I will be setting up shop in the garage to do my reloading(no room in the house), which does seem to get kinda hot and humid at times(westside). 
Is there any recommendations or advice for those that also use their garage as a reloading space?
Is it necessary to keep the primers and powder indoors in a cooler environment or could I just keep it in a storage locker in the garage?
I'm about to be in the setting up stage so any help would be appreciated.   

I reload in my garage as well. I do a few things. I keep all powder and primers in 50 cal ammo cans with desacant. I don't pull them out until I am ready to use them. Also, a lot of reloaders will set primers and then load powder on another day. I prefer to only set primers for whatever I can finish in the day. Also, some powders are less affected by temperature and humidity than others. So I try and pick those types of powders if I can. If you use new and fresh primers and powder. And if you shoot your reloaded ammo soon after reloading then I would not worry too much about it. But I store some of the ammo I reload. Some is a couple of years old now and I have not had one issue attributable to humidity or temperature. I hope this info helps.

I can't add much to that, really.

I also reload in less than ideal conditions. It seems to me that it takes about 15 minutes for powder to sort of stabilize and absorb as much moisture from the air as it is going to. Until then, your measurements of charge weight may wander a little. Not enough to be dangerous but enough that I wait for 15 minutes after pouring the powder before I load with it to ensure that the batch is consistent from start to finish. Once I have a volume measure set of for a load I worry about that a bit less.

Inspector, which powders are less effected? That's good stuff to know.

I've had primers and powder stored in a locker for years in the garage, and not in anything that seals.  Everything has went bang.........so far

Inspector, which powders are less effected? That's good stuff to know.

Extruded powders are thought to be temperature insensitive. Or at least not as sensitive to temperature changes. I use Varget a lot. I have tried IMR 3031 and H322 and one other that escapes my memory. I do get very consistent results with Varget. So I have stuck with it. The only problem is they don't meter as nicely as spherical or ball powders.

As far as humidity is concerned there is not a whole lot that can be done except what you mentioned in your earlier post and that is to allow the powder to absorb some moisture and stabilize. Some people even keep their powder in a refrigerator where they can control the temp and humidity. But I would think that would be for extreme climates.

I used to reload in my garage but have since moved everything into the house because my loading machine was getting rusty even though I had it covered. Also, I keep my powers in a cool storage area and I bag all of my primers in zip lock bags or zip lock containers to seal out any moisture. Same for bullet heads---I keep them bagged in plastic to prevent corrosion from forming on the jackets . You can spray down lead heads with silicone spray to keep them from sticking together or forming a white powder oxidation.

I moved everything indoors under lock and key due to concerns about security of the garage. Plus I don't want my kids messing with my powders (like maybe mixing them) which could be fatal.


I only buy powder by the 8 pound keg size and have settled on just a few powders for the kind  of loads I use. For pistol I use H110 or Win 396 for Mag pistol and Bullseye for all target pistol loads.

For rifle I only use IMR 4895 for 308 and Win 748 for all other rifle.

When I make a run on a caliber I usually load 500 to 1000 lots as I already have all my loads worked out for what I shoot.

Keeps it simple

Great info.  I really appriciate the tips.  I think I have an idea of what I want to do now with the powder and primers...

Have any of you guys had issues with rust or oxidization on your press or dies?
Do you guys store your dies in a sealed plastic container or bag too?
I've read about people using various types of dry lube to keep the equiment rust free.  Does anyone else do this?

My only word of advice is be careful (with wind) when loading handgun.  The powders are typically very light (not as dense as rifle powders) so the wind through the garage can have serious effects on your charge such as blowing powder from the casing.

Great info.  I really appriciate the tips.  I think I have an idea of what I want to do now with the powder and primers...

Have any of you guys had issues with rust or oxidization on your press or dies?
Do you guys store your dies in a sealed plastic container or bag too?
I've read about people using various types of dry lube to keep the equiment rust free.  Does anyone else do this?

