Does Black Powder have a shelf life?

[battleop]

I'm cleaning out my father in laws stuff and I've come across some Dupont and Goex F FF FFF and FFFF.  We have no intentions of getting rid of the guns but there is more powder here than I would ever use.   From what I'm reading and friends are telling me Black Powder won't last like smokeless power will even if stored properly.   The dupont stuff is from the 80s and I don't know how it was stored up until the mid 90s or where it came from.  I'm not sure of the age on the Goex stuff.  It's got a $10-12 price tag on it and still in a metal can.   

 

I know how to identify good and bad smokeless power since I reload pistol and rifle but I just don't know that much about black powder.  The friends who say it won't last are not regular black powder shooters so I'm sure their advise is based on internet advise.  

[Raoul]

I've loaded 30 year old powder with no problem. Smell it to be safe. If there's a strong ammonia smell it may be gone round.

[seez52]

I seem to remember black powder lasting longer than smokeless.

[RED333]

Smell and if it smells OK load a bit and fire it, dont need to put a bullet on top, wad of paper will work.

If it is bad pour it in the flower bed.

[Handsome Rob]

From what I've read on American Longrifles & the Muzzleloading forum, black powder basically never goes bad. Even if it gets wet, it can be dried, re-ground & still be just as potent.
It's only 3 very basic elements...

[Mike.357]

i have shot thirty year old BP with no problem. Worked like new.

[Guest tangojuliet]

fact black powder nevers goes inert and that is  from a guy who use to dig up civil war artillery shells