Reloading -- is it safe?

[Trophy Wife]

My husband is thinking of making reloading his new hobby. I am concerned that having combustible white gun powder at home will be dangerous. I am also concerned about him reloading and then having those reloaded bullets go off when he doesn't expect it, or for a casing to crack and get stuck.

Mostly, I would like for his hands to not be blown off and I would like him to be intact after he has gotten tired of this hobby....are my fears rational? Can someone explain the risks to me, so that I don't sound like an emotional freak when discussing this with him?

(As background, my husband grew up with guns in his family, is well-versed on gun safety and has actually built his own rifles. He is very responsible when it comes to safety and is very attentive of the materials he handles. I am mostly concerned about the "unknown" or "uncontrollable" factors of gun powder, primers, and re-using materials when reloading. He also has a degree in chemical engineering, so he knows what can go boom.)

Thanks in advance for helping me to understand the real risks here

[Fjold]

Well, I've been reloading since 1981 and have never hurt myself or anyone else. Not to say I haven't made mistakes, we all have but nothing that resulted in anything dangerous.

I started when I was 23 years old when I was a semi-brainless idiot and without all the information that is available on the internet or anyone to mentor me. These days there is so much better information available and so many more resources available that is a much safer process.

If you believe that your husband is a responsible person and trust him enough to drive you and your children around in a car (which is statistically a much more dangerous thing to do) then he should be able to reload ammunition in a safe manner. I think that if you sit down and discuss your feelings about your concerns for his safety and the effect of it on the rest of your family it should make him take that into account on how careful he is. As you obviously know (from your posting here) reloading does take a lot of attention to detail and care in how it is done so any help you can give in keeping him for being hurried or distracted by outside events (re. kids, etc) will help him. Another good thing to try is to take an interest in it yourself and ask him to show you how it is done. This will give you a better understanding of how everything works which should go a long way into making you feel more comfortable and it will reinforce his knowledge.

As far as storing smokeless (not white) powder in the home, it is classified as a flammabe solid, not as an explosive. It is not as dangerous as the gas can that most people have in their garages for their lawnmowers.

[phish]

It won't be safe on your bank account, that's for sure.

[Shiloh13]

Trophy Wife,

I know others far more knowledgeable than I will chime in soon.

However, the act of reloading is a well known and proven process that can be both safe and extremely rewarding. If he is as you say "very responsible when it comes to safety and is very attentive of the materials he handles", he should be fine.

There is an amazing amount of information on reloading and how to do so safely. Millions, if not billions of rounds are reloaded every year without incident. Proper technique, a quiet and undisturbed place to work, and attention to detail and he will be fine.

Support him, and encourage him to learn as much as possible before he begins. Encourage him to set up a plan on how to proceed, and take his time and enjoy the process, and he will do well.

Good luck to you all.

[freakshow10mm]

I am concerned that having combustible white gun powder at home will be dangerous.

The gallon of gasoline and the 20lb tank of propane in your garage are far more dangerous that 500 lbs of gun powder. Seriously.

I am also concerned about him reloading and then having those reloaded bullets go off when he doesn't expect it, or for a casing to crack and get stuck.

Unless you strike the primer with enough force, it won't fire. They don't go off unexpectedly, they require user interaction. Case inspection is easy and straightforward. If you doubt it, toss it.

are my fears rational?

No

Can someone explain the risks to me, so that I don't sound like an emotional freak when discussing this with him?

The risks are very small compared to other things in life. You are more likely to get into a car crash than have a reloading accident. You are more likely to get stung by a bee than have a reloading accident. Tens of millions of people handload their own ammunition in the US.

As background, my husband grew up with guns in his family, is well-versed on gun safety and has actually built his own rifles. He is very responsible when it comes to safety and is very attentive of the materials he handles.

Then what's the problem? Do things in a safe manner every time and there won't be issues. Safety is a mindset.

I am mostly concerned about the "unknown" or "uncontrollable" factors of gun powder, primers, and re-using materials when reloading.

