doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Loading in cold weather is a problem

My first 10 shells at the range today misfired. No powder at all. I checked the press at home, no clog, but I have several boxes that the shells are a fair bit lighter than others. The downfalls of an older house with no room inside to load

What is your conclusion, since you say "no clog"?

When it is really cold, say, sub 20 degrees or so, regular factory ammunition loses some pep, even with a full load of powder. You might have a static flow issue, or, the powder is cold enough that it doesn’t flow consistently.

Maybe you have to reload in warmer weather conditions.

Best,
Ted

Sounds like a progressive press issue. Single stage press where you have to weight each charge independent of the press this can not happen………unless I am not understanding the issue.

Dang, Jeff . . . . 0 for 10? That's bad.

I load in an old outside building too, but I know it's not nearly as cold as yours. I may have an average of one blooper per 100, or less. With the ratio you cited I'd have to rethink my reloading accommodations.

LTK,I have single stage presses in addition to a couple progressives. I do not have to weigh charges with my single stages. They have a charging bar that slides side to side, just like the progressives. Only difference is that the progressives move the bar without the operator's effort.

Weighing the charges is just a safety measure, on either type, single stage or progressive.

Ouch, there are just so many options and solutions. The biggest problem is not figuring out why this wasn't caught, during the loading. Short of weighing, there's nothing wrong with the visual confirmation of a simple, volume hand scooper set?

I always up my powder charges 1 grain in everything except .410 when the temps go below freezing. Been doing this for over 30 years. Has worked well for me.

Not sure how but the nut on the threaded rod which operates moving the charge bar had loosened, so the bar wasn't going far enough, but it still should have had some powder. So far every shell I have opened was empty

Nitrah, reset the bar travel then put a lock nut on the threaded rod. That same situation messed up a batch of my reloads. Grrr

Do you label your loads with a temperature range?

I do not find much issue with cold weather, personally, but I do not often hunt below 0F. Yesterday, it was 21F and pretty nice at that while we were out after pheasants.

Maybe next year, I'll gear up for negative teens and need a heavier charge. How cold does it have to be to make a significant difference?