I’m packing up and leaving

[lordpaxman]

My house...not this forum. This is a bit off topic but related in the sense I’m looking at moving my reloading equipment and components and wondered if others have done this and found effective ways to pack/store/move?

I’ll be moving the powders and primers myself, and most probably the rest.

I have the original boxes for the presses and scales, but of course they’re all different sizes. Usually shipping companies standardize box sizes for best trailer packing.

My dies, shellplates, and certain components are already separated by caliber and packed in Hefty 15 or 32 quart plastic bins.

The high volume brass 9/40/45/223 is in varied containers like wine boxes and 5 gallon pails.

I started buying some Home Depot HDX 27 gallon totes to contain various powders. I figured this size would pack out to under 50 pounds and I’ll need a few of these. Primers are in a separate tote.

Bullets are the big problem as anyone who’s gotten an RMR package first thanks the post guy/girl, gives them some cookies, and then struggles with a taped IIFIS box. I’m thinking many small boxes here.

And then there’s the loaded ammo. There are ammo cans, mtm boxes, factory, and various other containers (like qt Gatorade). Again I was thinking something along the lines of the Hefty hi-rise pro containers that would load out to 50ish pounds.

So if this is too far off topic just ax the thread!

 

[Jack B.]

You didn't say if you were crossing state lines, but no matter where you are moving I would move any firearm related things myself mostly to avoid any legal problems that might arise. I have never had to do this ,but I'm sure there are some regulations and limits on what you can transport. Might have to make several trips depending on how much you are moving.

 

[forty_caliber]

I've been through this. It was pretty horrible.

Are you changing states?
Are there any new to you state and/or local laws to comply with?

For me it was not only reloading equipment and supplies but an entire shop full of wood working and machine tools. I ended up moving all of that myself in a U-haul. Worse, I had to store it while my new shop building was built on the property. Best advice is make good labels. Put the labels on the top and at least one side of the box. Organize by categories and try to keep those boxes together. I ended up making 3 200 mile round trips over a couple of weeks to move the equipment and household. It can be done but planning is a key element.

.40

 

[George P]

No moving company will take ammo, powder or anything chemical, flammable or hazardous. When I moved from West to East the back of my pickup was a rolling bomb - 50K in primers, over 100K in ammo (lots of .22 and shotgun), over 40# of powder, gas cans for the mower, etc.

As far as boxes, the moving company doesn't care. Remember, however, if YOU box, they are not responsible. You also want to pay for full replacement coverage for your belongings; otherwise they pay something like .60/pound - that won't replace that $2k flat screen or the $4k leather living room furniture.

 

[drband]

As far as boxes, the moving company doesn't care. Remember, however, if YOU box, they are not responsible. You also want to pay for full replacement coverage for your belongings; otherwise they pay something like .60/pound - that won't replace that $2k flat screen or the $4k leather living room furniture.

Separate insurance-- do NOT buy insurance from the moving company! (they are protected more than you are)
Also, do your best to vet the company with reviews, actual customer conversations, etc... Unfortunately, the moving industry is full of dishonest operators, or at least employees that will take what they can walk away with while no one is looking.

 

[Texas10mm]

1. Get a BINDING estimate. When we moved from Oregon to Texas the estimator was over 4,000 lbs off. Because we had a binding estimate it didn't cost us an extra cent.
2. You're going to have to move your ammo, primers, and powder yourself. Some movers won't handle firearms. Our's did. I wrapped each gun in VCI paper, then padding and stuffed the safe solid. Everything came through without a scratch.
3. Got with a NATIONAL mover. The driver that picked our stuff up was the same driver that dropped it off. You don't want a contract company.

The entire back end of our Tahoe was full of powder, primers and ammo. It would have been interesting if we had been stopped.

 

[Charlie98]

2. You're going to have to move your ammo, primers, and powder yourself. Some movers won't handle firearms. Our's did. I wrapped each gun in VCI paper, then padding and stuffed the safe solid. Everything came through without a scratch.
3. Got with a NATIONAL mover. The driver that picked our stuff up was the same driver that dropped it off. You don't want a contract company.