Primers aren't much of an issue. Don't crush them or drop them off a building. Powder is a flammable solid, meaning it will burn. So will paper. Tons of that in your house I bet. The only material he will be reusing is the cartridge brass. Not much danger in brass. Little bit of lead dust from the spent primer but that's a non-issue. Don't lick your fingers until you wash them. Pretty simple. Don't smoke around powder. It will burn. Store powder in their original containers.

Powder isn't an issue if the pressure can be released. Once the burning powder is contained, pressure will build. This is the principle upon which the bullet is propelled out the barrel. The storage canisters that powder is stored in will melt long before pressure builds high enough to be dangerous to anyone. It's done for safety reasons.

He also has a degree in chemical engineering, so he knows what can go boom.

Unless he's mixing his own gun powder I wouldn't be worried.

I apologize if I sound like a jerk. I'm trying to convey the reality of handloading with a no BS approach. I'm a licensed commercial ammunition manufacturer. I've been handloading for over 5 years and loading commercially for over 2 years. I do this in my home and have a wife and 3yo son. I've loaded over a million rounds of ammunition with zero accidents, zero gun damages, and still have all my fingers and toes.

The only thing you need to worry about is accepting the fact that your husband will become addicted to handloading and you won't see him as much because he will always want to go tinker around and load some more ammo. Then you will want to spend more time with him so you will try to help him with little jobs. Cleaning and sorting brass, taking inventory of components, etc. Then you will start to get more and more curious about the procedures and how it all goes together. Next, you will want to load some ammo and go shoot it. Oh, my, my, my then you're hooked and you can't wait to get back home to reload the brass. Trust me. I've seen this happen many times before.

Adam

[joelogic]

First off welcome to Calguns, you have come to the right place. I would say your concerns are rational. However these "Uncontrolable" things can be mitigated. Brass Inspected. Powder tested and checked. Primers properly stored and handled. One thing though if your husband plans on reloading as a hobby he either shoots an insane amount or shoots so little that he takes his time reloading maybe 100 rounds. Its not much of a hobby. Reloading is just a means to an end. More shooting or shooting cheaper.

[CenterX]

Hi Trophy Wife,

Freeshow told it straight up.

I'v been reloading for wow - 43 years and the only things I can say are:

1. I tried to do a big band 42 years ago and the GP is so safe I got fizzle. The neighborhood was disappointed in me that 4th.

2. He needs to pay attention to the process and shouldn't stop for dinner or even a trophy hug in the middle of the process.

3. He would be a great better off if he teaches you to do it as well and then both of you can enjoy the fun at the range or in the field hunting.

4. You will know exactly where he will be during his spare time. +++

I don't recommend this any longer, but I used to watch Star Trek when I reloaded in the 60's. I never got a squib or hot load - not even when the place was over run with Tribbles.

Peace be with you.

[five.five-six]

Mostly, I would like for his hands to not be blown off and I would like him to be intact after he has gotten tired of this hobby....are my fears rational? Can someone explain the risks to me, so that I don't sound like an emotional freak when discussing this with him?

if you want to support him, here are a few things you can do

the only thing we really worry about is a double charge, if he is loading rifle ammo, that's almost not possible. so #2 is that he not be distracted while loading... that is his responsibility, but you can help

you might ask what is #1 then, since you asked, he needs to study up, get a few reloading manuals and read them, reloading is very safe if you have a basic understanding of what you are doing with the proper techniques

lastly, I save a LOT of money reloading, this weekend in a few hours I made 200 rounds of bullets for under $30 that would have cost at the very least $90


and welcome to calguns

[ojisan]

It won't be safe on your bank account, that's for sure.

Who's side are you on?



Trophy Wife:
In all seriousness, insist he wear safety glasses and keep some band aids handy in case he pinches a finger. Really, that's about it for the expected injuries.

He will likely break a de-capping pin (part of the equipment), everybody does, just be patient and he will calm down in a few minutes.
Remind him to order a extra spare pin when he orders a replacement for the broken one and he will love you even more.

