Temperature while reloading...

[Jayrad]

Curious what effect cold temperatures have while reloading. I have my Dillon 550 set up in my garage. During the winter I am guessing it gets into low 50's to mid 40's. Is this a problem for reloading?

My guess is that the cold will have an effect on all the metal equipment used in reloading in turn messing up tolerances. Would like to move reloader into house to get rid of issue, but thought I would ask and see if its as big of an issue as I think it is.
Thanks...

[GeoffLinder]

It's not an issue at all until it gets too cold for you to stand it in the garage anymore

[Chief-7700]

When you can't feel your fingers anymore.

[zfields]

my cut off is seeing my own breath.


then it just means its time to put on a jacket.

[Nessal]

Reloading in the cold sucks.

[Divernhunter]

It will not hurt anything as long as you store the ammo in a refrig and only shoot it when it is cold outside.

It does not matter.

[beerman]

Its not the cold that will affect your loads, its the humidity.Dry is good,wet is bad. Keep your powder covered/capped when loading in high humidity.

[Jayrad]

Ok...sounds like its unanimous...not an issue. Just wanted to make sure. Although I will keep the humidity factor in mind. Sure it's not near as big of an issue as it is down south but worse than it is in some areas. Have a brother that lives in Wyoming...said they have left a bag of chips open for a few days and when they went to eat them...said they still tasted fresh like they just opened the bag! Can't imagine, we leave anything open here over night and it is ruined. So I will keep an eye on the powder.

Do people usually dump the powder out of the powder container on a Dillon 550 when done reloading for the day? Noticed the lid has a hole in top which I assume would let moisture in. I typically put a piece of blue masking tape over hole when finished if I am going to continue reloading within the next few days.

And thanks to all the feedback.

[Revoman]

[GeoffLinder]

I have left powder in the measure for a year and compared the pistol loads with that powder to fresh powder from the canister and velocity is the same. I live in a very humid environment.

That said, I do agree that it is best to clear a measure after loading and keep all powders in their original canisters.

[bruceflinch]

Leaving powder in the plastice tube will "fog it" over time. My Dillon once got so bad I couldn't see the powder. End up pulling a couple hundred bullets, coz I didn't know when I ran out of powder. D'oh!

I insulated my garage years ago & sheetrocked it. Today I used a 1300 watt electric heater for about an hour to let me finish seating the bullets on 75 rounds of 308.

Interestingly enough, the "destructions" on my RCBS Chargemaster, say to recalibrate if the unit is subject to temperature fluctuations, during usage.
So I put the unit on the Dining Room table for a couple hours, before doing the powder filling, inside the comfy house. Wifey & the dogs don't mind.