I'm reloading in my cold garage that is about 45 degrees. Will there be any noticeable difference when I shoot these at say, 80 to 90 degrees? I don't usually load at these temperatures but we got that cold blast and I need to get this done. I'm loading .45acp and 9mm. Thanks

Nope,but there might be a difference in how they perform in 40 degrees versus 90 degrees.

I went shooting on Sunday. And a couple of my hard cast 45 acp loads hung up going into battery. It was only 25 f. I also noticed that the poi on one of my 40 s&w loads was lower than usual. These were well developed loads but never fired them when it was that cold before.

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There's a definite difference between summer and winter.I really notice it with 22 bulk ammo.

Depends on when you work the loads up. If you worked the loads up in summer, loading them in winter has no affect, with most powders. Some powders are inv temp sensitive, so if you worked up a max load in summer, could blow a primer in winter & vise versa with other powders. If you are loading target ammo, well off max, then it's not going to matter much either way.

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For sporty winter shooting, find some surplus WW II Russian ammo. The stuff is loaded to give full performance at -40° F.

A heater to keep you warm is a good idea, but it won't affect the ammo.

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S&WHF 366

Could also be the gun, depending on how/what you lube it with. Loads that barely function in summer will likely fail below zero. The exception is powders that are inv temp sensitive as noted in the previous post. WST is one, there are others. Put together a good midrange loads, it will run from zero-120 deg w/o fail.

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Yeah I kinda figured it was the whole package. We rarely get weather that cold here. I don't think I have ever seen cold weather lube here now that I think about it. I just had my normal rem oil regimen. I think the differences in brass, lead, steel, and wood with how much they constrict in the cold could be part of it too. The speer lead bullets are tumble lube type to and there might be something to that. The difference wasn't terrible but certainly noticeable. Kinda interesting to see how they perform at this temperature. Noted!

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I'm loading .45acp
5.6 gr. W231
230 gr. Precision Delta FMJ
Mixed cased with Tula primers.
I've loaded this load before and it works pretty well in my 1911's and a S&W CS45. It seems that I recall reading that temperature change's might/will affect the end result. I should of mentioned the load data in the first post. Thanks

Depending on your oal, that load is well into max. If you dev that on a cold day, could push into an over pressure Event.

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If I understand it correctly, the OP wanted to know about the effects of loading ammo in the "cold" (45 degrees is not cold enough to make any difference), not the effects of cold temperature on ammo that was developed in warm weather. I can't see how there would be any ill effects from using proven data and loading ammo to that data while in a 45 degree environment.

I can say with experience that years ago I loaded a huge amount of 223 ammo, and then went prairie dog shooting, where the temperatures were in the low hundreds. I got blown primers on almost every shot. I had to switch to my 22LR back-up rifle. Lesson learned was high temperature can dramatically raise pressure.

I have never had any trouble in low temperatures, although I hear that ball powders can be difficult to ignite at below 0 temps.

In very cold weather what you lube a semi auto with can make a difference. Also, Blue Dot is supposed to be cold temperature sensitive powders.

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The velocity of a load will vary somewhat depending on the
temperature of the ammo when it's fired. Temperature
variations during the loading process will have no effect on
the ammo. The warning is directed at those who work up
maximum hand loads that are tested and found safe in cold
weather and then find they are over pressure when fired in
hot weather. This is more common to hunters who will work
up loads in centerfire rifles that are at absolute maximum
pressure for the rifle in cold weather and then later in the
year decide to shoot a few at summer temperatures.

Maddog 521, I don't think the temp you are reloading at makes much of a difference in how the cartridges will perform. I rather loading in my garage when the temp is in the 40's to 50's personally as then I'm not sweating my butt off like in the middle of summer. The only thing you might have to watch out for is static electricity buildup in the colder, drier air. I live in southern Louisiana and we usually don't have cold dry days here either. I did load quite a bit of ammo last winter and I didn't see any performance difference between that ammo and ones loaded on hotter, moister days.

magnum primers with 296/h-110 and it won't matter the temp. I have shot 357 and 44mag loads at 0 degrees and colder and they went boom every time.

