Black Powder Storage

[MikePal]

I was organizing stuff in the Man Cave the other day and I realized I needed to upgrade the storage capacity for my Black Powders.

I scoured the net trying to find what is, legally, my responsibility. What a quagmire, so while it’s still fresh in my memory, I will post the links I found applicable, save yourselves some time if you want to know the information.

There are two bodies involved; the Federal Explosives Act and the Natural Resources of Canada

Under the Explosives Act the applicable ‘storage’ regulations are found in Division 2 paras 297 thru 304.

See link: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/r...2.html#docCont

The information on the NRC regulations are found in;

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/explosives/ac...age-sale/15916

note: In both these documents the term ‘storage unit’ is used.. it is defined in section 6 of the Explosive Act as:

“storage unit”
“storage unit” means a building, structure, place or container in which Footnote *explosives are stored and that is not licensed. However, it does not include a dwelling or any structure, place or container in a dwelling.

So what I was able to find, or not find in this case, in either of the applicable ‘legal’ documents what a ‘user’ is required to do to store their powder in their 'attached dwelling'.

There is no mention of special requirements for a cabinet, chest or box in either of the legal documents…at least not that I could find.

Some might remember back in 1998, the CSSA had published a summary of the Explosives Act:

http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/leg...reloaders.html

In that document it said

“The storage of gun powder is regulated by the explosives act, r.S.C. 1990. you may keep a maximum of 12 kg. In a dwelling if it in a suitable container. this is specified to be a box of 3/4 inch thick wood, no ferrous fittings (use brass, bronze, or glue), be locked and labelled aexplosives@.”

But I could not find that requirement in the new 2013 Explosives Act. Maybe that requirement has been repealed.

So as it stands, at least in my searches, there seems to a void in the act as to how to store your powder in a dwelling….(see definition of storage unit). The closest requirement seems to be, that as long as it kept in it’s original container.

Note: Black Powder in a Dwelling

As a side note…the regulations clarified how much powder that you can keep in a dwelling. This may be why they didn't specify a special container, your only allowed to store 1Kg (basically 2 lbs) of Black powder in a dwelling.

From: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/explosives/ac...age-sale/15916

Storage for Use: Dwelling

A person may acquire and store up to 1 kilogram gross mass of black powder for use in an attached dwelling.

A person may acquire and store up to 3 kilograms gross mass of black powder contained in cartridges for use in an attached dwelling.

A person may acquire and store up to 10 kilograms gross mass of black powder for use in a detached dwelling or a storage unit attached to a detached dwelling.

When propellant powders, percussion caps or black power cartouches are stored in a dwelling:

they must be stored away from flammable substances and sources of ignition. People not authorized by the user must not be given unlimited access to the propellant powder, percussion caps or black powder cartouches.

Anyway, that’s what I found….if anyone has more info on this, it would be appreciated, it would be nice to know that we are storing our Black Powder in accordance with the Federal laws.

[Marker]

Good post, that topic comes up at the range every year.

[huntaway]

I knew I saw that 3/4" in there Mike! LOL

HA

[MikePal]

Hey HA...for now I'm using a nice wooden box that was built with brass screws etc. for all my powders, so it's marked as such and I will keep it in one of my out buildings (storage unit). That exceeds all the requirements I could find.

From all my readings I'm sure that those Mil-Surplus metal (non ferris) ammo boxes would work just fine. A .50 cal box is a great size and is water tight. The regulations seem more concerned how the box is stored rather then the box itself.....but if it's good enough for the military to store it's explosive in...should be good for us

[smallgamer]

These are the current regs. MUCH more sensible and easy to live with than the previous ones. In a nutshell, store your powder and caps in the original containers away from sources of ignition. Quantities detailed in the following, starting at section 298 of the Explosives Regulations "unlicensed user":

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/r...2.html#docCont

[huntaway]

The ammo boxes are for ammo Mike not powder. I'm pretty sure they are steel and would not be suitable for powder storage.

HA

[impact]

This is the box I use to store my powder / ammo. If it was good enough for the Feds it is good enough for me..

[MikePal]

This is the box I use to store my powder / ammo. If it was good enough for the Feds it is good enough for me..

Hey isn't that the property of the Canadian Postal Service... ?? ...stealing from them could land you in Club Med..LOL

[impact]

Hey isn't that the property of the Canadian Postal Service... ?? ...stealing from them could land you in Club Med..LOL

Nah,...my wife was a CP employee and they raffled off boxes as they were being pulled off the street corners. She got this one as a memento and I put it to good use....

I have always wondered though if the same key opens up all of them...