First loads on new Bench.

Well here's the first report on the new bench I hope some of you have been following.

For now I have the bench set with the Auto Breech Lock Pro press and loaded up some 9mm Plated RN using both the case feeder and the RCBS Tube Bullet feeder. In all honesty I still do not have a lot of experience with this press or the arrangement. But I think I am finally developing a routine and learning how to use the Safety Prime System. Didn't set any speed records but didn't have any failures and only a couple missed primers. Seriously it took me about an hour to load up 50 rounds But again I was check weighing almost every round and still getting the feel for everything.

This new benchtop is at the same height as it was before with the Pro1000 on it. Well the new press is lower and the handle is in a different position than the Pro1000 and I may have to raise this up a few inches as the handle is very low at the bottom of the stroke. Before I make a change I will put the Pro1000 or the turret press on the bench and see how it feels.

Still the bench is rock solid the steel bench plate is holding the press firmly in place. While sitting at the bench I am able to clearly see into the case to verify a powder drop w/o having to wiggle around to look or bend over. The bin that the finished rounds are supposed to drop into, well I didn't use it. Instead I took a plastic lid from an ice cream bucket and slid it under the drop chute and it's being held in place with a very strong Rare Earth magnet. I only had 1 round bounce out and hit the floor.

So other than possibly having to raise the height of the benchtop I am very please with the results and am finally getting familiar with this new press. Now I really need to get out and burn some of this up so I can make more.

Today I was able to get the turret press on the bench and there is a huge difference in the swing radius between the ABLP and the Turret press and Pro1000.

Thought about looking for a different handle, one bent to better fit my need but really don't know where to look.

Thanks you all for the likes! Not sure if this bench will inspire anyone else but it will fulfill my needs very well. I have also thought about sliding it over a bit so that the window is between the two cabinets. Though that may get distracting while trying to work and the sun is shining bright. But that is something else to ponder.

I did loosen and turned the roller handle a bit so now it points up more when the handle is at the lowest position which seems to help some but not sure it will be enough. Also not certain about raising the bench as too much is going to make the Pro1000 higher than I'd like. Solution would be to raise the bench and then upgrade the Pro1000 to the new model with the ABLP base. Not sure I can budget that one.

Anyone with a lead on replacement handles?

So I just set the press on the desk with a C clamp next to the turret press and the handle on the ABLP is 5" lower or closer to the floor at the bottom of the stroke than the turret press is. Moving or shortening the handle will not make much difference on the ABLP.

Placing a 2" riser under the press helps a lot and an extra 1/2" would be better but that appears that it would raise the turret or Pro1000 too much. Dang, not going to be simple.

NapalmMan67 said:

That is a great little set up. I like it!

Although, I'm trying to figure out why a cheesehead has a Flubs championship picture on his wall? .

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Thanks NapalmMan, It's just big enough to provide a nice work area w/o being so large it will collect clutter. Still debating what to do about the differences in the press heights.

Grew up on the other side of the borderstone watching the CUBBIES on WGN everyday since 1964. Just can't give'm up! Have been watchin more Brewers too since they came back to the National League.

NapalmMan67 said:

Ok, so you're a transplanted FIB. I'm a FIB too.

Growing up I remember my Grandma was a huge Cubbies fan and she listened to the games on the radio all the time, Jack Brickhouse, Vince Loyd, Lou Boudreau, Jim West etc...

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Yeup, grew up in McHenry then moved across the border after I returned from the USAF. Dad went to Lane Tech and my grams was originally a South Sider White Sox fan.

Back on topic, I just spent some time on Inline Fabrication site looking at aftermarket handles. Wow, a handle that costs half as much as the whole press. HHHmmm.