Having been in the trucking industry for 20 years (in my other life...) there are a few things...

Point #2 is correct... most movers won't touch firearms because of liability, and because the actual guys humping your household items may not be able to be near firearms (think felon, here.) We call them 'bed-buggers'.. that is, the laborers that actually do the labor to move household goods. Very often they are day labor, or from a known pool of labor a company might use... you never know. General rule of thumb is... if you want it undamaged and unmolested... pack it and move it yourself.

Point #3 is a maybe. Even big national movers... actually, particularly national movers... will swap household goods between trucks going to different destinations sometimes. When you see a moving van on the highway... it may actually be 2, 3, 4 households worth of stuff all mixed in there. I've seen vans backed up at truck stops and such swapping stuff between each other because they were headed to different parts of the country, it's a normal thing.

When we packed up our old house, I built wooden crates specifically to move the reloading stuff. Cheap wood can be had using pallets, or just cheapo wood from HD or Lowes, then you can build a dimensionally correct, very sturdy box that will hold up to rough handling, and can be good for long-term storage, etc. I don't like cardboard boxes for that kind of stuff... they never hold up.

 

[lordpaxman]

Thanks for all the replies and insight. I've got the legal aspects handled and plan on moving firearms myself.

For me it was not only reloading equipment and supplies but an entire shop full of wood working and machine tools.

I didn't want to bring that up but that's me as well. Fortunately most have casters but it's still a job building ramps to handle small wheels and then... pushing... And yes, the plan's the plan till the plan changes. We're working on a 5 year plan that's currently 15 years behind schedule.

No moving company will take ammo, powder or anything chemical, flammable or hazardous.

Or batteries. I remember all the remotes that needed to have batteries removed.

When we packed up our old house, I built wooden crates specifically to move the reloading stuff.

This is along the lines of what I was after. BEFORE I pack up the woodshop I could get rid of some of the rough cut cherry and maple and kill two birds with one stone. The bullets are the problem child, and I was looking into rolling solutions but maybe I'll get some crates made up and I can use my dolly to haul them.

 

[drband]

Got with a NATIONAL mover. The driver that picked our stuff up was the same driver that dropped it off. You don't want a contract company

When we packed up our old house, I built wooden crates specifically to move the reloading stuff. Cheap wood can be had using pallets, or just cheapo wood from HD or Lowes, then you can build a dimensionally correct, very sturdy box that will hold up to rough handling, and can be good for long-term storage, etc. I don't like cardboard boxes for that kind of stuff... they never hold up.

Good ideas!

 

[Charlie98]

...but maybe I'll get some crates made up and I can use my dolly to haul them.

The heavy boxes I put slats on each side... sort of like a stretcher... so 2 people could carry them easily. It beats smashing your fingers when you set them down, and they would still stack.

 

[mdi]

I moved about 10 years ago. I put all my guns in my PU with a lockable bed cover, wrapped in blankets, and in gun cases. I used a major moving company and didn't have any of the restrictions mentioned above, but I had most of my reloading components with my guns, in my PU. I used a lot of blankets, towels, etc to pack around my presses and misc equipment in large plastic tubs and duct taped them shut. The main concern was my lead. I had some plastic milk rates and I put about 100 lbs in the bottom of each crate (I had 7) and misc. tools and stuff on top. My best idea was I tipped the swamper $20 before he started loading the crates, and $20 at the destination. Everything arrived safely...

I crossed state lines, CA to OR. and all the trips I made across state lines I have never been stopped, not "inspected" for any contraband. I guess if I was driving erratically, speeding, etc. a State Trooper may have stopped me and If I were belligerent, AH, I may have been searched, but in all my travels with my guns (and without) I have never had any reason to fear for a search (my guns)...

 

[George P]

This is along the lines of what I was after. BEFORE I pack up the woodshop I could get rid of some of the rough cut cherry and maple and kill two birds with one stone. The bullets are the problem child, and I was looking into rolling solutions but maybe I'll get some crates made up and I can use my dolly to haul them.

