Reloading in an apartment, few questions

[Irving]

I've read most of the reloading threads posted in here over the last few years. I've got some ideas about portable benches, and bolting the turret press to a board, then clamping to a table if I decide to go that route.

My questions have to do with general safety. I realize that you aren't supposed to reload around open flames; but just how volatile is gun powder?

Is someone lighting a candle in another room going to be an issue? Can I have my fireplace going in the living room, and reload in the back office? If I smash a primer, is it going to kill my kid in the next room?

What are the chances of accidentally igniting a primer while I'm seating a bullet or something like that?

I'll just be doing straight walled hand gun stuff as far as I know right now.

The real issue, is that there is almost never a time when I am home alone. I can control lighting candles and I'm the only one who ever uses the fire place, but what other things should I be looking out for? Of course I'll read the obligatory 2 manual minimums and so forth. I just want to make sure the room is safe for the rest of my family.


*note, I've dumped powder out of .22lr and 12ga shells before and used them to try and start fires, or otherwise ignited them before, and it didn't seem like a very big deal to me. Am I over thinking this?

[DFBrews]

I've read most of the reloading threads posted in here over the last few years. I've got some ideas about portable benches, and bolting the turret press to a board, then clamping to a table if I decide to go that route.

My questions have to do with general safety. I realize that you aren't supposed to reload around open flames; but just how volatile is gun powder?
dont smoke in the same room or open flame it does not emit gasses like gasoline if you spill powder in the carpet do not vacumn it up electric motors spit sparks as part of normal operation
Is someone lighting a candle in another room going to be an issue? Can I have my fireplace going in the living room, and reload in the back office? If I smash a primer, is it going to kill my kid in the next room?
no smashed primer will just scare the shit outta you
What are the chances of accidentally igniting a primer while I'm seating a bullet or something like that?
seating bullets is generally safe just dont try and seat the primer deeper with powder in the case
I'll just be doing straight walled hand gun stuff as far as I know right now.

The real issue, is that there is almost never a time when I am home alone. I can control lighting candles and I'm the only one who ever uses the fire place, but what other things should I be looking out for? Of course I'll read the obligatory 2 manual minimums and so forth. I just want to make sure the room is safe for the rest of my family.


*note, I've dumped powder out of .22lr and 12ga shells before and used them to try and start fires, or otherwise ignited them before, and it didn't seem like a very big deal to me. Am I over thinking this?

An apartment reloader here I currently reload .45 with a lee hand press it works for me I have little room and most is done sitting on the couch except when i am dealing with powder and seating bullets than i go into the kitchen just in case i spill powder. I have reloaded 1500 rds so far and never set off a primer during the process.

Any other questions let me know!

[Robb]

This is my 2nd attempt at responding. Don't know what happened to my first attempt.

Definately reload somewhere other than over carpet if you can. If that's not an option, throw some towells, a hunk of lineolum or a cheap blue tarp down under your work area. Trying to be careful and not wasteful I still have spills and drop a primer or two in addition to spent primers. Do you have little kids that are still at the age where everything goes in their mouths? If so, please be damn careful and perhaps look at reloading on a deck or garage or buddies house.

I mentioned in my previous response (that never posted) to pursue grounding your reloader if you're working on carpet due to static discharges. I guess since I never hear about grounding, it probably isn't necessary but I'll pursue that now that it's on my mind.

Relax, no worries about open flames in OTHER rooms.

I've also dented and crushed a few primers due to a small piece of stick powder or a case that hadn't been swaged and none have gone off. It can happen, I've read about it and am definately not looking forward to having one go, I've read it scares the hell out you. Think Safety Glasses when reloading.

[SA Friday]

I reloaded in an apartment for a couple of years. I had my bench in my bedroom and on carpet. I pumped out tens of thousands of rounds. Any precaution in another setting stands in an apartment. No open flames in the room with the reloading machine and components, ever. Its just asking for Murphy. Candles in other rooms, sure no problem. Powder is a solid and doesn't have a flashpoint like a flammible liquid. There is a fancy chemical name for solids that go straight to gas form from solids, but neither smoke,less nor black powder does this.

I've seen one or two primer feeding rods stuck in ceilings from lightin them off, but they typically don't go past the first layer of dry wall. That's about the worst that can happen shoet of popping a round off outside of battery. Still, the bullet and brass frag isn't going far.

You'll be fine. Keep the kids away from the stuff, fire extinguisher near is a good idea, keep the area clean and clean powder spills immediately, be safe and you will have no problems.

[Irving]

Thanks guys. I do have a little one, but we got lucky with her and she has never put stuff in her mouth.

Another question is about those vibratory brass tumblers. I plan on picking up something like the Lyman tumbler. Are they loud enough that my neighbors would be angry if I left one running for 12 hours while we're gone at work?

[gnihcraes]

Not much to add from other posts, reloaded in an apartment for a year or so. Mounted everything to a cheap wood folding conference table you can buy at any office supply. Not the greatest thing, but worked.

Vibratory tumbler might be noisy enough to bug some people, depends more on how thin the walls are? I've never had any issues with the vibratory tumbler, but would be sure its on a solid surface during the hours you're not there to monitor it. Also, lock it down in some way, I found mine once laying on the floor making all kinds of racket, brass and corn cobb everywhere. Whoops! I put a T-Handle allen wrench through a hole on the base into the workbench to keep it on the bench now.

[Irving]

Surprisingly, the walls are pretty thick here. It'd probably be okay, but I'd want to hear it in person. I've only seen them on youtube videos.

[DFBrews]

Not much to add from other posts, reloaded in an apartment for a year or so. Mounted everything to a cheap wood folding conference table you can buy at any office supply. Not the greatest thing, but worked.

Vibratory tumbler might be noisy enough to bug some people, depends more on how thin the walls are? I've never had any issues with the vibratory tumbler, but would be sure its on a solid surface during the hours you're not there to monitor it. Also, lock it down in some way, I found mine once laying on the floor making all kinds of racket, brass and corn cobb everywhere. Whoops! I put a T-Handle allen wrench through a hole on the base into the workbench to keep it on the bench now.

Haha! I have to tumble at work it is to loud in my apt. and it is nice to not have to deal with any dust in the house.

[SA Friday]

Do NOT allow your child near you or the tumbler or the separator, and separate outside. The majority of primers use lead Styphnate in their mixtures. The dust that dirties the cleaning media is mostly carbon, but has very high amounts of lead in it. It's where the majority of exposure to lead in shooting comes from. A grown adult, even with extreme exposure to this, won't get to levels of poisoning; 40 ppm. Anything over 11ppm is considered high for an adult. 9 ppm is considered dangerous levels for a child.

I tested 21 ppm at one point (from shooting indoors at a range with bad air circulation) and could feel the health ramifications. It took a year, but my system eventually flushed it out. Children don't have the same capabilities. Don't mess with that stuff in the apartment, period. Do it outside. I did my separation on the porch, and ran the tumbler there too.

[Irving]

Thanks for the tip. Is the separation when you open the door at the bottom of the tumbler and turn it back on to separate the brass from the media? I guess I'll learn about that part when I get all my stuff together and actually start. That could be a year from now though.