Reloading Bench Setups

[bjohnson]

I need some ideas for a reloading bench for when I get back stateside. Feel free to post pics of your own setups.

 

[Deer Assassin]

 

[bjohnson]

How sturdy is the desk? I've thought about that for a compact reloading setup.

 

[Hunter 257W]

What I like about that setup, DA is that it looks to be inside the heated/cooled part of your house. I've always wanted to load in comfort but never have. That's why I try to do all my loading before Spring/Summer arrives.

 

[Tennessee Lead]

Looks good DA I plan on easing my way into reloading by Christmas I was going to post this very topic I have a closet that I plan on building a reloading station in

 

[Rubberduck270]

Not only is DA inside the house, looks like his chair sits right over the vent too. That man has it figured out.

 

[DaveB]

I finished the area over my garage. 48" knee wall. 12 foot wide. Near 40 feet long, extends over laundry room and kitchen on ground floor. heated, cooled. Installed pull-down ladder in garage, made doorway 36 inches wide. Phone, cable TV, Internet, speaker system, electrical all behind knee walls. Into voided space built bookcases, drawers, place for min-fridge(that is wrong size how embarrassing), access place to get behind kneewalls, bought a hutch (it had caught on fire!)with no base, built a base is Trophy place now, built a place for tube TV.

Only fell through floor into garage once. Very proud of that.

Never put drywall directly against joists.

You need more cooling than you think.

I used up my spare slots in my electric box and now cannot expand, gotta buy new and larger. This is painful.

Pic's soon

 

[Plateau Hunter]

Wow DA, nice and VERY neat setup. I could show a perfect example of what a reloading setup should NOT look like.

 

[Jcalder]

Press scale and trimmer


Dies powder tumbler and accessories


Brass up top in the blue box. Bullets and primers along with loaded stuff in the cabinet




I really need a room dedicated for all this mess but my current setup is in the dining room

 

[KPH]

I just use a work bench and a cabinet.

 

[mr.big]

JW about 2 years ago loadin up some 223

 

[280longshot]

That is one very organized reloading bench.

 

[TNlandowner]

Being a military guy, I luv organization. Here's a picture of my set up, which is (unfortunately) in my man cave (shop). As previously mentioned, I sure wish it was indoors for summer reloading. The set up runs along a wall, all powder and primers are kept in air tight containers with dehumidifiers. The empty storage bins are now full of bullets waiting for use. I used recycled lumber for most of this project: "free" cabinets, plywood, framing, shelf boards, etc.

One tip, don't have your scales exposed to vents, fans, strong drafts, etc. Air current can make a difference.

 

[bjohnson]

Being a military guy, I luv organization. Here's a picture of my set up, which is (unfortunately) in my man cave (shop). As previously mentioned, I sure wish it was indoors for summer reloading. The set up runs along a wall, all powder and primers are kept in air tight containers with dehumidifiers. The empty storage bins are now full of bullets waiting for use. I used recycled lumber for most of this project: "free" cabinets, plywood, framing, shelf boards, etc.

One tip, don't have your scales exposed to vents, fans, strong drafts, etc. Air current can make a difference.

I'm a neat freak as well, that is a clean setup.

 

[TNlandowner]

I use an old bed sheet to keep the dust off the gear... again, this wouldn't be a problem if I had a room inside the house.

You down range? If so, take the fight to 'em.

 

[bjohnson]

You down range? If so, take the fight to 'em.

Yeah, roger that.

 

[Realtree]

I'm just getting started. I built a table.

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[DaveB]

Here is my bench. Yep, it is really an old particle board desk and it is heavy.

The black press is a guaranteed absolutely useless POS SmartReloader press. The linkage has so much play it wiggles and waggles. Even the ram is not solid in the press. I have it setup as a decapping work station.

I'll have to update these pics as I have updated the lee turret and added another one.

 

[DIRTTRAX]

I'll play.

 

[bjohnson]

Some clean setups guys.

 

[Realtree]

Where did you find your plastic bin storage containers and backboard. I've been looking for that ? Thanks

 

[280longshot]

Alot of nice setups here but I haven't read anything explaining why you guys have your benches setup the way you do.
Not really sure but I think it would be helpful for someone to understand your method of logic.
Ex: Do you guys work from left to right on the bench, or just start anywhere.
I find it easier to work from left to right.

 

[Bunt]

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I use an old work station table, with 12 x 12 1/4" aluminum plates drilled and tapped to mount different presses or powder measures on.

 

[7mminatree]

Using an old office desk I bought for $5.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Well being cramped in a shed, along with everything mine is a hot mess right now. I hope to have a house built this time next year and everything will be inside so I will be motivated to load more.

I built my own bench and have a rc 5 on it along with a mec 10 gauge press. I bought a plastic Ben thingy I mounted on it that holds bullets, tools and such.

I'm going to put some shelves under my table as well as add another rc and a Lee 12 gauge press.

Between the bullets I have and all the shotgun components it looks like a bomb dropped but it works for now

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

For now my tumbler is in the basement and my chargemaster is in the house

 

[DaveB]

I have 3 presses: A POS SmartReloader strictly used for decapping and two Lee 3 hole turret presses. I have 11 calibers and each has their own turret. Each caliber has its own spot that contains the turret, bullets, powder, and plastic boxes.