Red Dot, Blue Dot and Green Dot are all very temperature sensitive! Hodgdon "Extreme" powders are suppose to be LESS sensitive, but +100 degree temps will affect loads developed below 65 degrees, and vise versa. But 5 grains of 231 always burns the same at 70 degrees weather loaded at 45 or 95 degrees, same for all dry propellants. (The military liquid artillery propellants are a little bit different! I think weight remains the same but the volume is adjusted.) When I developed my 223 Remington load back in the mid 80's, I used small rifle mag primers in hot weather. The longer duration 'flash' helps with cold weather ignition, but the load is still in safe pressures in hot temperatures. I've fired them on 105 degree days with the ammo laying in the sun without any primer cratering. On the other hand my recently developed 338 Lapua Mag load was around Max at 65-70 degrees (and it shot very well at 20 degrees), but on a 95 degree day the cases seized to the chamber! That is a Hodgdon US 869 load with a 300 grain bullet. I need to make a Retumbo or H 1000 load OR stick with the less desirable 250 grain bullet for summer use. One of my friends, loads high pressure Bench Rest loads, based on barometric pressure, not temperature. Shooting at 800' in Ohio is a lot different than 7000' in Montana! Ivan

I have used that powder charge with a 230 gr bullet in extreme temperatures with no problems. It was my standard match load for combat matches.

As always, it is best to try it under the circumstances you will be using it in your own pistol.

Thanks for all the comments. Looks like I'm good to go. Sure hope it warms up soon.

I never thought much about low temps being a problem as we don't get really cold, at least not usually, this week being an exception. Glad you posted this, I am planning on loading some 45 acp tomorrow so I will pay closer attention to how everything works. Where are you located? I think we are supposed to be in the 50s tomorrow.

Rifle or pistol loads will shoot differently depending on the temperature. Loads developed during summer will in the dead of winter hit lower and vice a versa. I've seen it on rifle ranges. And once when I left my match ammunition at home, I had to deal with it when I had to use my practice ammunition for a vintage military rifle match. The difference in average temperature was just about 65 degrees colder. Point of impact was notably lower and because I'd loaded the practice ammunition very light, in the below 30 degree weather that prevailed at that match the bullets were loosing stability as velocity dropped below sonic... probably no more than 1,000 fts. Shot excellent scores, but some of the bullets hit the target slightly sideways. Had those loads been developed for such cold weather it is doubtless that in the heat of summer the loads would have been snappy.

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Your shivering should make the powder measure more accurate.

I was hoping 55 to 60 degrees wouldn't make a difference.

joeintexas I'm in Weatherford and it's 18 degrees this morning. I sure miss that "Texas heat".

The only problem I have had was with the Dillon primer slide. Had to put dry lube on it to keep it from sticking.

Powders have a pretty broad temp range. I have not seen charts on handgun powder but Hodgden extreme rifle powders show how much those can vary if at all. There must be some data on the web somewhere.

I do not think a 45 degree range will matter much.

I load in the AC house say 75 degress and in the summer go shoot and it's 95f out plus the ammo sits in a hot car or in the sun.

For rifle powder of this brand:

https://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/extreme/page2.php#top

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Still Running Against the Wind

If you keep the moisture out of the powder and primers you will be ok.....however it does help if the components are near 50 degrees if possible...........I hate working with cold equipment.

Here in Nevada I notice a reduction in fps with my rifle, pistol and shotgun loads at 40 degrees and lower vs loads shot in the warm summer temperatures of 80 degrees or more.

I had a trap shoot where I use a light 1 1/8oz load at only 1145 fps and the shells sat out in the car for two hours before it was time for me to shoot.
The Red Dot powder in the loads had gotten cold enough where they might have been doing only 1090 fps and they did not have enough energy to break six birds at the 16 yard line.
The box of shells for the next round was brought into the WARM club house and spread over a table to warm up...........
I did not drop a bird in the next go round handicap, with these "Warm" shells.

