Temp effects on brass during storage

zeke · January 16, 2018, 10:55 PM

Am looking at modifying living arrangements after retiring, and storing new brass cases in unheated garage. Maybe up to 2 years. Any negative affects from temp swings on the brass? Lowest temps around -30 f, highest maybe 90 f. Am not talking cartridges, just the brass.

Thanks for any insights, experience or advise.

Chainsaw. · January 16, 2018, 11:01 PM

Nope. So long as they aren't moist you'll be fine. Any doubt and just toss em in a sealed container (ziplock, coffe can with snap lid, old jars) with a couple of desicant packages, I just reuse ones that come im stuff I buy.

Tsquared · January 16, 2018, 11:12 PM

I found a gallon paint can full of brass that I put away in the mid 90's a few months back. No lid, just an open can in a dry basement. I dropped them in the tumbler and then loaded them up. They are working fine.

shootniron · January 16, 2018, 11:38 PM

Never had temp or moist issues with mine...never any special handling when storing it. I was recently reloading some .223 brass brass that has been in paste board boxes in my garage for over 20yrs...polished up like new and shot like gangbusters.

zeke · January 17, 2018, 06:59 AM

Thanks all, it be appreciated. After being able to keep shooting through multiple shortages and preparing to retire, probably will never have to buy another case in this lifetime.

LBussy · January 17, 2018, 08:18 AM

Zeke, temp swings won't hurt anything. What you might want to consider is condensation. If your container can "breathe" then there's no issue with that. If you intend to seal it, a desiccant pack won't be a bad idea.

Congratulations on your impending retirement!

JeepHammer · January 17, 2018, 09:39 AM

The only temp swing issues I've had are with condensation (moisture).
Although the brass looked fine, the primers had corroded into the pockets and punched through instead of punching out.
I try to deprime before storage and no issues since then.

USSR · January 17, 2018, 11:17 AM

JeepHammer brings up a good point, make sure you decap them prior to storing them thru those Wisconsin summers and winters.

Don

BigJimP · January 17, 2018, 11:33 AM

Condensation is your only real issue in my view...put them in something where you get some air circulation / 5 gallong bucket or something...if it has a lid - punch some holes in it.

Dessicant bags...don't work very well / because once they saturate with moisture ( and it happens quickly - when it cools off on humid days ) then they give off their moisture / so you have more moisture inside box...

Plastic bags ...if they are sealed ...are moisture barriers but not air vapor barriers...so humid air passes thru the bag ..and it will condense as it cools off. Keep bags open ...if you have them in plastic bags inside a bucket or something.

LBussy · January 17, 2018, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJimP

Plastic bags ...if they are sealed ...are moisture barriers but not air vapor barriers...so humid air passes thru the bag ..and it will condense as it cools off. Keep bags open ...if you have them in plastic bags inside a bucket or something.

That's simply not true. Typical household storage bags may leak at the zip lock, and they may be permeable to oxygen, but if they are sealed correctly they are not permeable to water either liquid or vapor. I store things more precious/sensitive than brass in plastic for years with desiccant and indicator strips with no issues.

The cheapest desiccant one may use is plain kitty litter dried in the oven. Put that in a brown paper bag and you have a great system.

fredvon4 · January 17, 2018, 12:29 PM

Texas checking in ....central.... typical yearly variance (right now 14F outside) from 25F to 105F with humidity from 13% to 87%

I keep every thing inside one of the many climate controlled areas of the property....simply because it is common sense

For brass I tend to think NOT critical....during handling, culling, sorting, tumbling, sizing, and reload they are all going to come up to room temp, be consistent sizes and easy to work

Keeping primers and powder in climate controlled conditions is slightly more critical...for me......NOT so much bullets or brass

Regardless of the 6 total out buildings I have on the Micro Ranch property... 3 climate controlled and 3 subject to whatever the weather is.... I keep ALL reloading and actual firearms in 100% controlled environment... why not