My loader is in my laundry room so yes I do get rust on some parts of my components.  I have a tool cabinet of sorts and that is where I store my dies.  The press light rusting, the dies inside - no rusting.

I really should have covered my press, but the flip side is if it is really moist then that cover can also trap moisture.

Eyup - rust here, too. Fortunately nothing horrible but it just kicked my brain in to realize that I don't leave my firearms unattended and unoiled for long periods of time and I need to give the same treatment to the press and dies.

My stuff is all portable (I've rigged a table mount for Lee's hand press) so the press never gets left out. All the steel on the dies and press gets lightly oiled with ballistol. Its a little bit of a hassle but its worth it to preserve the steel and it doesn't have to be done all that often.

I load in my garage also and live on the eastside across the road from the ocean and rust is a factor big time. I found that wiping down the press and equipment with oil/CLP I'm using Remington wipes right now and covering the press helps a lot. Also noticed that my lee dies don't rust compared to my rcbs and hornady dies. As for every thing else powders primers go in air tight ammo cans and have had no problems. I've also noticed that when doing individual handloads for my rifles wind does play a factor while measuring your powder I have garage doors so it's not so bad but if it's windy I have a drawer that I put my scale in to block the wind and that does the trick.

My stuff is all portable (I've rigged a table mount for Lee's hand press) so the press never gets left out. All the steel on the dies and press gets lightly oiled with ballistol. Its a little bit of a hassle but its worth it to preserve the steel and it doesn't have to be done all that often.

I am thinking of doing something very similar.  Basically have the press mounted on some sort of quick change out mount and just wipe it down with some silicone wipes put it away in a locker with one of those mini humidifiers.  I have a Lee Classic 4 hole turret and I'm still trying to find or make a good removable mounting option...

I am thinking of doing something very similar.  Basically have the press mounted on some sort of quick change out mount and just wipe it down with some silicone wipes put it away in a locker with one of those mini humidifiers.  I have a Lee Classic 4 hole turret and I'm still trying to find or make a good removable mounting option...

I found silicone doesn't really prevent rust that well,as far a quick mounting I have my presses mounted to wood base that I clamp down to my work bench with c-clamps

You should have a thin coat of grease on your press's ram. I don't have any issues with rust on anything except stuff made by l.e. wilson. I keep that stuff in a zip lock bags covered in wd-40.

Too bad if I seen this post earlier I would have given you some carwell rust preventative. That's what I use at work and on my lee press/dies. Being close to the ocean my dies/press does rust.

The only thing i would add is to be careful of water / humidity in the garage since humidity = rusted metal equipment.

Bringing a wet car into the garage during a rain brings in a bucket of water into your garage which then goes into the air as the water dries off your car.  Same goes for drying laundry.  These water particles in the air can settle on your metal equipment, creating rust after some time.

A dehumidifier would probably be good depending on your situation.

The only thing i would add is to be careful of water / humidity in the garage since humidity = rusted metal equipment.

Bringing a wet car into the garage during a rain brings in a bucket of water into your garage which then goes into the air as the water dries off your car.  Same goes for drying laundry.  These water particles in the air can settle on your metal equipment, creating rust after some time.

A dehumidifier would probably be good depending on your situation.

Solved that problem:  in addition to clutter from other pastimes, my two-car enclosed garage has  two gun benches  -- one mostly for gunsmithing/cleaning and one mostly for reloading; rollaway tool chest and cabinet for gun tools and cleaning supplies; two four-foot tall stacks of Office Depot plastic boxes with parts and supplies, plus ammo cans of primers and powder in various closets and lockers. There's no room  there for a car or clothesline. 
I get a little surface rust on the collar of some dies. The presses and other metal stuff, including the tool chest and cabinet, get a couple coats of car wax when new. It's humbug, but seems to help keep the rust away.
 

I put my powders and primers in separate coolers.  Coolers keep the temperature consistent.  You can also use broken refrigerator.