Reloading room

[Grendel]

I also live in MN and would avoid a space where the climate cannot be manipulated. The amount of rust that can accumulate in the right conditions over a short period of time can be very frustrating and outright expensive. I have my reloading equipment in the basement and it is nice to go down there in the winter and crank out some rounds. If I had to heat up the space beforehand then it would never happen. Also, the temperature swings could cause more condensation on your equipment.

I think the danger from your appliances is a bit overplayed. Putting the combustibles in a heavy container (old ammo can) would mitigate 99% of the danger.

I intend keeping them in the OEM packaging. Thanks.

[Wobbly]

My wife has cats - that aren?t allowed in my reloading room.  I can just imagine one of them ?rubbing? against the reloading powder dispenser, dispensing powder on itself then generating a static spark to set it off.  Picture a flaming kitty running through the house!  Possible? Yes. Probable? No. Paranoia? Guilty!

The special packaging that powder and primers come in prevent this possibility. The only powder and primers that self ignite are the ones people take out of the protective packaging.

Static from a cat setting something off is not even possible, my friend.

[MadDuner]

My wife has cats - that aren?t allowed in my reloading room.  I can just imagine one of them ?rubbing? against the reloading powder dispenser, dispensing powder on itself then generating a static spark to set it off.  Picture a flaming kitty running through the house!  Possible? Yes. Probable? No. Paranoia? Guilty!

The special packaging that powder and primers come in prevent this possibility. The only powder and primers that self ignite are the ones people take out of the protective packaging.

Static from a cat setting something off is not even possible, my friend.

Hahaha.... thanks!

I was talking more about the old "push to dispense powder" button on the Dillon 450.  You know how cats like to rub up against stuff.  The clear plastic sides of the dispenser + the cat rubbing against it to make static + the powder it dispensed while rubbing against it.  I know, terribly improbable.  But my "luck" tends to run into "improbable" more times than not.  Or at least that's my story I tell the wifey to keep the cats out. LOL

[toteone]

I converted a small bedroom in our house into reloading room.  I want HVAC at all times for reloading....mainly for my comfort!!!  I live in middle of Alabama and humidity would be atrocious in my garage or shed.  I also am considering a flammables cabinet for the room, but only have 3 containers of powder on a shelf in room.  I keep primers on another shelf in same room.

I spoke with a local fireman and he said only issue is when people have firearms with rounds chambered during a fire.  I keep loaded firearms in my safe except for one or two that stay out during day/night that I am at home.

My house stays around 45% humidity most of the time.

[tdogg]

As far as a dirt floor goes, the spillage of powder could build up and eventually become a fire hazard.  If you can, put a concrete floor in that area or a plywood floor so that cleaning spillage would be easy.

No dirt floor in either potential area. My shop has a cement floor but is off a garage area with a dirt floor.

I think I'm going to set up in the outside shop and just CLP the crap out of the dies and press unless someone tells me the storage room in the house will be okay.

My reloading setup is in the garage.  I started out with a Lee challenger kit (gift for Xmas), then got a Lee Classic Turret, and now have a Hornady LNL AP for pistol/5.56 and a COAX for precision rifle. 

I really like the Hornady One Shot Cleaner and Lube for dies and press stuff.  It leaves a dry protective film that seems to keep corrosion at bay.  I spray my dies and powder drop/linkage liberally and they seems to be holding up just fine in my garage (not climate controlled at all).

Then again, I live in the desert.  BUT my 2.5 acres is a lake right now due to 4 ft of snow melt-off in this 50 degree weather.  It's not uncommon for us to have 40 degree swings in temperature day to night/week to week.  I pull my truck into the garage wet every night (because I drive through the lake to get home) so the humidity is above normal.  I haven't seen any signs of corrosion since I started using the Hornady One shot lube.

I store my primers under the bench in a heavy duty cardboard box and my powder up on the top shelf above bench in the original containers (or a smaller 1 lb jug I transfer into when using).  I will not comment on whether my quantities fall withing the NFPA guidelines.  I will say that my chemical storage (gas cans, acetone, denatured alcohol, aerosol lubricants, random flammable stuff, etc...) is more of a concern than the powder/primers.  I deliberately put all that in the farthest corner of my garage as a precautionary measure.  Heaven forbid but if my garage ever burns, it could be rather intense burn (albeit a brief time period).

Long story short, you should be fine in the garage.

Cheers,
Toby

[Czechbikr]

I've been reloading and storing the components in my basement for over 10 years.  The current gun room is in the unfinished part with the gas water heater and furnace being about 6' from the bench and components are 12-16' from the closest appliance.  Those sparks and flames in those appliances are enclosed in steel boxes and the powder/primers are in drawers and shelves in original packaging.  The only time that they are going to catch on fire is if the house itself catches fire.  I have had the water heater and the HVAC replaced in the last two years and neither the installers or the village inspectors said a thing about the setup.  The furnace has a humidifier on it and there is a slop sink (very handy for cleaning brass and guns) with an ejector pit which also serves the bathroom down there.  I worry about humidity for the firearms in the safe and so have the plugin type dehumidifiers in the safe.  The only loaded gun in the house in on my hip or the nightstand.  Even with the dies/presses out in the open they have not rusted at all.  If you do encounter dies getting rust to can tumble them in walnut or steel pins to clean them up like new. 

[Wobbly]

I've been reloading and storing the components in my basement for over 10 years.  The current gun room is in the unfinished part with the gas water heater and furnace being about 6' from the bench and components are 12-16' from the closest appliance.  Those sparks and flames in those appliances are enclosed in steel boxes and the powder/primers are in drawers and shelves in original packaging.  The only time that they are going to catch on fire is if the house itself catches fire.

Very true. My reloading bench is in the basement too. Powders are 10ft and my primers are 3ft from my gas furnace. No issues.


In the end, I think you may end up with a combination. Bulk storage where you have room, reloading and gun safe where it is comfortable for humans.