If they are JUST bullets (as opposed to loaded ammo), the company WILL take them, BUT you'll be paying a lot to move them as the price is by weight.

There are some other options. ABF is a nationwide freight company that has taken the idea of the POD in a different way. Basically YOU load all your stuff into one (or more) containers and they haul it to your location. I never looked into it for my move so I do not know how costs compare between them and someone like United van Lines, but if you are going to be doing most of the packing of your stuff, it might be a better deal.

 

[LiveLife]

We moved with reloading equipment and components ourselves 6 times!

• I used many heavy cardboard boxes and big roll of plastic cling wrap from Costco to pack and protect (You can get free heavy boxes from many stores)
• Disassembled presses and reloading equipment were padded and cling wrapped, then put into boxes that were clearly labeled (You can use "Reloading #1, #2, #3, etc to not lose track of any box and this will help with unpacking).
• All the heavy boxes were moved with dollies (Buy good dolly from Home Depot with SOLID wheels or foam filled wheels so tires don't go flat)
• Using enough layers of cling wrap on bullet boxes will prevent them from busting open and spilling bullets (Don't ask how I know ).
• Smaller quantity bullets can be cling wrapped with paper label inside and put into boxes.
• Firearms were moved separately from moving truck inside range bags/rifle cases in the trunk of cars or back of SUV with light stuff over them hidden from view.
• Allow plenty of time for packing and loading with rest breaks, especially if your bodies are not used to hard physical labor.
• Hire helpers with strong bodies to help you load/unload the moving truck (Loading is much harder and unloading is always faster/easier).

 

[Sypher....]

If they are JUST bullets (as opposed to loaded ammo), the company WILL take them, BUT you'll be paying a lot to move them as the price is by weight.

There are some other options. ABF is a nationwide freight company that has taken the idea of the POD in a different way. Basically YOU load all your stuff into one (or more) containers and they haul it to your location. I never looked into it for my move so I do not know how costs compare between them and someone like United van Lines, but if you are going to be doing most of the packing of your stuff, it might be a better deal.

ABF is awesome. A friend who does a lot of shipping recommended them to me when I moved. After looking at many options, we ended up paying $3,000-$4,000 vs $8,000-$10,000 (including uhaul as an option). The best part about ABF is you only pay for what you use. If you only use 1/2 the truck, you put the bulkhead up where your stuff ends, and then they pack freight or other stuff in, and you pay just for the half. Since we had a 6 bedroom house we were moving, we used the whole truck, and put our own lock on it.

The bad news is you better know how to pack well, and pack to the ceiling, or your stuff is going to fall all over the place.

We have recommended ABF to several people, and no one has complained, they still talk to us anyways .

 

[tightgroup tiger]

All I will say is all my reloading things, shooting accessories and valuables, went with me personally when I moved out of state. In my truck. I never left it out of my sight. I wouldn't even let my wife help me pack or load it in my truck because I was afraid I wouldn't find it again for two years.
Moving Gorillas don't care what they are loading, it all gets the same treatment.
Mark everything very well, take extra time to do it.
Anyone who has ever moved knows what I mean.
When I set up my new reloading room I was only missing one thing and had to stop and think " what would I have done with that" , went and looked and there it was.
I was very lucky.
Buying a new or another house and property is the easy part, moving in just plain sucks.
The only advise I can give is don't even try to set up your loading room until everything else is taken care of. That way you can concentrate on what you need to do.
Keep it in the back of your mind once you spot you new area and constantly think about how you want to set it up while your setting up your house.
You will have a pretty clear vision of what you want to do and do it right the first time with the minimum of errors. That's the best we can do.

 

[LiveLife]

constantly think about how you want to set it up while your setting up your house.

You will have a pretty clear vision of what you want to do and do it right the first time with the minimum of errors.

This is one of many benefits of using portable castered reloading bench. I not only can reload anywhere in the house but I can readily change the layout to suit my needs at will.

