Shelf Life

[jamisonlm3]

What kind of shelf life do fireworks have? More accurately, how long can I expect artillery shells to last if they're kept in a cool, dark place with low humidity? If I buy wholesale, I'd like to have enought that would last past three years. What kind of problems might I run into with fireworks 3 years old an up?

[JmFnG]

As long as they stay dry, 3 years is nothing.

[ilovecrackle]

Yeah, 3 years is nothing. Keep cool and dry and you will not have any issues.
Actually, I keep the majority of my stash on pallets in their original cases in a shed covered with tarps and don't have any issues with the cold winters or hot humid summers. Iv had some stuff 5+ years and fired with no issues at all.
I also have my loose cakes and misc items in a back room of my basement on shelves. I have a ton of those gross box of Whistling rockets that iv had for over 20 years and they still shoot fine.

[Crab107]

Save them???? Pfffft!!! Lol!!! Jk buddy..i cant keep them for more than a few months

[chriskrc]

Who wants to save fireworks light that stuff off, just kidding bud, you are generally going to get the same answer keep it dry your good to go

[jamisonlm3]

Thanks guys, that's good to know. I was really worried that I might years worth of fireworks only to find out down the road that they won't fire because they've sat too long. I guess the time I'm going to store them before use is really short for fireworks?

[RalphieJ]

Let me put it this way: Cherry bombs mfg. in 1966 (50 years ago!), kept high and dry, work just fine.

[RalphieJ]

And a 3" titanium salute manufactured in 1994 functioned flawlessly this past 4th.

[jamisonlm3]

Now I feel silly for having asked. Still, I'm glad to know they will last far longer than I will ever need them to. I'm hoping to buy enough cases so I can shoot a case at a time. I'll use the mortars that I get with them to build racks.

[countryboy7978]

A group of friends and I shot firecrackers at the PGI this year that were made in 1928. They fired like they were made yesterday. Of course with a lot more vigor. I love firecrackers and routinely shoot stuff made in the 1970s and 1980s. Like people have said, keep them dry and most will function just like new. Cakes tend to degrade over time. This is because the clay and silicate plugs do degrade and can let powder leak from the inserts. I've seen 1980s cakes like firing squad that fired fine so it's a crap shoot.