Several years ago after going through a few ammo/primer/powder shortages, I started stocking up when prices were normal and even on sale. Not necessarily hoarding or panic buying per se, but making sure I wasn't caught with my pants down when supplies were slim. I figured it was money in the bank, a good investment that didn't have an expiration date if stored properly.

Anyway - one year when I was reviewing our homeowner's policy and reading the fine print, I found out there were limits regarding how much powder could be stored. Maybe I was naive by not knowing that, but as a PSA to anyone else out there that may not be aware, you might want to review your policy if you keep lots of components around.

It would be a beotch if a chimney fire leveled your house but the investigators found out how much powder was stored on the premises. A claim denied on that basis would really suck. I now keep powder split up between various dwellings / buildings to stay within those parameters.

NFPA also has guidelines on how specific components should be stored. Just another consideration, something to think about while waiting for Varmintguy to log in.

I have a shop that i keep my powder in.

It is about 125yards from the house.

It is stored in a wooden cabinet without any locks or latches but does have spring loaded hinges.

Back when i had no place so it stayed in the house,never worried about what would happen if a fire broke out.

Still don't but the wife let me build a play room.

Always thought this strange. They never ask folks “How much gasoline do you keep in the cars in the garage????”.....

Post a copy of that “fine print”.

How much toilet paper ya got?

They don’t care about a 500 gallon propane tank 30 feet away from the house. 😃


I will look over coverage.


I really have no place ‘outside’. Both of my shops, no-go. Tn is moldy-wet, always 90% humidity shîthole. It rains 3/7 days a week.

I used to keep a press and dies out there, dies rusted in 3 months.

Was paid a visit a while back from the state police fire marshall, seem a friend or so call friend ratted me out on how much powder and ammo I had in my building. Was given 10 days to take care of it, friend is no longer allowed on my land. Fire marshall was going to contact my insurance company

I do have heat and air in my shop.

One or the other runs all the time.

If the fire leveled the house, I think it's safe to say that the powder and primers have combusted... gone. Unless you say something, how would the know? Yeah- fire investigater says he found evidence of powder. You think he can tell the difference between 10 lbs and 20?

That’s no friend

Well I must have been lucky. Had a house fire 3 yrs ago and WASNT DENIED claims because of excessive powder primers or ammo. Insurance adjuster even saw the pile as he had to search my gun safe.
Now the fire Marshall kind of scolded me a little and advised in the future there are limits on gunpowder unless stored in a fireproof container. He also laughed when I told him the look on the firefighters faces on how much loaded ammo was in basement and to be careful. Only had maybe a couple shot shells Go off

Good info to find out I suppose. I haven't told the fire department about that stuff either. It costs me an extra $25 per year for fire dues because I have a cutting torch in the shop. Afraid to find out what it would cost with primers and powder on site.

They did away with tin powder cans, not like the plastic cans will survive

They can probably tell the difference between 10 and 200.

I've got about 20 lbs of Fg Goex Black Powder for my cannon that is still in metal containers... lol- not kept at the house though.

I have volunteer FD

I’m screwed from the get-go


Takes em 20 minutes to muster, then they get all whiny about our wooden bridge.

Even though a low boy and D-7 come across it twice in the last 3 years and dump trucks with 23 T of gravel come across it 3 or 4 times a year.

Cracks me up when a new FedEx guy drives out here with a small box truck.

Better check your coverage for exclusions period. Burgled and claim denied on guns, fine art, and jewlery. Bastards.

I got a powder magazine out on my farm with the black powder in

FWIW, 20 lbs of Fg doesn't last long with a cannon.... expensive habit.

I have a bridge across the creek on my driveway. Cross-ties on steel I-beams, sitting on concrete abutments. Will hold up practically anything. The company that delivers my diesel and propane had a couple of scaredy cat drivers who would always make me wait on deliveries until their trucks were about empty, which sometimes left me waiting for fuel. I finally called the company and threatened to find another one, if they didn't tell their drivers to grow a set. One driver finally figured out the bridge would hold him, while the other thankfully quit.

That didn't go well for a fire company tanker truck, he came across my bridge on my one farm empty to fill up in my pond, going back didnt work out to well for him

Congrats! You spotted another avenue for legislating gun control - just say that insurance won't cover your losses and scare everyone into compliance. Works like a charm!

I don’t think smokeless is explosive like that. Black powder. That’s another matter

Well, he might count the little round lids from the melted and burned plastic containers.

I still have quite a bunch in IMR metal cans.

All of it goes poof if is in something that won't allow it to build pressure.

I've seen people store their powder and primers in the safe with their guns, not a good idea.