Unless smokeless gunpowder is burned in a compressed space of the correct size for the volume of powder burning, it will just fizzle and burn...no explosions.
Loaded ammunition when not in a gun when burned also just fizzles and the bullet pops out a few inches.

The upside to reloading is he will have to bend over and / or kneel down 100 times or more each time he goes shooting to pick up the fired brass from the ground, which has got to be good for muscle tone and overall fitness.
Plus, you will know where he spends all his free time from now on.

Best regards

[jwest]

TW,

I think you answered your own question.

If your hubby has built his own rifles he knows about firearm safety - that will naturally translate over to reloading.

Using common sense, respecting primers at all times, wearing safety glasses, making sure you store your powder safely, etc. - these are all things I am sure he will do with care.

No worries. Tell him good luck with his new hobby. Almost nothing is more satisfying than making your own ammo and seeing how well it performs.

Regards,
jwest

[5hundo]

I learned the basics of how to load when I was about 12 years old... (supervised, of course)

The best thing that I could suggest is to get your husband to spend some time around someone who loads, to show him the "tricks of the trade". It's one thing to read it in a book. It's completely different when someone shows you how to do something. You retain that information much better...

Other than that, be smart, don't tempt fate and always accept the fact that there are many things that you (as a loader) have yet to learn... (see my post from earlier today )

[Beelzy]

Reloading is a fairly safe hobby considering the equipment involved.

Unless he smokes while reloading(forbidden), he won'tblow anything up.
The horror stories you probably heard are those folks who don't take reloading seriously, or have a manual.

PS. Once he starts reloading, it becomes a way of life (addicting hobby).

Oh, and Welcome Home!

[Nodda Duma]

What the folks have posted here is true. Keep in mind that reloading is not magical. If he uses common sense, becomes informed on reloading and develops a process to reload, then he will be fine.

My wife was in your shoes when I started reloading a few years ago. She was concerned about safety and storage of the components. We came to the agreement that a) no reloading in the house (I set up in the garage) and b) keep the stuff out of reach of our kids (stuff is on shelves or in the safe). Other than that, she trusts in my good judgment and sense. So far, there have been no problems and it's an enjoyable hobby.

Here is a good reference for you (and him) to read up on smokeless powder in regards to properties and storage. Basically, yes it will burn vigorously when you burn it, but will not explode unless confined in the chamber of a firearm. This is by design for safe handling and storage. Gasoline and the chemicals in your garage are a greater fire hazard.

http://www.saami.org/publications/200.pdf

Finally, get him to sign up for Calguns! There is a lot of good info here and plenty of subject matter experts. Tell him to ask all the questions he may wish while he is getting started.

-Jason

[not-fishing]

A few thoughts from another Chemist:

1. Remember your Quantitative Analysis Labs and practice those techniques.
2. Don't trust your equipment. Visually check the amount of powder dropped.
3. Expect Squibs.
4. Be aware of the accuracy of your equipment when loading.These aren't Mettler Balances and I've found the beam balances to be as/more accurate than the electronic - just slower
5. The degree of reloading different cartridges (from easiest to hardest) for me has been bottle-neck rifle (easiest)----revolver (maybe easier then rifle) ---- pistol (hardest due to crimp/feed/overall length precision)
6. Check and re-check your load books I've overloaded 38 spc 148 grain HBWC to the same load as 150 grain RN with a $100 repair to a revolver as a result - the case split and stuck between the cylinder and barrel locking up the gun
7. Always wear eye-protection. I really don't expect any big booms just a little phssst with hot spray of material.

For me it's my therapy time and I need a lot of therapy.

Mark

[EricClay]

A simple perspective:

Your husband is probably 100x more likely to be injured driving to work then he is reloading.

Make sure he has a known published reloading book and is methodical in the process. What he wishes to do is completely safe.

Dont fear gunpowder. As someone above mentioned, the gasoline in your lawnmower is more hazardous.