Cold weather reloading and brass

[Great-Kazoo]

Specs of reloading work area, insulated detached, heat is from propane that can maintain 45-60* , after a 30-45 min. warm up. Not on 24/7

For those who reload in a less than perfect temp , and since i'm not a metallurgist. here's the ??

I can maintain X temp in the reloading area, the brass unless it's indoors or set temp environment, will run say 30* (average). How much of an effect does working brass that's at 30* factor. Is that temp putting undue stress on the brass, where case failure issues could happen.

Not talking about that single stage match ammo, you're loading. Just run of the mill plinking pistol and rifle.

[MarkCO]

Not a thing from a work hardening standpoint. Fatigue starts to do some funny things below about 20F in steels, but brass is even lower.

Only thing you want to be concerned about (other than good ventilation and fire safety for YOU) is condensation. Changing temps, you might have some condensation issues on primers and brass. Might want to consider a desiccated cabinet for the primers (or store elsewhere) and maybe even the brass.

[Great-Kazoo]

Not a thing from a work hardening standpoint. Fatigue starts to do some funny things below about 20F in steels, but brass is even lower.

Only thing you want to be concerned about (other than good ventilation and fire safety for YOU) is condensation. Changing temps, you might have some condensation issues on primers and brass. Might want to consider a desiccated cabinet for the primers (or store elsewhere) and maybe even the brass.


Humidity is running 15-25% if that. I have a few ceiling fans going to move air. I'm also aware that propane is a moisture magnet / residual. Condensation is not an issue, the way powder & primers are stored. I do maintain desiccant in primer storage. No items are used till it's time to reload. Even then, the amounts are minimal, exposure time wise.
The brass , less managed ;)

[Tim K]

Brass and other copper alloys are weird. They gets more ductile and stronger as temps drop, and the trend continues all the way to absolute zero.

http://www.copper.org/resources/properties/144_8/

In the temperature ranges you're discussing, there will be no measurable difference in properties.