Back in the 70's I had two misfires with my 270 ammo, hunting in two feet of snow and 30 degree weather............ this was solved by switching to a MAGNUM primer.

Yes some powders do not do well in cold weather........
Just have to be a little smarter than Mr. Winter.

Good loading.

Again guys, it's not the temp you reload at but the temp you develop the load at.

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My question is---- WHY are you loading in the garage---it is cold out there?

You guys need to move to Fl..... We wouldn't dream of going outside if it's below 60 and then, only if we own a parka!

No issue reloading in the cold, but remember when doing load development that the velocity will drop the colder it gets.

In example, I live in a hot climate so I get screaming velocities out of my handloads but when it cools off, so does the velocity:

200gr Speer Gold Dot 44 Special 8.6gr Power Pistol/Win primer/1.490″

Charter Bulldog 2.5" barrel

10 feet from F1 Shooting Chrony

105 Degrees
Avg – 1015 FPS – 457ft lbs energy
95 Degrees
Avg – 993.3 FPS – 438ft lbs energy
86 Degrees
Avg – 950.8 FPS – 402ft lbs energy

Some powder dispensrrs have a problem with static in the dry cold. Dillon sdb might not prime correctly when cold.

That's what I remember too.
What I forget is, was it 231/HP38 or WST, that when warmer, the pressure goes down? Cooler temps raise the pressure, against all logic.
I'm thinking that it was WST.

fredj338 answered that above, it is WST.

I seem to remember blue dot pressures would rise in cooler weather.

I used Blue Dot in Alaska in my .41 Blackhawk, and I never noticed any difference down to -30 F. Below that was too dang cold to be shooting.

Reloading when it's cold makes you cold; the powder could not care less.

Yeah, I missed that.

Thanks.

No poisonous snakes, chiggers, waterbugs, or other weird critters around here. I'll take a few cold days.

I lived in North Carolina for a couple years. Too hot and sweaty for me.

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Trucks and guns.

Same for me...I sweat when they forecast heat!
Anything above 55-60 deg is too warm for me.
50-55 is perfect. There is nothing (except swim, and I don't swim) that you can't do in that range. Oh, and no sweat!!

If at all possible I'd avoid loading in an environment that is unpleasant - or anytime YOU are uncomfortable. Reloading should get your full attention and when you are hot, cold or uncomfortable you might get distracted and make errors.

I doubt 45º F would make an appreciable difference in the performance of your loads but you might notice a degradation of your press's ease of use in the cold. Parts tend to move slower and stiffer and it could cause more friction and more wear on the press and brass.

You might want to move into a warmer room in the Winter or invest in a oil filled electric heater for your Garage. They are inexpensive, work well, safe and would make your reloading time and experience a lot more comfortable. It should be enjoyable, not an unpleasant chore.

In the military had to swin (with just wet suit) in 31 deg water for weeks during training. Yeah it was cold! The Mekong was alot warmer but had other troubles two legged and 4 legged.

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This is a bad idea. Any wet lube will just pick up grit. Take the priming bar out, smooth any rough edges with 600g paper, same with the slide area on the press. If you must lube it, use a dry graphite or moly, never oils or grease.

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Well I finished up the .45's today. It was 40 degrees when I started and 60 when I finished. It's warming up today and suppose to be close to 70 tomorrow. I wish that was all of the cold weather we'd have but I know January and February are coming.

I like it cold, but that's too cold!

Thank you for your service!!

Sir,

I believe the gentleman said that he used dry lube -may want to check his post again.

Regards,
Andy

I did a test last summer with WST. I had 5rds at air temp, about 80, then 5rd kept on ice in a cooler, about 40, then left 5rds in the direct sun sitting on blacktop. An oven therm, stuck inside a brass rifle case told me about 120. Fired over the chrono, the 120deg temp load showed the 25fps lower vel than the 40deg load.

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