reloading in the cold

[histyle]

I need to reload some 22-250 shells, but all my stuff was relocated outside in an unheated shop (I now have 3 boys- 12, 11, and 17 months ). Has anyone noticed any major differences reloading in the cold vs room temperature? Using Varget, and cci benchrest primers

[Puma]

Yeah, my fingers get cold.

[catnthehat]

Not major differences, but I can only relate shooting cold ammo that was loaded at room temps.
Cat

[histyle]

Originally Posted by Puma

Yeah, my fingers get cold.

Yeah... not looking forward to that part. At least I have a bunch of brass primed & ready to go, just have to throw in some powder and v-maxes.

[260 Rem]

I have never reloaded "cold" but if I did, would calibrate my scale each time. Probably a good idea to "dip" the beam when weighing charges rather than trickling it up to zero.

[TUFFBUFF]

I did a few last winter, I plugged a space heater about 18" from the press and let it warm up for 1/2 or 45min and went at er. That kept my fingers warm too
This winter so far I rigged up the press on a board and quick clamp to the kitchen table, seems to be ok.
Needless to say hopefully heated shop in plans for future...

[Cowtown guy]

Another option is to put a lock on the door in the nice warm house. Lol

I'm not sure why we hunters and loaders always give up our space so willingly. Unless the space is at a premium and there are no other options.

[sns2]

For years I loaded in the garage. No biggie except you get cold

[histyle]

Thanks. I didn't think I had much to worry about except frostbite! And I didn't think that Varget was as susceptible to temperature fluctuations as other powders.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by histyle

Thanks. I didn't think I had much to worry about except frostbite! And I didn't think that Varget was as susceptible to temperature fluctuations as other powders.

I never worry too much about the temperatures when j am shooting unless I am loading and zeroing in cold weather then going to really hot weather ,
I have found the biggest difference us on how well and warmly I am dressed.
I shoot a log of Varget bug have bern shooting dome loads the last few days that were made with 4895 as far back as 2001 with several 5 shot groups 3/4" and Less.
That's pretty good results considering The cold and wind .
Cat

[lannie]

I would not be too keen on using an electronic scale in the cold.

[histyle]

No electronic scale, or powder thrower. Just a good old balance beam scale that gets zeroed every time out of the box.

[purgatory.sv]

Control condensation?

[histyle]

Never thought about condensation. Wouldn't think there'd be much inside the casing, and the warmest the shells will get is on the back floor of my truck, or in my pocket. Never noticed the shells getting rusty or anything before, and there's always a box in there.

[purgatory.sv]

Condensation could add weight or volume or moisture.

I have no known results, but I do not load in a cold room.

[histyle]

Definitely something to think about. I'll have to try & research that one.

[260 Rem]

We may be overthinking this a bit too much so I would be tempted to load, shoot, and determine if performance when compared with warm temp loads are skewed. No need to fix if not broken. I would pay attention to potential scale issues as cold at the pivot point has potential to skew accuracy. Also, drafts created by heaters can affect dampening.

[histyle]

I still have 10 shells that were reloaded this fall. I'll load some tomorrow (supposed to be -5), and shoot a five shot string of each. We'll see what happens.

[sns2]

I think you are definitely overthinking it. I made loads of good, accurate ammunition in the cold using one of those crappy $10 Lee scales. The only issue I ever had was staring at that crappy little scale

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by sns2

I think you are definitely overthinking it. I made loads of good, accurate ammunition in the cold using one of those crappy $10 Lee scales. The only issue I ever had was staring at that crappy little scale

Trying to use a crappy LEE scale is frustrating enough in a nice warm room, the most satisfaction that I ever got from one of them, was smashing it with a sledgehammer.

[bigjohncdn]

I've reloaded in temperatures from -35 to + 115, F of course I'm to old to really understand C. As far as hunting ammo goes, never had any issues or noticeable changes.

[Dean2]

Loading in a cold shed or garage will not give you any issues, especially if you are only doing a few. If I was doing large volumes I always found a way to heat it up above freezing because cold fingers makes a guy fumbly.

If heat was not an option for large batches, I would do the neck sizing in the cold, bring the hand primer in and prime inside, then use the scale at the kitchen table and do the powder inside too with the cases in a good case holder. That way you do the finicky stuff where it is warm and just seat the bullets in the garage.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Trying to use a crappy LEE scale is frustrating enough in a nice warm room, the most satisfaction that I ever got from one of them, was smashing it with a sledgehammer.

I sold mine

[sns2]

Originally Posted by sns2

I sold mine

That's largely why I warn people not to waste their money on that cheap kit. The rest of it is junk too.

[histyle]

Just shot two 3 shot groups, one string reloaded earlier, and one string from today's reloads. No difference at all, with 5 shots all giving me about a 1 1/2" group at 250 yards. (1 flyer that was all me puts the group at 2 1/4" -2 1/2", but we'll just forget that it happened ).
Other than cold fingers, I guess I shouldn't whine to my wife too much about having to move my bench out to the shop. I guess the "new kid" can keep his bedroom, haha! If I wasn't so cheap I could heat my shop.......!

[Dean2]

Doesn't take a lot of room in the basement to lock off an area from the kids and still have a warm spot to work. My first loading "Room" was the angle spot under the stairs that go down to the basement. Bench built under the stairs, stair wide and long, with sliding panels that locked shut.

Lot cheaper than heating the shop.