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Dedicated Gun/reloading workshop building.

Ajwilly96

Gold $$ Contributor
My wife is ready to kick me out of the house with all my guns and reloading equipment. I’m at a crossroads with where I should go from here. I want to have a 24 x 40 x 12 shop built on the property. I would probably end up with either a separate HVAC system or a few mini splits.

My first modification would be to build a wall with a man door giving me a 24 x 10 section to store guns, powder, and other reloading equipment. Leaving me with 24 x 30 to put a lathe, mill, and other equipment.

I would plan to fully insulate the building but I’m not sure if I should go for metal or vinyl siding. Also if I should go for a pole barn or garage style build. On the front end of the building I would want a 10 x 10 overhead garage door and a man door.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!
 
Add a lean to on the outside to do dust generating work. It’ll keep the inside cleaner. Plus, a break in the shade on a nice day is a good thing.

I have a 4’ walk door on one of my shops. Very handy to have the width.
 
That's a lot of building. Sounds like a commercial venture from what I do. But for sure metal roof and metal siding with a wood stove some where to warm up the place. Put the stove under the ridge line so most of the stove pipe in in the building where it will do the most good, if you have wood available. And good lighting where you reload and work. You have to plan for that with high ceilings. You will have to have separate areas. Lots of windows or sky lights for natural light to come in makes a big difference to me anyway. Sounds like it will be a great place to enjoy what you love to do.
 
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I built a 24 X 64 pole barn on my previous property with a wall separating it into 2 halves. In doing so, I installed a man door and an 8 X 8 roll up door to facilitate moving of larger items between the heated (insulated) side to the unheated side. Just a suggestion.
 
Ajwilly96 said:
My wife is ready to kick me out of the house with all my guns and reloading equipment. I’m at a crossroads with where I should go from here. I want to have a 24 x 40 x 12 shop built on the property. I would probably end up with either a separate HVAC system or a few mini splits.

My first modification would be to build a wall with a man door giving me a 24 x 10 section to store guns, powder, and other reloading equipment. Leaving me with 24 x 30 to put a lathe, mill, and other equipment.

I would plan to fully insulate the building but I’m not sure if I should go for metal or vinyl siding. Also if I should go for a pole barn or garage style build. On the front end of the building I would want a 10 x 10 overhead garage door and a man door.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!
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i built a pole barn but would conventional frame it if i did it again. of coarse i left my rafters exposed. id seriously look at steel frame buildings to—

will it be attached to house?

do like dryh says and make your svc doors at least 42– get them that open out.
 
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snert said:
A building is just a tin vault waiting to be breached. Build a concrete, rienforced inner vault with a safe door, solid cieling, good light and a means to heat/ac and dehumidify. Build all your other stuff around it.
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a tin can you meen—————-a concrete gun room is a great idea— thing is seems to me the door is the week point and it kind of voids the strength of the concrete walls.

also if OP builds a concrete vault dont forget to calulate the footings needed to hold up that much weight.
 
hoz53 said:
a tin can you meen—————-a concrete gun room is a great idea— thing is seems to me the door is the week point and it kind of voids the strength of the concrete walls.
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Well, I guess if you are dedicated you could build it from inside and make it four solid walls and cieling...

Yes, a door is a weak spot, but there are some reasonable ones out there. I bought mine shipped from CA about four yearsa ago for under 5K. Im sure the price has gone up but I am well pleased.
 
snert said:
Well, I guess if you are dedicated you could build it from inside and make it four solid walls and cieling...

Yes, a door is a weak spot, but there are some reasonable ones out there. I bought mine shipped from CA about four yearsa ago for under 5K. Im sure the price has gone up but I am well pleased.
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i really wanted to put in a concrete gun room but thinking about it i realized i could cut a hole in any door i could afford in a few minutes and and im no professional. i decided why spend the $ on it at all.. each 2 their own though and if we are both happy with wat we got thats the main thing!!
 
I have a walk in vault but it seems like it would be much more expensive. And security is not a concern where I live
 
IF available money and space is a factor, I would consider a shipping container, a full size one or even an additional half size one. It should rest on a cement pad and will need to be insulated on all sides except the floor. The floor will need some type of covering as well, Rubber works well and keeps the cold out. Since space will be limited some adjustments will be necessary. Lathes and mills should have their separate area as well as a large work bench and storage for tools, and other items. Shelves and cabinets can hold reloading equipment and components. A safe can be bolted through the floor into the concrete. Heat, cooling and lighting are all electric and 220 for the machines as well. The front swinging doors should remain and a man door cut through one of them. Moving machinery in or out is facilitated by retaining the original doors. Having a second half size container adjacent to the full size one for storage insulated, heated and cooled or not will free additional space in the full size on. A lot of the work can be done over time to save money if you have the skills.
 
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