I have always stored my powder and primers in the house. Since moving to Arkansas I have decided to set up my reloading and casting benches in my shop. Extreme temperatures here can range from 0 to 105 degrees F. Teens to 95 degrees F are likely. Because I'm in a valley, humidity here seems worse than Houston. I have a wall mounted package unit (motel type heating & a/c) in my shop but will only be running it when I'm working in there. I do plan on installing a dehumidifier in the shop and running it full time. What do you guys think about long term storage of powder and primers under my specific conditions?
Powder & Primer Storage
- Thread starter Tony
- Start date
fiver
Well-Known Member
I keep mine in the house.
I have reloading equipment in the shop and keep primers out there but I don't bring or store more than a couple of pounds of powder out there at a time.
the more stable the temp and humidity [well]
loaded ammo I would be okay with, it takes swings and such much better.
I have reloading equipment in the shop and keep primers out there but I don't bring or store more than a couple of pounds of powder out there at a time.
the more stable the temp and humidity [well]
loaded ammo I would be okay with, it takes swings and such much better.
F
freebullet
Guest
In the house.
Moisture kills primers. Humidity above 55% will not be friendly to any of it. When you combine high humidity with high heat it's a recipe for degradation.
I'd do like Ben & clear coat my dies if they weren't guna be in a controlled environment.
Moisture kills primers. Humidity above 55% will not be friendly to any of it. When you combine high humidity with high heat it's a recipe for degradation.
I'd do like Ben & clear coat my dies if they weren't guna be in a controlled environment.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
I have a semi-outdoor gun room. Run a dehumidifier full time. keep humidity b/n 40-50% year round. heat/a/c when I am in there, as needed. Keep primers and loaded ammo there. All powder stays in the garage. Temp is below 85 deg. Temps are fine for the powder. Guns/dies/etc don't rust.
One thing I can't recommend enough. If you use a dehumidifier and need to run it full time - DEF get the extended warranty! I am about ready to be on my 3rd one, and #2 and soon to be #3 will both be replaced with the extended warranty. It is about THE only thing I buy the extended warranty for. $200 dehumidifier and $25 ext warr works out way in my favor!
One last note, if you are on a slab in a semi-outdoor setting like mine- make sure you have an air gap under the gun safe and anything else on the slab. And do NOT even THINK about carpet!
One thing I can't recommend enough. If you use a dehumidifier and need to run it full time - DEF get the extended warranty! I am about ready to be on my 3rd one, and #2 and soon to be #3 will both be replaced with the extended warranty. It is about THE only thing I buy the extended warranty for. $200 dehumidifier and $25 ext warr works out way in my favor!
One last note, if you are on a slab in a semi-outdoor setting like mine- make sure you have an air gap under the gun safe and anything else on the slab. And do NOT even THINK about carpet!
My current thinking is to run a 70 pint per day capacity dehumidifier full time and drain it to the outside. The enclosed area of my shop is 24'x30'x11'. Walls are R10 and the roof will be R38. I'm thinking about running the wall mounted package unit as required to maintain the temperature between 50 and 80 degrees F. My package unit has provision for adding a wall mounted thermostat which I intend to do; much better temperature control than knobs and graphics. I will keep 40% humidity as a part of the design basis. I will also install a ceiling fan. With temps between 50 and 80 degrees F and humidity at 40% I'm thinking the cost of electricity will not be too bad and storage conditions for powder, primers, presses, dies, precision tools, etc. will be adequate. What do you guys think?
fiver
Well-Known Member
our humidity here is pretty low most of the time.
anything over 50% gets comments in town, it's generally 30% sometimes 40 in the winter.
I generally keep the shop at 60-65 summer and winter and have no problem keeping powder and primers out there as well as in the house.
anything over 50% gets comments in town, it's generally 30% sometimes 40 in the winter.
I generally keep the shop at 60-65 summer and winter and have no problem keeping powder and primers out there as well as in the house.
Shop here is,or supposed to be at 50% humidity year round and temps adjusted to pi$$ off the wife(kidding)....I'm going to be comfortable.
Reloading is a spare bedroom.
From a "can have anything I want" standpoint,being as parts/labor is 99.9% done in house anyway.....air movement,which is the "V" in HVAC along with insulation is the most bang for the buck.Start looking for "dead zones" that are at a stall wrt ventilation and your system in general.The contractor can only go so far.....he's not the one using the system.No digs,just sayin...the customer bares a huge responsibility when trying to dial in a well defined,"conditioned" area.
Very best of luck with your shop,loading area.BW
Edit;look for info on usually,ceiling mounted air scrubbers.Two general methods of approach,one is center mounted the other,perimeter.The latter we call "racetrack" because we have the air circulating around the shop walls.There's filters in these....only your imagination,and some time is limiting your choices here.I build ours out of old squirrel cages,lots O filter area,wall mounted switches and timers.But have to say,the last one was surgically implanted into the unused base of a pce of equipment.It's very nice(free) because you can aim it's exhaust at a dead zone.Look on Grizzly site for specs and features.Then google'ize DIY.
Reloading is a spare bedroom.
From a "can have anything I want" standpoint,being as parts/labor is 99.9% done in house anyway.....air movement,which is the "V" in HVAC along with insulation is the most bang for the buck.Start looking for "dead zones" that are at a stall wrt ventilation and your system in general.The contractor can only go so far.....he's not the one using the system.No digs,just sayin...the customer bares a huge responsibility when trying to dial in a well defined,"conditioned" area.
Very best of luck with your shop,loading area.BW
Edit;look for info on usually,ceiling mounted air scrubbers.Two general methods of approach,one is center mounted the other,perimeter.The latter we call "racetrack" because we have the air circulating around the shop walls.There's filters in these....only your imagination,and some time is limiting your choices here.I build ours out of old squirrel cages,lots O filter area,wall mounted switches and timers.But have to say,the last one was surgically implanted into the unused base of a pce of equipment.It's very nice(free) because you can aim it's exhaust at a dead zone.Look on Grizzly site for specs and features.Then google'ize DIY.
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I have a 22 Kw stand-by generator and a 1,000 gallon propane tank. It comes on weekly and runs for 6 minutes. Other than that it has started once and ran for almost 3 hours. The lights flickered and it started within a couple of seconds. I'm not really concerned about a power outage. I'm just wondering if a 50-80 degree F temperature window will prevent powder from degrading. In the house I keep the T-stat at 78 during summer. I plan on keeping it at 60 in the winter just to keep my wood stove from feeling lonely.
uncle jimbo
Well-Known Member
The wife and I got a food sealer for a gift some years back. I found that that I could put my extra primers and powder in one of them plastic bags and vacuum seal it up. I only take out what I need and reseal the bag. When I buy powder in the 8# jug, I will keep out a pound or two and seal up the rest. Same with primers. Buy a case, keep out a carton of 1000 and seal up the rest. Don't know how long it would keep.
fiver
Well-Known Member
50-80 is perfectly fine.
if you ever seen military ammo left sitting on the edge of a tarmac in BFE arm pit of the planet for a couple of years then realized that was the same ammo you depend on to keep you alive from time to time and it has worked every time you pulled the trigger you kind of not worry about it too much.
if you ever seen military ammo left sitting on the edge of a tarmac in BFE arm pit of the planet for a couple of years then realized that was the same ammo you depend on to keep you alive from time to time and it has worked every time you pulled the trigger you kind of not worry about it too much.
