Humidity issue?

[fmrleatherneck]

I suspect this has been discussed to death elsewhere, but how about talking about it here? (Since I'd rather be here...)

How much of an issue is humidity? I'm interested in setting up a "reloading room" of my own, just for a couple of rifle and a couple of pistol calibers (I know already; don't tell me you each started the same way...!), but I have questions...

I hear about "temperature" as a factor, and powders that help overcome that factor, but I wonder about humidity being (maybe) a larger variable. Are you each set up in "controlled environments" or can you get away with setting up in an "uncontrolled" (like a shed) space? And, if you are in an "uncontrolled" space, do you only reload when conditions are within certain parameters?

I hear about some serious reloaders who bring some basic stuff to the range (to adjust recipes while they are shooting), and, somehow, I think that may be an acceptable arrangement, but what about rounds that may sit for two or three months before they are used... Or... Do you only load what you intend to shoot in a relatively short time period?

Or... Is humidity NOT an issue? Some folks, (and I'm included in the group!), shoot, or have shot, rounds that were YEARS old. Some of the old military ammo you can find on the internet is DECADES old... (Is that stuff really "shoot-able"?) I believe I remember putting some REALLY old rounds through my M-14 long, long ago. I don't recall a noticeable negative effect downrange. (... but, then again, my memory sometimes fails me in all sorts of ways...)

I think I remember something about each round being "hermetically sealed"... Is that true and does that eliminate "humidity" as a factor?

Isn't "temperature" a factor because of the effect temperature has on the density of the air and isn't "humidity" another factor of the air density equation?

I'm sure you guys know, or at least have your opinion, and I would like to hear it. What do you say?

[SongDoghunter]

Most indoor home climates is fine and humidity is not an issue if you have central heat and air. The only issue you might would have is leaving windows open for several days in extreme humidity. Other than that, not a problem

[RenegadeRN]

I'm riding that same train as Doghunter on this thread. I know you mentioned humidity as the main part of your thread as a factor....but there are powders that are more temperature sensitive than others. That's why you see certain powders at the top of everyone's go to list vice other ones. They are less sensitive to temperature swings.

[fmrleatherneck]

OK, I see, certainly a lot less of an issue than I thought. Apparently, it seems that a "controlled environment" is considered a necessity, huh?

[SongDoghunter]

You definitely don't want to set up a reloading bench in the garage. The temps we've had the past week at night would get all of the metal equipment cold. When it warms like it did yesterday, that equipment will sweat and rust. Best to keep everything at a fairly constant temp!

[fmrleatherneck]

Makes sense. I think I'm going to work on getting a "portable" bench set-up. Not reasonable to dedicate a room to what would really be an "experiment".

Thanks.