And on moving day, I simply roll the portable bench into the moving truck loaded with equipment/supplies that have been plastic cling wrapped to the bench to hold them in place during transit.

 

[Christopher 761]

You didn't say from where to where you are moving. Moving to/from Alaska may be tricky about stuff that goes through Canada. For Hawaii, you should be careful about anything that travels air. Particularity primers and powder and ammo.

I had to move about 100 miles from a big city to a smaller town. It involved living in a hotel for over a month waiting for escrow to close on the new place. Guns/Ammo/Reloading was moved in pickup from home to a clean storage center in my new small town. I found a nice clean storage place where the owners had an on-site apartment. I made sure nobody watched me while I was unloading the pickup. Keeping stuff in a moving "pod" might be safer, because it is your lock. But locks can be broken or picked. And pods are more expensive. Keeping firearms in my truck for a month would be a bad idea. Jewelry and small expensive stuff was put in a safety deposit.

Even though it was more expensive, I liked the pods, as we had time to load. Load a pod, call them, and the took it away and dropped off another. If I was doing full service with packing, that would have been much more money.

As far as moving the firearms: wrapping them in moving blankets from harbor freight was cheap end very effective.

I did not, at the time, have a progressive press. But all of the brass went into boxes weighing only 20-30 pounds, so I could move them easier. Put that box in a bigger box topped off with some clothes. Same with primers, but those were light. Lead and bullets were put in small boxes and moved with the firearms. The weight would have given it away. A progressive press should be broken down as much as possible.

 

[lordpaxman]

Thanks everyone!

Using enough layers of cling wrap on bullet boxes will prevent them from busting open and spilling bullets (Don't ask how I know ).

I’m liking cling wrap more and more. I use it in woodworking quite a bit and have found uses in the reloading room as well. I’ve got designs going for some wooded box’s to handle the bullets, the ammo is lighter and will find it’s way in some plastic tubs that aren’t that big.

ABF looks like a great company, I like the relocube concept as it’s beefier than just a POD. But I’d probably opt for their trailer. We’ve got a place to touch down, but, it’s probably not the final resting point. Hopefully we’ll make it to mid-south PA eventually and get out of the PROC.
Thanks again everyone.

 

[tcoz]

When I moved, I moved all of my reloading equipment and supplies myself. For one thing, I didn’t have to search through all of my boxes for the ones containing reloading supplies as this was one of the first areas that I wanted to set up in the new house. Also, and this was a big advantage, I didn’t have to pack everything as carefully and wrap and cushion everything as much as I would have if a moving company would have transported it.

 

[Hondo 60]

I moved from WI to IL.
I moved ALL related materials myself.

I didn't want any of it out of my possession at anytime for any reason.

This way there's no possibility of loss, theft etc.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I'm still in the process of finishing my new house interior. I put up a shipping container on the site of the new house, and moved all of the reloading gear from old house to the shipping container in a couple of trips. I can't wait to get the rest of the house done so that I can get to work on my new reloading bench.

 

[lordpaxman]

I put up a shipping container on the site of the new house, and moved all of the reloading gear from old house to the shipping container in a couple of trips.

I’m surprised you didn’t set up in the shipping container! I’ve been looking at these as well, ABF was mentioned, and I know A-Verdi also rents these. Did you use someone local?
I’ll probably move all components myself, including the 4 large metal wire racks.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I’m surprised you didn’t set up in the shipping container! I’ve been looking at these as well, ABF was mentioned, and I know A-Verdi also rents these. Did you use someone local?
I’ll probably move all components myself, including the 4 large metal wire racks.

I ran power to the shipping container and will use it for dirty activities like casting and powder coating lead bullets and polishing brass. It'll also be my welding and mechanic shop.

My box is a 45' high boy, and cost about $2,300 delivered. I bought it from a local vendor. Pretty cheap for long-term storage space and a shop structure.

The reloading machines, supplies, and finished ammo will be inside the climate-controlled house.