Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Used Powder Containers

What purposes have you folks found for your used gunpowder containers? The plastic containers are heavy walled and light-proof, so they ought to have plenty of uses outside of powder storage. I wouldn't want to do anything food related in them, but for instance washing thoroughly, cutting off the top, and using one pound containers to store nuts and bolts seems an appropriate use. Over the years I've normally just chucked them after use, but currently have a pretty sizable stash and am open to ideas.

I have a couple 1# plastic big mouth in my boat for when I gotta piss.

I have saved them and metal ones. When I bought an 8 pound jug of any powder, I transferred it all into the1 pound containers ( which actually held more than one pound and labeled it. That way, only the powder I was using in the 1 pound container was opened to the air as I used it, the other was sealed from air and humidity until future use

I use them as (temporary) disposal containers for used cleaning patches to keep the solvent stench contained. I’m curious to hear some other ideas, because I’ve accumulated a pile of them.

I do like Saddlesore. Transfer my 8lb jugs into 1lb bottles, putting 20 ozs into the bottles (which may or may not be safe). Thereby saving room in my powder cabinet.

Fill almost full of water (allow space for expansion), freeze, use to occupy empty spots in your freezer to cut back on freezer run time, AND help protect the freezer contents during a power outage.

I repurpose milk jugs for this to take up larger spaces.

Nuts, bolts, other hardware, freezer water/ space..... thats what Costco Macadamian nut cluster containers are for.....

Of coarse, one must dispose of the chews first, darn it.

I put loaded ammo in them. I prefer to put the ammo I used that powder out of inside of the container. If the powder label matches what is inside I don't peel off the label. I just stick the new loading data onto the bottle. This works great with the smaller cartridges. Anything over .308 and you can't get much in. But, for the small stuff it works great.

kwg

I cut the top off a couple and screwed them to my shelf in my reloading room for holding bore guides.

Speaking of "used powder containers", I was gifted 16 lbs of powder. It's all in metal containers. I would like to transfer it to plastic containers. If someone has a couple of 8 lb jugs or a few 1 lb'ers they would like to get rid of, please send me a message.

I've used washer fluid jugs for that.

My spare 1lb containers are filled with bulk bullets.

I don't have a lot of those as I buy all my powder in 8lb jugs and just have one 1 pounder for each powder type.

Put loaded rifle ammunition in them to keep as extra for my two truck rifles .223/5.56 and .30-06. No spillage or broken open containers and moisture proof.

Any of you have a empty RE23 8# jug you would consider getting rid of?

Great idea, thanks for the tip.
Like Hastings says, perfect for 223 ammo to keep for the truck gun.

This is what I also have started to do. I also have one that I dump fired primers into. When it's full I dump the spent primers into a gallon zip-lock bag and throw it in the scrap brass bin.

I store pistol ammo in them. Also pistol brass.

To save space, I'm going to start putting the empty bullet boxes in the empty powder bottles. Why? Why do I keep this stuff?

The most relevant question of the week!

I just know I’m gonna find a good use for my plastic Lapua brass and Barnes bullet boxes…..one of these days…..

Yeah....why do I save used bullet boxes?


Thanks everyone for your thoughts, there's some good ideas here!

I have pealed the labels off and used them for other powders relabeled correctly.

I cut the bottom third off and mix my bedding and flock in them. After the excess sets up you squeeze the sides and the remaining bedding pops out and you’re ready for the next use.

I'd be leery of that, due to light degradation of the powder.

I tried that but the mouth wasn't hardly big enough.....

I save empty bullet boxes to keep track of how many rounds have been fired in a certain gun. Write the gun used on the empty box. Also have a small notebook for each gun to keep track of rounds fired, scopes used etc.

I have a one pound Varget jug I put spent primers in. When the spent primer tube on my Redding T7 gets full I just pull the plug at the bottom and let them drain out into it.

Fill them full of water, take them out in the boonies and shoot them. Be sure to pick up split container and toss it in the trash when you are finished.

I was not saving them until I bought my Brown Bess, and started making my own black powder.

Now the homemade stuff goes into used 1lb cans. I really can't think of a better way to store it.

This summer I'm going to crank up the operation. I've seen the light on Cottonelle toilet paper. It's the easy button of BP.

My first batch last summer yielded powder that's on a par with store-bought. I'm using a simple ricing method that's duplicates pre-1800 BP pretty accurately. I used Tree of Heaven as a charcoal source. However, I can only harvest about 3lbs a year off the trees growing in my yard.

I don't save them but I do like the old small square cans that I put on a self in the gun room. I use the coffee containers for brass pistol ammo ect as they have lids and stack nicely.