Frequently asked questions

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

What are hazardous materials (HazMat)

Hazardous Materials are items that have been deemed hazardous in shipping situations. These materials are classified according to the CFR 49 statutes published by the Department of Transportation in Washington D.C. For more information please visit the DOT website.

What are the current charges

The current hazmat charges for UPS Ground shipments are $32.00 (as of 2/2017) per 60 lbs. Hazmat charges are normally updated in February of each year. Extreme Reloading will charge the current surcharge at the time of your shipment.

Who receives the extra charge

The shipping company that imposes the charge receives the money. Extreme Reloading acts as the shipper and does not receive any of this charge.

What can I do to limit these costs

Making larger orders help reduce costs. Remember that the HazMat charge is per 60 lbs., not per item. If you order 1 lb. of a HazMat material you will pay the $32.00 charge. If you order 60 lbs. of HazMat material you will still only pay the $32.00 charge. Even though you may pay more for 60 lbs. of material, the delivered cost to you, including freight will be less because of the HazMat charge being spread across the larger order.

CAN POWDER AND/OR PRIMERS BE SHIPPED TO MY LOCATION

Laws for shipping and storage of powder and primers vary by location, so it is the responsibility of the buyer to know their local laws PRIOR to placing an order. We ship to the continental United States only.

HOW SHOULD I STORE SMOKELESS POWDER AND/OR PRIMERS

STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. Be sure the storage area selected is free from any possible sources of excess heat and is isolated from open flame, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc. Do not store smokeless powder where it will be exposed to the sun’s rays. Avoid storage in areas where mechanical or electrical equipment is in operation. Restrict from the storage areas heat or sparks which may result from improper, defective or overloaded electrical circuits.

HOW SAFE IS RELOADING

Reloading is not only a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, it’s among the safest of sports. This is due to today’s smokeless gunpowder’s, which are different than the old black powders of previous generations. Modern smokeless powders are classified as propellants, not explosives, meaning when properly used these powders only burn when ignited. So, while common sense and certain precautions should not be ignored, hand loading is by no means a high-risk hobby. The use of safety glasses and hearing protection should be considered mandatory when shooting.

HOW GOOD IS HANDLOADED AMMO

The truth is, carefully handloaded ammunition is usually better than factory loaded, because it can be fine-tuned to fit a specific gun and a certain type of shooting. The results are far greater accuracy and performance.

HOW COMPLICATED IS HANDLOADING

It’s simple, follow the printed/tested load data. There are only four components to a rifle or pistol cartridge: the primer, the powder, the bullet and the brass case. When a cartridge is fired, the primer ignites the powder; the powder then propels the bullet out of the barrel. All that’s left is the brass case and the spent primer. And this is where the handloading comes in. The brass can be reloaded over and over. All you do is push out the fired primer, resize the brass case, insert a new primer, add the right amount of powder and seat a new bullet on the case. That’s handloading in very simplified terms.

DO NOT store smokeless powder in the same area with solvents, flammable gasses or highly combustible materials.

Store only in department of transportation approved containers.

Do not smoke in areas where powder is stored or used.  Place appropriate “No Smoking” signs in these areas.

DO NOT subject the storage cabinets to close confinement.  Storage cabinets should be constructed of insulating materials and with week wall seams or joints to provide an easy means of self-venting.

DO NOT keep old or salvaged powders.  Check old powders for deterioration regularly. Destroy deteriorated powders immediately.

OBEY ALL REGULATIONS REGARDING QUANTITY AND METHODS OF STORING. Do not store all your powders in one place. If you can, maintain separate storage locations. Many small containers are safer than one or more large containers.

KEEP YOUR STORAGE AND USE AREA CLEAN. Clean up spilled powder promptly. Make sure the surrounding area is free of trash or other readily combustible materials