Cope Daniels Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Howdy, I am wanting to make a loading/gun room in part of my garage. My question for yall is it ok to keep gun powder in the garage where the temperature changes all the time?
Assassin Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 You should be fine if you can keep the powder dry. Sealed containers with those desicant packs will work. LL'
Quick Draw Granpaw #48525 Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Well, I see no reason you sould not as long as you use your best judgment when setting it up. Insulate walls & ceilings, use canned foam to make sure there are no major air leaks. I've built 3 reloading rooms in various houses and I have never experienced any problems with powder, primers or equiptment. Hope this info helps. Happy trails QSG 48525
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 All the manufacturers recommend storing powder in a cool dry place. Here in Arizona the garage can reach well over 120 degrees in the summer. I store my powder indoors where it is air conditioned.
Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440 Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Do the best ya can. Dark is good. Sunlight is a bad thing because it causes wider temperature swings and promotes condensation. I use a fairly heavy "manufactured board" (aka chipboard) cabinet that is placed in a spot where no direct sunlight shines on it. I would not use metal, and even my chipboard cabinet purposely has a weak cardboard back to provide a gas vent in case of fire. No problems even though the shop is not consistently kept at a steady temp. I did insulate the shop well, and there are no south-facing windows, so in summer if I get a fan going pulling air out, allowing inlet air (drawn from under the shop) to replace warm air, so inside temps lags the outdoor temps quite a bit. In winter I heat the shop daily, so it rarely gets below 40 at night.
Mustang Gregg Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Condensation from temp swings and humidity are bad things. Dies, shell holders and the shiny parts of your presses can get corrosion, too. MG
BLACKFOOT SASS #11947 Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 I have had mine in the garage for years. (Loading and powder only, the shooting irons are in a safe in the house.) No heat, No air, No problems!! Blackfoot
Smithy Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 My only concern would be a gas water heater or other source of ignition or fuel to add to the mix. My water heater has its own external box made for it on the outside of the house so it poses no problem whatsoever. The laundry facilities are inside eliminating that gas source as a concern. So I'm pretty much free and clear. Something to think about. Smithy.
Barterin Bill Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 I have had mine in the garage for years. (Loading and powder only, the shooting irons are in a safe in the house.) No heat, No air, No problems!! Blackfoot +1 My garage is attached to the house and it is insulated, so I don't really get extreme temp shifts.
Cope Daniels Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 My gun room is on its way. I would like to know what do you have in your gun rooms other than loading stuff? TV, Pictures, etc. If you have any pictures of your room that would be great. Thanks
John Boy Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Cope, this may dissolve your fear of storing the powder in the garage - I have a shed in the back yard. What powder I am not reloading with (nitro and black powder) is stored in the shed. This includes black powder made in 1973. Temperatures here in Jersey range from zero to 90 degrees. As long as the caps are tight on the containers - no problems. And might add... my reloading supplier stores all of his powder in unheated or air conditioned magazine. In fact, I just bought the last of his Goex Cartridge. The cans were rusted. Loaded a few and it was as good as when it was made Read # 6 and #7 warnings on the ADI Powders website ... http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/warnings.asp 25C = 77F 25C + 10C = 95F
Lone Dog, SASS #20401 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Ixnay on the TV. You don't want any distractions.
Marshal Max Henry Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Is the case the same for smokeless and Black Powder
Justin O Lawman,SASS#7672 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 My gun room is on its way. I would like to know what do you have in your gun rooms other than loading stuff? TV, Pictures, etc. If you have any pictures of your room that would be great. Thanks Here are some photos of my reloading room located in my basement. https://picasaweb.google.com/JustinOLawman/ReloadingRoom?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmxmKaPlv_W5gE&feat=directlink
Bad Hand Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Ixnay on the TV. You don't want any distractions. Nothing wrong with a TV,I've got one I use to play DVDs on disassembly, cleaning, repairing, and hopefully reassembling my guns.
Chancy Shot, SASS #67163 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Nothing wrong with a TV,I've got one I use to play DVDs on disassembly, cleaning, repairing, and hopefully reassembling my guns. +1 You don't want or need distractions while you are loading. Having said that, I don't always use my loading room for loading. My room is also called a man cave and has other uses. Chancy
Andrew Quigley SASS #32802 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 I keep mine on top of the wood stove. (hate all them good answers!)
Slowhand Bob, 24229 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Mine started out being called the cowboy room but quickly became to small for this. Two loading benches, two safes and a cleaning bench filled up the little 9X18ft room all to quick and all my other cowboy stuff was left wanting! Wish I had had room for another 9 square but am making do. My room is extremely well insulated but even this wasnt enough when the AC/dehumidifier kicked off and wasnt discovered for a couple or few days, many guns showed rapid rust build up from the humidity that built up in the room. It has not happened again but I have added rods to the safes but still feel uncomfortable with it.