At any given time I have 30,000 pieces of brass in many calibers... sorted and easy to find storage inside the climate controlled house

If you live in a 900SqFt apartment and must store components out side....choose the bullets and cases to be in the Wx.... primers and powders inside....Just my .000001999 cents worth of opinion

gwpercle · January 17, 2018, 02:00 PM

-30 as in thirty degrees below zero ?
I don't believe it will negatively affect brass but it would negatively affect me.
It was 15 degrees above zero here this morning in Baton Rouge Louisiana and me and the two cats are considering a move farther South.... -30 that's just insanity .
Gary

RC20 · January 17, 2018, 02:06 PM

15 in Batton Rouge is nuts, I don't blame the cats, but where do you go when Florida is cold? California (grin)

The only issue with long term brass is it tarnishes. Maybe help if its sealed and desiccant in it.

On the other hand, as noted, some I have pulled out after 30 years I just tumbled and away we went.

zeke · January 17, 2018, 02:13 PM

Thanks again, none of this brass is once fired or primed. Just brand new un-primed brass. Powder, primers, bullets, fired cases and loaded rounds are staying inside. Will check to see if all are in plastic bags, and add desiccant packs (after drying em out) having been saving up.

We just went through several weeks where it did not get above 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Multiple nights down in -20's. Not that unusual to see several nights down in -30's. -40's getting rarer.

Just got back from road trip to new indoor range 24 miles away.

hdwhit · January 17, 2018, 03:33 PM

Quote:

zeke wrote:
...storing new brass cases in unheated garage. Maybe up to 2 years. Any negative affects from temp swings on the brass?

The temperature swings will have no appreciable effect on your brass.

What will have an effect on your brass are the changes in humidity that accompany those changes in temperature.

I have the somewhat unique experience of having had a large quantity of brass at various stages of being processed at the time I was afflicted with a neurologic condition that kept me away from my guns and reloading bench for two decades. So, I can comment on long-term storage in a garage in north Texas with temperature swings from 10 degrees to 120 degrees for years.

Without getting into all the details, the best results were fully processed brass stored in ammunition boxes where each case had its own compartment that was then stored in a sealed ammunition can. While all brass stored for 20 years suffered some deterioration that resulted in me deciding to no longer use it, brass stored this was lost less than 2%.

The worst results were unprocessed brass stored in a ziploc bag and left in a drawer in a cabinet next to the reloading bench. This suffered a loss rate of nearly 15%.

Sealed storage, individual compartments, use of dessicants all seemed to contribute to better outcomes.

T. O'Heir · January 17, 2018, 03:50 PM

Condensation usually only happens with quick temperature changes.
Desiccant packs require periodic changing/maintenance. Buy a vacuum sealer.
Start at $17.98US in Wally World.

January 16, 2018, 10:55 PM	#1
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,671	Temp effects on brass during storage Am looking at modifying living arrangements after retiring, and storing new brass cases in unheated garage. Maybe up to 2 years. Any negative affects from temp swings on the brass? Lowest temps around -30 f, highest maybe 90 f. Am not talking cartridges, just the brass. Thanks for any insights, experience or advise.

January 16, 2018, 11:01 PM	#2
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Nope. So long as they aren't moist you'll be fine. Any doubt and just toss em in a sealed container (ziplock, coffe can with snap lid, old jars) with a couple of desicant packages, I just reuse ones that come im stuff I buy. __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

January 17, 2018, 08:18 AM	#6
LBussy Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2012 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 296	Zeke, temp swings won't hurt anything. What you might want to consider is condensation. If your container can "breathe" then there's no issue with that. If you intend to seal it, a desiccant pack won't be a bad idea. Congratulations on your impending retirement! __________________ -- Lee Bad decisions make good stories.

