Reloading in a storage unit: genius or bad idea?

[gfanikf]

So I have the ability to rent a cheap storage facility close to my house (like 5-10 minutes away and right next to the Vet and Pediatrician we use!) and I want to use it for reloading (and possibly normal storage). Does this seem like a bad idea? Of course if I go for a non-climate controlled one I don't store primers or powder there (and even if it is climate controlled I might not anyway).

I'm thinking of a climate controlled 5x5 unit, which would be 62 bucks a month (plus one month free) and it's month to month vs a long term contract.
https://www.smdservers.net/SLWebSiteTemplate/SizeEstimator2.aspx

Now when I mentioned this to my wife surprisingly she just wanted to make sure it didn't cost much and that I adjust any expenditures to afford it. She seemed fine with it, which would mean I could reload and do full strip and cleanings of my guns indoors.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

5'x5'?

way too small for me

 

[gfanikf]

Well that was one size available.

Actually a better place just came up, so it's a bit moot point, plus no risk of theft attempts.

Basement location at my families house that also has a bar setup which makes for a good mounting location. Means we have to be visiting to use it, BUT that's fairly often and a short trip.

 

[Legion489]

OK, I'm not clear/sure why you can't set up at your home now. Portable reloading benches are easy to set up, I've seen self contained reloading "cabinets" too, that look like furniture that no one would know what was until they opened it. No garage, closet, back room, basement to set up a small unit in? $62 a month just to reload seems a bit much to me (that's $744 a year for a tiny unit, just to reload. You can buy a lot of gear or a new gun for that!). Any chance that you can find a buddy to set up with to split equipment with and load at that place?

Anyway, if you have the money, the wife is happy, you are happy, I don't see why this would not be fine for you. If it is climate controlled, I would store every thing there, primers and powder cost a lot less than a press does, and they are an over the counter item, so if someone is willing to break in and steal it, and risk jail time, they could just as easily go buy them.

 

[Quoheleth]

You have your answer in the family member's house or a portable set-up in your own dwelling. Just remember - if it is a bar in use, you need to clean up your reloading stuff VERY carefully before any food or drink comes in contact with the area. You're dealing with lead and mercury, two highly toxic elements.

But, to answer the question @ the storage facility, in today's over-reactive political and social climate, could you imagine the fallout if there was a fire in the storage unit, or if the cops raided your locker by mistake (it happens!) and it was discovered you were "hoarding ammunition," or had a "bullet making facility that could be capable of producing hundreds of rounds of destructive hollow-point ammunition" or components that "could be used to make a bomb" inside the unit? [I don't know if you have hollow-point ammo and neither will the press if they parse it carefully]. The media would chase you, your family, your co-workers and boss, all hoping for a quote about your "secret hobby" and "hidden, dark side."

You could be perfectly right and in the right, but thinking of the world of hurt that could come down on you, I wouldn't risk it.

My wife tells me I'm starting to over-react to stuff and I'm frequently borrowing trouble. Maybe; maybe not. But on my part I say reloading in a storage unit is a BAD IDEA. (Not to mention the cost)

Q

 

[CraigC]

Actually, for a climate controlled unit, I don't think it's a bad idea at all. I've always lived in the southeast so climate control would be absolutely necessary. To keep your equipment from rusting, your powder from getting damp and to be comfortable while reloading.

Sorry but I think the fears presented in post #5 are unfounded.

 

[drsfmd]

Why one earth would you spend $700+ a year to rent a closet to reload in? Do you have any idea how many rounds you'd need to load just to break even?

Give up your closet or make a portable setup and work in the yard. Heck, buy one of those small metal sheds. You'd still come out ahead...

 

[brickeyee]

They may not take kindly to flammables being stored. like powder.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Even if you paid me that to go and load in a remote closet, I'd not do it. Just seems odd.

 

[CraigC]

Why one earth would you spend $700+ a year to rent a closet to reload in?

If you shoot as much as I do and do so on your own property, $62 a month is pocket change.

Heck, buy one of those small metal sheds.

I'd rather spend $62 a month to reload in an air conditioned storage unit than an a shed in the backyard or in a hot garage. Do you know how hot it is out there right now???


I can see how this would be a good alternative for those who have limited space. Air conditioned or otherwise.

 

[Certaindeaf]

^
You make a good point there, one that usfolk here don't fully realize.. it's 1245hrs now and 74F with sun.
I wonder where the OP is and what his actual issues are.

 

[gfanikf]

You have your answer in the family member's house or a portable set-up in your own dwelling. Just remember - if it is a bar in use, you need to clean up your reloading stuff VERY carefully before any food or drink comes in contact with the area. You're dealing with lead and mercury, two highly toxic elements.

Q

It's not an in-use bar and hasn't been even years before my parents moved it. The area is just used as a basement, but it's still a long stretch of solid wood.

Like the front part here.

I'd rather spend $62 a month to reload in an air conditioned storage unit than an a shed in the backyard or in a hot garage. Do you know how hot it is out there right now???


I can see how this would be a good alternative for those who have limited space. Air conditioned or otherwise.

Plus I don't have the ability to have an outdoor shed or do it anywhere besides the living room or bathroom (we all remember my thread about reloading in the bathroom lol)

They may not take kindly to flammables being stored. like powder.

I wouldn't have stored them there.

