Condensation in casing in really cold temperature.
- Thread starter franktank
- Start date
It shouldn't. Powder is pretty anhydrous so what little atmospheric moisture was in your reloading room at the time, the minute amount that was in that case after filling it with powder and then sealing it with the bullet would have been absorbed into the powder. Certainly not enough to make your powder inert.
The inside of the case should be basically sealed, which means whatever moisture got in there when it was loaded is the only moisture that should be in there.
Bringing cold metal into a warm place will cause condensation to form out of the air, because warm air holds more water, and the cold metal will cool the air right next to it. Think of it like how a glass of ice water gets all wet on the outside.
Basically, you might get condensation on the outside of the case but it shouldn't happen inside.
Bringing cold metal into a warm place will cause condensation to form out of the air, because warm air holds more water, and the cold metal will cool the air right next to it. Think of it like how a glass of ice water gets all wet on the outside.
Basically, you might get condensation on the outside of the case but it shouldn't happen inside.
No disrespect intended, always appreciate your insight, however, there are lots of new shooters who do not have the benefit of your experience, who do not have the benefit of fathers, uncles, etc who taught them the ropes, and who are bound to ask questions whose answers may seem obvious to more experienced folks. Some people have active, creative, and curious minds. Better they ask those questions and have the matter settled for them without being embarrassed or ridiculed in process don't you think?
In over 47 year of reloading the only condensation problem I have had was on the "OUTSIDE" of the cartridge due to temperature change. And my double pane Anderson windows do not have condensation problems between the sealed panes.
con·den·sa·tion
1. Water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.
2. The conversion of a vapor or gas to a liquid.
And Suther answered the question very well.
con·den·sa·tion
1. Water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.
2. The conversion of a vapor or gas to a liquid.
And Suther answered the question very well.
Last edited:
I have always said that when it comes to shooting, reloading etc that there is no such thing
as a stupid question. If you are not sure of something, ask. That is how we all learn.
So I think that the question was an intelligent question.
I always enjoy reading H4831 postings and any other of the very experienced reloaders here.
So just remember sometimes your wife can over dry your underwear and it can make you a little cranky.
And H4831 has given all of us invaluable information with his experience in his postings. So why don't we all chip in and get him some new Buck Naked underwear.
On the flip side of this you could have been stuck reading a posting by sunray and smacking your own forehead.
Water is one of the components of powder. Or, more accurately, moisture is a component. It is used to slightly tweek the speed of the powder. More moisture slows it down.
Or, phrased another way, if you leave powder in the powder thrower, it speeds up.
The powder in a loaded case will not change much with moisture within the shell. The temperature shifts will be much more significant.
And, FWIW, you have the physics backwards. Air moisture inside a case would condense when the shell went outside, (when it cooled), not when it came inside and warmed up.
No harm in asking questions.
H4831 has spent a long winter cooped up in his mountain cabin. He is getting grumpy. He has to peddle his computer to get the juice to log onto the internet and he really looks forward to interesting and challenging questions.
Listen to what he has to say. He is so experienced that there are not many lessons left for him to learn the hard way...
Or, phrased another way, if you leave powder in the powder thrower, it speeds up.
The powder in a loaded case will not change much with moisture within the shell. The temperature shifts will be much more significant.
And, FWIW, you have the physics backwards. Air moisture inside a case would condense when the shell went outside, (when it cooled), not when it came inside and warmed up.
No harm in asking questions.
H4831 has spent a long winter cooped up in his mountain cabin. He is getting grumpy. He has to peddle his computer to get the juice to log onto the internet and he really looks forward to interesting and challenging questions.
Listen to what he has to say. He is so experienced that there are not many lessons left for him to learn the hard way...
Last edited:
I sure thank all you guys for your comments. Ganderite has the professional training and experience in what he does, while the rest of us have to sort of feel our way along. I wear very comfortable shorts, so can't blame that, but actually I didn't think I was being that way, by suggesting some were trying to create a problem, where none exists. How could anyone think a problem existed, or may exist, in taking a cartridge from a box, your pocket or where ever, putting it in the chamber of the rifle and fire it, just like every shooter does? No one ever heard of a problem happening from doing this. How could there be? It is the method given in every shooting manual, or instruction book ever written on how to shoot, as well as taught by every one who teaches how to shoot. Load the cartridge and shoot it!
Thus, any one who would even think about there being a problem is obviously trying to create a problem, just as I suggested.
I enjoy doing what I can to help people, especially newer shooters, with problems they have and we hear so many "problems," that are just routine to most shooters, but we realize the new shooter is looking for an answer to something he/she didn't know, so we help them best we can.
Thanks again for all the comments.
Bruce
Thus, any one who would even think about there being a problem is obviously trying to create a problem, just as I suggested.
I enjoy doing what I can to help people, especially newer shooters, with problems they have and we hear so many "problems," that are just routine to most shooters, but we realize the new shooter is looking for an answer to something he/she didn't know, so we help them best we can.
Thanks again for all the comments.
Bruce
Boxers or briefs and what temp are they dried?
When I used my 22 in the winter to check snare's/trap's I left it out in the shed with 2 loaded clip's.
I've hunted in -30/-35 with centerfire and have never had a problem with ammo going off. That ammo went from rifle to pocket to car dash board to house many time's thru the year's.
