The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Has anyone information, opinion, experience of reloading under conditions of cold or heat, I am interested as to whether the thermal effect on ammunition parts prior to assembly has a measurable affect on performance. My intended area to use as my reloading station has no heat other than a portable heater that I could use, also the brass and other items would be stored in this area and therefor could get very cold at certain times of the year, any thoughts?

Madhatter wrote:I am interested as to whether the thermal effect on ammunition parts prior to assembly has a measurable affect on performance.

I'd be most concerned about leaving presses, dies & tools in a cold & therefore potentially damp area.

You should store primers and powder to avoid temperature swings, dampness & high humidity.

Digital balances like stable temperatures too.

Apart from this, the worst issue you are likely to see is that your brass might tarnish a little quicker.

If you can stand the temperature to work there, you can load great ammunition there.

Lots of folks load in garages and unheated outbuildings. Another thing lots of reloaders do is obsess over minutiae, the effect of which they will never see on target.

I wonder how eskimos manage to reload...

Mike95

I reload in a converted shipping container. It has insulation fitted and plasterboard dry lining, but the only heat source is from the electric de-humidifier that runs all the time on "auto" setting. It does get cold, but is very dry, I've had no problems with corrosion or damp on anything.


If your reloading area can be made fairly airtight and insulated the de-humidifier might work for you too.

Mike95 wrote:I wonder how eskimos manage to reload...

Mike95

A little snowledge is a dangerous thing...

So they always check their load data on the w'internet.