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Howdy Ixnay on the TV. The only distraction I allow myself when reloading is a CD player or the radio. Don't want anything drawing my eyes away from reloading. That goes for computers too. Here is a photo of the reloading area in my basement. The photo is a few years old, and there have been a couple of changes of equipment but the layout is pretty much the same. But give me a call if you want to come visit, because it does not always look quite this neat. Reloading Area P.S. AJ gave you the best answer about powder storage. Ya do the best you can. The very best way to store your powder is in the original plastic container it came in, with the lid tightly sealed. That is most of the battle right there. A tightly sealed container will be the most effective for keeping out moisture. It is atmospheric moisture that does the most damage to powder. Not so much temperature swings. This includes returning the powder back to the container when your reloading session is over. Don't leave it is the powder hopper until 'next time'. Put it back in the container and seal it tight. Now, just which powder is it that has been sealed in the vault of a major powder company for over a century? The stuff that gets taken out and tested every few years and turns out to be just as good as when it was made?
Mustang Gregg Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Yes, heat and humidity are bad for powder and primers. Not they good for your firearms, either. When I tried it, the temp swings made for a LOT of condensation. MG
Matthew Duncan Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 My only concern would be a gas water heater or other source of ignition or fuel to add to the mix. ... My concern too. Piping an explosive gas into the house could set off my house AND powder!
Olen Rugged Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 It is worth the trip to join the Brian Enos Forum... www.brianenos.com/forums then navigate to Miscellaneous<LI>> The Gallery >Reloading benches This topic has 1,041 repliles and 346,553 Views With lots-o-pictures! There are examples of inexpensive benches and some of the most amazing setups known to man. http://www.brianenos...?showtopic=5485 Olen
Matthew Duncan Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 My gun room is on its way. I would like to know what do you have in your gun rooms other than loading stuff? TV, Pictures, etc. If you have any pictures of your room that would be great. Thanks Picture before I added shelves
Quick Draw Granpaw #48525 Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 My gun room is on its way. I would like to know what do you have in your gun rooms other than loading stuff? TV, Pictures, etc. If you have any pictures of your room that would be great. Thanks Well, I've been loading for over 50 years now and I've built 3 reloading rooms to date. My reloading room is strictly for reloading, so I don't have any distractions. I do have a radio/cd player in the garage so I do listed to music. The last one I built had A/C and heat piped into it from the house, now that was one of the best features. Happy trails QDG/Mike
Go West Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 My setup is in the garage and I have no issues with having powder out there. It can get real hot to sometimes cold here. I see you're in Tennessee and your humidity levels would be much higher than here. You may want to use some dessicants in opened containers.
Smokey Shayne Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 I have an insulated cabinet built into my reloading room that I store my powder in. Not sure if its a good thing or not, but I have yet to have any issues with it. With the use of a/c and heat, I keep the temperature at a pretty steady level all year long. And being in Louisiana, I also have to deal with a lot of humidityl As far as the other things.... I do have pictures on the walls. A few "targets" for dry firing practice that can be set up as well. I do have a tv, with cable, radio and a computer with internet. When Im reloading, whatever I have on is just for background noise. For me, the tv playing is on different than the radio playing...its just on. The computer is probably the best thing I have put in. Whether I want to check powder recomendations for a certain load or if I want to look at a breakdown of a certain gun I am working on, I dont have to run in and out of the house trying to remember everything. Just pull up the screen and get to work
Cowboy Junky Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 I've loaded in the garage for 15 years BUT as my 17.9 years old is getting closer to going into the service I have plans to move my operation indoors. In SC the temp swings form over 100 to 15 degrees and I have no issues with bad powder or primers that have been stored in the garage. The garage IS attached to the house so it helps but trust me it gets REAL cold and REAL hot out there. Maybe more powders are subject to temp......all I use is Clays.
Pitmaster, SASS #78461 Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 No reloading room is complete without a Dillon calendar.
Griff Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 Heat or A/C in the reloading room is strictly for the comfort level of the reloader. The fact that mine is heated in the summer and cooled in the winter is more a reflection on the owner's stupidity or budget... take your pick! As Driftwood said, keeping your powder in the original container, tightly closed will keep that powder good for years. My reloading area is in the workshop out in the barn... the only amenities are a refigerator to keep my sodas cool. Just a radio for some background, no phones, no internet, just calm and quiet... well except for the horses stompin in their stalls, and the wayward cat... only wish I could spend more time there!
Utah Bob #35998 Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 My gun room is on its way. I would like to know what do you have in your gun rooms other than loading stuff? TV, Pictures, etc. If you have any pictures of your room that would be great. Thanks Man Cave Pic 1 Pic 2 PIc 3 Pic 4
shenny Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 Utah Bob is that picture of the outside of your loading room accurate today. NO SNOW? Now back to my poor excuse of a loading room, my bed room. 32" Vizeo tv, cat sleeping in my top dresser drawer, watch tv, commercial comes on stop & play with cat on way to loading bench & load 10 rounds while commercial on. Head back to the bed and wait for next commercial. Another 10 rounds, load at least 50 rounds this way some nights. Lots of commercials get more cat play than others. I won't do that Sunday night, those commericals are meant to be watched. Will load while game on. Okay, who's gonna be the first to tell me I been doing it all wrong and not blown the house up in 35 years. Shenny
Utah Bob #35998 Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 Utah Bob is that picture of the outside of your loading room accurate today. NO SNOW? Shenny Yup. Except for drifts, there is only about 3" on the ground right now and it's 37 degrees. Not a bad winter so far.
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