 

[CraigC]

It's 2:50pm CST right now and 95° with 49% humidity for a heat index of 104°! If I had to handload out in the garage or a metal shed, I wouldn't.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I'd spend $60 a month to rent that. Heck, it's only money.

 

[ambidextrous1]

If the OP loads 1000 rounds a month - every month - that's 6.2 cents a round, just for the storage space.

Nothing else is really as comfortable as home! I've seen some very clever, compact reloading setups on this forum and elsewhere; a setup like that could be stored outside in one of those sheds available at the 'usual places', and taken inside for a reloading session - then returned to the shed.

With a setup like that, storage space in the house isn't impacted, and living space is only temporarily compromised, while reloading; and you are saving $62 a month, which buys a lot of bullets, powder and primers. Maybe that storage shed can absorb some of the stuff currently stored in the house.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

You can buy a prefab storage shed and have it set up on your property. Add some insulation and a small window unit and you're in business. Much more convient imho plus it's yours.

 

[gfanikf]

You can buy a prefab storage shed and have it set up on your property. Add some insulation and a small window unit and you're in business. Much more convient imho plus it's yours.

It wouldn't fit on the property, and even if I did the Homeowners Association would spaz out.

 

[joecil]

Well as someone that not only worked for Public Storage and Extra Space storage companies for about 14 years I'm now part owner in one that I also manage and operate. So here goes what is allowed and not allowed and that goes for me too though I live on site in a 2 bedroom apartment.

No it isn't wise to load in a storage space regardless of size. Most if they caught you would be instant grounds to evict you, at least in the places I've worked. First off working be in loading ammo, running tools, tuning a car etc is usually breaks the rental agreement hence eviction.

If for some reason you fall behind enough to sell a space in lien (different times for different states) the majority can't sell alcohol, ammo or other explosive materials. It will really depend on the rental agreement you signed as well as the states laws.

Now me if I caught you I would let you know once, second time caught I would have you leave till you had a means of moving out by the end of the period paid and would lock you out till then. It also has nothing to do with anti gun or reloading as I load in my apartment but not in my spaces as my apartment isn't part of other spaces. A single accident could cause a chain reaction that could take down more than just your single space. I've had it happen with someone that had a freezer working in a space and somehow cut the cord on it causing a short. I burned out about 100 spaces due to closing the door on the extension cord he used to power the freezer.

 

[Otto]

I actually suggested the storage unit idea in an earlier thread of yours so I'll expound on it a bit.

First off, a 5x5 unit is too small. A 10x10 provides plenty of room to reload and you can store other things that are cluttering up your house.

Second is illumination. Storage facilities may or may not provide enough light to see what you're doing. I get around this with a simple led headlamp.

Third, all storage facilities have rental agreements. But few will allow you to sign a long term lease...most are month-to-month. This gives them the privilege of jacking up your rent soon after you move-in and get settled.

Fourth, make sure you're the only one with the key to the unit using your own lock...not theirs. If they need inside your unit, they can use a bolt cutter.

Read the lease. I doubt that reloading will be prohibited. However, storing hazardous material may be. In that case, just bring the powder and primers with you but don't actually store them there.

Avoid "Public Storage" and other national chains. Better deals and terms are with local facilities.

 

[Texan Scott]

Fellas, the signboard at our local bank had it at 107 @ 1530 yesterday... $62 a month for off-site storage, security, and air conditioning included? VALUE!

 

[Otto]

Why one earth would you spend $700+ a year to rent a closet to reload in? Do you have any idea how many rounds you'd need to load just to break even?

Because he's got small kids and plans to reload in a common area.
How much do hospitals charge to pump primers out of a toddler's stomach? $5 - $6 thousand?

 

[Texan Scott]

...each. And good vets aren't much cheaper. AND, air conditioning is still a must.

 

[gfanikf]

Because he's got small kids and plans to reload in a common area.
How much do hospitals charge to pump primers out of a toddler's stomach? $5 - $6 thousand?

Planned. I would have used the closed off restroom, simply because I don't want that risk.

 

[medalguy]

Be very careful of the "climate controlled" claims. I rented a unit for my daughter's furniture after she graduated from college and was getting an apartment set up. It turned out their ideal of "climate control" was to keep the inside temperature at 85 degrees and the humidity at whatever it was at. Considering it was about 105 outside in July, that was considered acceptable to the storage place. It wasn't to me. Try to work inside a place that's 85 degrees and about 95% humidity with no air circulating except every 10 minutes or so when the AC would come on for 5 minutes or so.

I'd want to be sure the temperature AND humidity were acceptable before I committed to anything.

 

[trixter]

So I have the ability to rent a cheap storage facility close to my house (like 5-10 minutes away and right next to the Vet and Pediatrician we use!) and I want to use it for reloading (and possibly normal storage). Does this seem like a bad idea? Of course if I go for a non-climate controlled one I don't store primers or powder there (and even if it is climate controlled I might not anyway).

I'm thinking of a climate controlled 5x5 unit, which would be 62 bucks a month (plus one month free) and it's month to month vs a long term contract.
https://www.smdservers.net/SLWebSite...stimator2.aspx

Now when I mentioned this to my wife surprisingly she just wanted to make sure it didn't cost much and that I adjust any expenditures to afford it. She seemed fine with it, which would mean I could reload and do full strip and cleanings of my guns indoors.

Share with me why you are not comfortable reloading at home. I really think it might be feasible with certain precautions. I have been doing it since my kids were little, in the 80's, now with my grand sons (3).