the lead. Tin Antimony used to be used to harden lead and stop damage to the surface but not sure if this is used in pellet production. I found a tin of pellets in the garage that had been there for a few years and those had gone darker with a few flaws in the surface which is the thing that got me thinking in the first place about pellet storage.

 

Phil

[Rez 4,961]

No issues my side. Kept in garage. A damp garage at that. Seem to group as per.

[villaman 9,982]

Surely as they use lead for water mains and roof flashings, it must be pretty waterproof.

This is why we use this on new lead

http://www.britishlead.co.uk/patination-oil

 

Prevents the white carbonate that forms on newly fitted Lead from staining adjacent materials

[philpot 5,122]

Sorted, now all pellets are living in a couple of seed trays under the lounge suite.................................until my wife finds them

 

Phil

[Rabid 1,936]

Sounds like a trap to see how often she cleans under the sofa

[Jonjon79 13,358]

I get nagged for all of my gun stuff being in our bedroom

 

My pellets are kept in a box with other shooting nick nacks.