[Glamdring]

I saw a thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27420
started by Skunkabilly looking for cheap ammo. Several people suggested reloading. Skunk says he is to Nomadic currently to set up reloading bench. Some people suggested using C Clamps to set up on desk or table.

What I would like is a bunch of ideas along those lines. I haven't done much loading yet. Couple months after I got my cheap Lee press set up, cash flow went down hill and I have been stuck having to have room mates ever since :(

I have no way of knowing when kids or people with no understanding of guns or reloading safety may be around. So IMO I need to be able to secure reloading equipment when I'm not using it.

Ideally it would quick to set up and take down, since sometimes I might only have an hour or two of time before having to go to work.

Only 3 calibers I want to load for currently: 38/357, 44, 308. I will probably add 45-70 when I can afford the rifle to shoot it.

I am not looking at loading large numbers of ammo at a time. I only have a scale so fast it isn't anyway.

The 38/357 will probably be loaded the least since cheap factory 38's are cheap. Mainly will be loading for the 44 and 308. Goal would be to make 10-15 rounds for the 308, and/or 18-24 rounds for the 44 most weeks.

[Skunkabilly]

Nomadic, not really I only moved 9 times in the last 5 years. :D

I need to move again. Paying $1100 a month for rent and driving around for 17 minutes to find a parking spot.

Found a spot 300 yards away.

[Cal4D4]

Lee used to sell their turret press in a wooden box which could be used to mount the press with the box open on it's side. A powder measure, loading block, funnel and you should be good to go. Whole setup could fit in a milk crate.

[E357]

For that small quantity of reloading I would get one or two small cheap (Lee) "O" presses and just mount then on to a soild table with the right size C clamps. Oh, I already did that. They go off and on in about 1 minute.

If you want a turret press or small progressive you'll need to either drill hole in a table and use nuts and bolts or mount the presses to a solid piece of wood and then C clamp the wood to a table. If you don't have a table I would look into one of those "work-mate" type things.

Elliot

[jw29650]

My portable set up is to use a Black & Decker Workmate as the table and mount the press to a 20"x20" 3/4" plywood that is C-clamped to the workmate. I have the Lee single stage press on a plywood base, a Lee turrent press on a plywood base and a Lee Load-all shotgun press on another base. On the single stage press base I have mounted the powder measure. I use this for loading rifle rounds. The turrent press has the Lee powder measure on the expanding die. I use this press for loading pistol rounds. This set up is very flexable and quickly sets up. I have mounted some steel bar stock to the edges of the turrent and single stage plywood base to allow mounting component bins.

[WalkerTexasRanger]

My Dillon 550 is mounted on a Craftsman project center, the kind with five drawers and a particle board top, mounted on wheels. It is ideal for me, mobile and with enough drawers to store all my reloading tools. I only load for .223 and .308, so not that much stuff though.

No camera or I would take a picture, but it is pretty sweet....

[Carlos]

That's a excellent idea, WTR.

I have my Dillon 550B mounted to a portable fold-up workbench. Works great. I can easily move it around in my little space in the basement.

When I started out using a Lee setup, I installed all the equipment on the workbench, including bullet holders and scale, etc. When I was done, I would remove all the stuff, put it in its own toolbox, and fold up the bench, with the press still attached, and put it out of the way.

The Lee press is still mounted to the setup and comes in handy all the time.

Hmm, Craftsman Project Center. . .

Edit: Went and looked at same, and "SOLD!" :)

Craftsman 4-Drawer Project Center, Professional Quality 59490 (Black). I'll reclaim my portable for other projects, and to be able to use my original little Lee setup (rifle bullets), after I take a little drive over to Sears tomorrow after work. :)

[Carlos]

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summary/productsummary.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0292596287.1056073078@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccekadciimkeljlcehgcemgdffmdflh.0&vertical=SEARS&bidsite=CRAFT&pid=00959490000

This is what I'm going to buy soonest.

[WalkerTexasRanger]

Carlos,

Exactly!!!! You can drill right through the top to secure the press, and just use short enough lag bolts and the top drawer will still work just fine. The most important thing to watch is that you get the press mounted far enough forward to be able to pull the arm down fully. Mine is on the strong mounts and it is pretty far forward on the project center, just try it first to see where it has to be... I really do love the setup...

Be safe!!!!

[PaulS]

A nice, easy to build, solid bench that can be moved easily.

The file is too large to load into this forum - But

I do have dimensioned drawings - just drop me an email

PaulS

[38Mike]

I clamped a slab of 3/4" plywood to the top of an old microwave cart. Bolted press and powder measure to top...works fine....wheel it out of the way when finished.......:D

[John Galt]

The tool cart is a good idea because you can store all your stuff inside. For production though, pretty wobbly.

For my new Dillon 650, I did this for sturdiness and quick moving to storage:

- I cut a 2x6" board an inch longer than the depth of my long workbench. About 36". Then, I screwed in a heavy lag bolt straight into one end several inches. Then I cut it off and camferred the tip so it now stuck out 3/4". I whacked this against the backsplash part of the bench to make a mark, then drilled a hole barely larger at that spot. Now I can slide the board pin into the hole to hold the back of the board in most directions.
- With the board / pin in place, I drilled a hole about 3/8" diameter through the board and the bench. About 10" back from the front of the bench. Added a bolt with washer and a big wing nut under the bench. This finishes the board mounting.
- For the Dillon, I installed 4 T-Nuts into the bottom of the board where I drilled the press mounting holes, then bolted down the press.

I can remove this or reinstall it in about 20 seconds and it is 100% sturdy. Plus, it doesn't mar the bench much for when the press is put away.

There is a metal mounting system advertised in the "reloading magazine" that would do the same job, but mar the bench more and cost much more than $2.

Anyone can't understand and want a picture, email me.

[Carlos]

WalkerTexasRanger:

I bought the cabinet on Saturday and spent the evening putting all my tools and accessories in just the right place. ;) Also, room to lock up power tools that weren't locked up before.

Haven't drilled yet, and thanks for the advice. Was kinda wondering about that plastic top. I have the strong mount.

I ended up getting it for $25 cheaper too.

[saands]

Since speed isn't of the essence, I'll share my original setup ... It was a Lee hand press ... that and my scale and my priming tools and 3 or 4 sets of dies and a few hundred bullets and a perfect powder measure, safety glasses and some primers all fit in a medium sized tool box (18"x8"x8" or so)... the only things that weren't in the tool bax were the cases, powder, and a loading tray. I lived and loaded in a condo for years before I bought a turret press to make the 300WinMag cases easier to size ;)

It's not a speed demon, but it is VERY portable and easily lockable! I still use that setup when I go on a prairrie dog safari.


Saands

[grenadier]

Whatever you do, I would suggest you stay away from MidwayUSA's portable bench. That thing is so light and flimsy, that when I foolishly mounted my Dillon RL550B to it, I had to lock one of my legs around the post to prevent the darn thing from tipping over when depriming / resizing or repriming. Very frustrating, but it did make my legs stronger.

[Clark]

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=260370
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=336165

[bogie]

Just noticed - the 5-drawer dealie from Sears is currently on sale for a C-note...

For mounting stuff... www.shapirosupply.com has plate aluminum. You can drill and tap holes (or just drill, and bolt through) to mount stuff.

I use a 30" x 5' folding table and a big ol' plano tacklebox.