Effective of Room Temperature on Reloading

The only thing id be concerned with is long term storage of powder in 90 degree heat.

With digital scales most have an operating range of 50-100F. I find that you need to have them warm up for 24hrs to get stable readings. Other wise the zero seams to drift. I use the AC pack only since the scales do not turn off every 5 min.

Store your powders as close to the floor as you can for more stable temps. It will be cooler in the summer and ground heat (slab) may keep them a little warmer in the winter. Or just put them in a ice chest, insulated box to slow the temp swing down.

I live here in Texas so 100+ is quite normal in the summer. I keep my powders in the house. Primers I store in the garage, since they are not effected by the temp swing.

Blue68f100 said:

rdtompki said:

I have both an inexpensive electronic scale and a beam balance scale. I suspect the electronic scale is the weakest link in terms of temperature sensitivity.

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digital scales most have an operating range of 50-100F.

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+1 One of my digital scales specified around 59F - 95F. When other reloaders used their digital scales outside of specified temperature range, they got inconsistent/erratic readings.

It's good that you also have a beam scale to use when you must reload outside of digital scale operating temperature range.

Ive been wondering this also... especialy temp affect on powder... i keep most of my powder in the house, but i left a jug of titegroup out in the shop all summer. And now the grains stick to the insode of my powder dropper... i took it aparts amd cleaned it, with a brush, ( compressed air wasnt eenough) but it still sticks when i pour in a new amount of powder tdhe thing still dropps accurately, and the ammo shoots fine though.

Check Weights

http://shop.rcbs.com/Products/Powder-Measures-and-Scales/Scales/Mechanical/Scale-Check-Weights.aspx

These will allow you to make sure your scales are reading correctly. For $40, these will give you peace of mind.

Good luck in your new endeavor!

Hobie

Store your powder indoors until ready to use; bring back indoors when done - that also helps keep more than one powder from accidentally being used.....

The army stores their stuff in world-wide conditions that are a lot more variable than yours, so ammo should be fine - your electronic scale - as mentioned above - will beed to warm up, keep it away from fluorescent lighting and any air currents from fans or open windows

p228alex said:

Ive been wondering this also... especialy temp affect on powder... i keep most of my powder in the house, but i left a jug of titegroup out in the shop all summer. And now the grains stick to the insode of my powder dropper... i took it aparts amd cleaned it, with a brush, ( compressed air wasnt eenough) but it still sticks when i pour in a new amount of powder tdhe thing still dropps accurately, and the ammo shoots fine though.

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The most common cause of powder sticking to the powder hopper is static electricity build up (Static Cling) assuming the powder hopper is clean and dry. The common solution is to wipe down the hopper with a drier sheet to reduce the static charge and static cling.

As to rdtompki's original question. Powder and other reloading components should be stored in accordance with manufacturers published data. For powder this generally is summed up as store in a cool dry place.


* Properties of Smokeless Powder from S A A M I
* How to Check Smokeless Powder For Deterioration
* Considerations for Storage of Smokeless Powder
* Recommendations for Storage of Smokeless Powder

As to the actual environment we load in? I would figure any temperature and humidity we are comfortable in. That being within reason. This link is a read on the subject. Unfortunately there is reams of data on component storage but little said about the actual enviroment during the hand loading process.

Ron

My reloading room is in an unheated, detached garage. I often will load in the winter when it's down in the upper 20's.

What I do is run my space heater to take the edge off and let the scale warm up for at least a 1/2 hour...then I reset zero every time I weigh. Not a big deal since once I've got a load dialed in all I do is a spot check every hundred or so rounds thereafter.

Actually a 40-90 degree environment is not bad for storage of powder. In the military, ammo is often stored for long periods in much hotter or colder environments and it still goes bang. In Iraq, 90 degrees is frigid. Many of us carry loaded guns in much hotter or colder environments. The ammo still goes bang. The powder doesn't know whether it's in a jug or a brass case with a bullet on top.

The proverbial "cool dry place" is always optimum, but often hard to find. Is your bunkhouse in an area with high or low humidity? High humidity is a greater concern to a reloader than temperature. If high you might consider putting any opened containers of powder in a GI ammo can (they are designed to burst open under pressure and won't lead to an explosion), or just a Tupperware style container. Just to protect against humidity.

Like moxie says, humidity is more important than temperature. If you get a lot of humidity changes with changing temperatures anything ferrous will rust.
I doubt a 400 square foot room would cost too much to insulate. I'd look in a Habitat Restore shop for some rigid foam sheets and plywood for the floor.

What Sunray said

Chemicals (powder, primers) I recommend keeping in stable temps...gear is another question if unable to keep in controlled environment.

So, let me echo and amplify what sunray said.

Be assiduous with lubrication, rust protection and moisture abatement.

Lost Sheep

Like moxie says, humidity is more important than temperature. If you get a lot of humidity changes with changing temperatures anything ferrous will rust.

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Sunray hit the nail on the head. With no real temperature control, humidity is going to be a much bigger factor for you than temperature. Dies and press parts will start to show rust.

I doubt a 400 square foot room would cost too much to insulate.

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Insulating for habitation temperature levels would be much easier and cheaper if you could enclose a simple 12x12 ft space. That's all that's needed for reloading. Then you could easily heat and cool cheaply with a window unit and oil-filled electric heater.

Both Lowes and Home Depot rent insulation blowers and the bulk insulation. Then there are probably local companies that do the new spray-on foam. Lots of ways to make a small room REALLY cozy and weather-tight.

Inexpensive check weights

http://www.amazon.com/American-Weig...&qid=1416493075&sr=8-3&keywords=check+weights

$10

The weights are ok, the tweezers are a PITA. Class M2

rdtompki said:

True, but management wouldn't want me to hack up what is a very nice finished space. Long term there is a separate access room that is of ideal size, but I need to figure out where I can store all the lumber and paint supplies currently residing therein. That room could easily be redone with insulation, etc.. We'll see how my reloading journey unfolds.

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I load on a portable, folding workbench (Black & Decker or Stanley type of thing or even a commandeered end table will do) in my living space, anywhere I want to set up.

Dropcloth first. Unfold the workbench. Place scale on a stable surface nearby. Secure the press' mounting board to ghe bench and mount the press. Arrange the components and start loading.

My press and all other tools (when not in use) go into three medium-small toolboxes. I can even go to a friend's house and load. It actually takes me fewer trips (house to car) to go loading than it does to go shooting.

Of course, if I had a Dillon 650, this would not work so well, but I use a Lee Classic Turret nowadays. But my setup is pretty compact and can fit in the bottom of a closet or largish footlocker if need be.

Not counting primers, powder, brass and bullets:
Press and mounting board in one toolbox
Scale, powder measure and all other small tools in one toolbox
7 sets of dies in one toolbox
Add the dropcloth, manuals and folding workbench and I am good to go.

Of course the bulk storage, brass tumbler and other miscellany are in the storage room.

That's just how I do it.

Lost Sheep