When I decide to reload something, say the 243, only items needed for the 243 are move from their spot on to my loading bench which is a re-purposed office desk. Case prep is decap, tumble or sonic or SS wet tumble clean. FL size. Measure 10 cases at random. If they exceed specs, all 243 cases will be trimmed to .010 below spec then chamfer insider and outside. Case prep is now complete.

This is my reloading process.
Following case prep I will put 50 to 100 or more pieces of brass in reloading blocks. First I prime each case using an old Lee tool, one with the round face, the square face is hard for me to use. As each piece of brass is primed it is turned nose down in the block.

I use an rcbs 10-10 scale and I set it to zero before I begin and weigh every last charge. After i pour powder into brass I seat the bullet.

Every bullet is mike'd with a Lyman micrometer. I am really picky about OAL.

I then set the bullet in a plastic ammo box in its appropriate spot as the cover of the box has labels that match the load I just created.

For a known good load, like 59 gr of IMR4350 for my 06, I will load 50 or 100 or more. For a ladder I generally do 5 round groups at book numbers to get into the realm of 1 moa and then 3 round groups as I start moving in smaller and smaller grain increments and OAL changes.

I never load powder and not seat a bullet. Lots of people do it different.

Notes: I am careful with handling primers. I have never had a misfire or hang fire. I only do case prep when I am out of empty brass, makes inventory control a bit easier for me. I do not load with a computer or TV turned on. I do not run the air conditioner or heater when loading. I don't load when I am tired or angry or hungry. I have a lock on the door and it is locked when I am loading.

 

[280longshot]

I have 3 presses: A POS SmartReloader strictly used for decapping and two Lee 3 hole turret presses. I have 11 calibers and each has their own turret. Each caliber has its own spot that contains the turret, bullets, powder, and plastic boxes.

When I decide to reload something, say the 243, only items needed for the 243 are move from their spot on to my loading bench which is a re-purposed office desk. Case prep is decap, tumble or sonic or SS wet tumble clean. FL size. Measure 10 cases at random. If they exceed specs, all 243 cases will be trimmed to .010 below spec then chamfer insider and outside. Case prep is now complete.

This is my reloading process.
Following case prep I will put 50 to 100 or more pieces of brass in reloading blocks. First I prime each case using an old Lee tool, one with the round face, the square face is hard for me to use. As each piece of brass is primed it is turned nose down in the block.

I use an rcbs 10-10 scale and I set it to zero before I begin and weigh every last charge. After i pour powder into brass I seat the bullet.

Every bullet is mike'd with a Lyman micrometer. I am really picky about OAL.

I then set the bullet in a plastic ammo box in its appropriate spot as the cover of the box has labels that match the load I just created.

For a known good load, like 59 gr of IMR4350 for my 06, I will load 50 or 100 or more. For a ladder I generally do 5 round groups at book numbers to get into the realm of 1 moa and then 3 round groups as I start moving in smaller and smaller grain increments and OAL changes.

I never load powder and not seat a bullet. Lots of people do it different.

Notes: I am careful with handling primers. I have never had a misfire or hang fire. I only do case prep when I am out of empty brass, makes inventory control a bit easier for me. I do not load with a computer or TV turned on. I do not run the air conditioner or heater when loading. I don't load when I am tired or angry or hungry. I have a lock on the door and it is locked when I am loading.

Great post there Dave

 

[7mminatree]

I have 3 presses: A POS SmartReloader strictly used for decapping and two Lee 3 hole turret presses. I have 11 calibers and each has their own turret. Each caliber has its own spot that contains the turret, bullets, powder, and plastic boxes.

When I decide to reload something, say the 243, only items needed for the 243 are move from their spot on to my loading bench which is a re-purposed office desk. Case prep is decap, tumble or sonic or SS wet tumble clean. FL size. Measure 10 cases at random. If they exceed specs, all 243 cases will be trimmed to .010 below spec then chamfer insider and outside. Case prep is now complete.

This is my reloading process.
Following case prep I will put 50 to 100 or more pieces of brass in reloading blocks. First I prime each case using an old Lee tool, one with the round face, the square face is hard for me to use. As each piece of brass is primed it is turned nose down in the block.

I use an rcbs 10-10 scale and I set it to zero before I begin and weigh every last charge. After i pour powder into brass I seat the bullet.

Every bullet is mike'd with a Lyman micrometer. I am really picky about OAL.

I then set the bullet in a plastic ammo box in its appropriate spot as the cover of the box has labels that match the load I just created.

For a known good load, like 59 gr of IMR4350 for my 06, I will load 50 or 100 or more. For a ladder I generally do 5 round groups at book numbers to get into the realm of 1 moa and then 3 round groups as I start moving in smaller and smaller grain increments and OAL changes.

I never load powder and not seat a bullet. Lots of people do it different.

Notes: I am careful with handling primers. I have never had a misfire or hang fire. I only do case prep when I am out of empty brass, makes inventory control a bit easier for me. I do not load with a computer or TV turned on. I do not run the air conditioner or heater when loading. I don't load when I am tired or angry or hungry. I have a lock on the door and it is locked when I am loading.

I like the old lee priming tool too DaveB, you sure feel that seat, I have to do all my case prep (tumbling, trimming, annealing) in the garage. Just not enough room!!

 

[RiverRat213]