January 17, 2018, 11:17 AM	#8
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	JeepHammer brings up a good point, make sure you decap them prior to storing them thru those Wisconsin summers and winters. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

January 17, 2018, 02:06 PM	#13
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	15 in Batton Rouge is nuts, I don't blame the cats, but where do you go when Florida is cold? California (grin) The only issue with long term brass is it tarnishes. Maybe help if its sealed and desiccant in it. On the other hand, as noted, some I have pulled out after 30 years I just tumbled and away we went. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

January 16, 2018, 11:12 PM	#3
Tsquared Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2016 Location: NE Atlanta Posts: 337	I found a gallon paint can full of brass that I put away in the mid 90's a few months back. No lid, just an open can in a dry basement. I dropped them in the tumbler and then loaded them up. They are working fine.

January 16, 2018, 11:38 PM	#4
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Never had temp or moist issues with mine...never any special handling when storing it. I was recently reloading some .223 brass brass that has been in paste board boxes in my garage for over 20yrs...polished up like new and shot like gangbusters.

January 17, 2018, 06:59 AM	#5
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,671	Thanks all, it be appreciated. After being able to keep shooting through multiple shortages and preparing to retire, probably will never have to buy another case in this lifetime.

January 17, 2018, 09:39 AM	#7
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	The only temp swing issues I've had are with condensation (moisture). Although the brass looked fine, the primers had corroded into the pockets and punched through instead of punching out. I try to deprime before storage and no issues since then.

January 17, 2018, 11:33 AM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Condensation is your only real issue in my view...put them in something where you get some air circulation / 5 gallong bucket or something...if it has a lid - punch some holes in it. Dessicant bags...don't work very well / because once they saturate with moisture ( and it happens quickly - when it cools off on humid days ) then they give off their moisture / so you have more moisture inside box... Plastic bags ...if they are sealed ...are moisture barriers but not air vapor barriers...so humid air passes thru the bag ..and it will condense as it cools off. Keep bags open ...if you have them in plastic bags inside a bucket or something.

January 17, 2018, 12:29 PM	#11
fredvon4 Junior member Join Date: January 18, 2010 Location: Lampasas Texas Posts: 154	Texas checking in ....central.... typical yearly variance (right now 14F outside) from 25F to 105F with humidity from 13% to 87% I keep every thing inside one of the many climate controlled areas of the property....simply because it is common sense For brass I tend to think NOT critical....during handling, culling, sorting, tumbling, sizing, and reload they are all going to come up to room temp, be consistent sizes and easy to work Keeping primers and powder in climate controlled conditions is slightly more critical...for me......NOT so much bullets or brass Regardless of the 6 total out buildings I have on the Micro Ranch property... 3 climate controlled and 3 subject to whatever the weather is.... I keep ALL reloading and actual firearms in 100% controlled environment... why not At any given time I have 30,000 pieces of brass in many calibers... sorted and easy to find storage inside the climate controlled house If you live in a 900SqFt apartment and must store components out side....choose the bullets and cases to be in the Wx.... primers and powders inside....Just my .000001999 cents worth of opinion

January 17, 2018, 02:00 PM	#12
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	-30 as in thirty degrees below zero ? I don't believe it will negatively affect brass but it would negatively affect me. It was 15 degrees above zero here this morning in Baton Rouge Louisiana and me and the two cats are considering a move farther South.... -30 that's just insanity . Gary

January 17, 2018, 02:13 PM	#14
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,671	Thanks again, none of this brass is once fired or primed. Just brand new un-primed brass. Powder, primers, bullets, fired cases and loaded rounds are staying inside. Will check to see if all are in plastic bags, and add desiccant packs (after drying em out) having been saving up. We just went through several weeks where it did not get above 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Multiple nights down in -20's. Not that unusual to see several nights down in -30's. -40's getting rarer. Just got back from road trip to new indoor range 24 miles away.

January 17, 2018, 03:50 PM	#16
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Condensation usually only happens with quick temperature changes. Desiccant packs require periodic changing/maintenance. Buy a vacuum sealer. Start at $17.98US in Wally World. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!