Press mount location center, R of center or L of center

I have a large bench (8 feet long) and have three presses mounted, along with a Dillon Super Swager and an RCBS Autoprime. They're sorta spaced out along the table with the swager to the extreme left of the table so I can stand a litle bit to the side of the table for fastest usage.

I don't think it really matters where a press is mounted unless the table is light and flexes when full length sizing rifle brass, then to either side would be best.

"Should" is a strong word. Doubt if it can be answered that way.

Most right handers operate the lever with their right hand, manipulate the cases with the left. That usually requires a good bit of open space on the left for loading trays, components, power handling station, etc. Not a lot of open space is needed on the right side so a press mounted to the right of center, but not at the absolute end, works well.

I am right handed and have my press right of center and my powder measure left of center with my work area directly in front of me.

So far so good.

My presses are mounted on a free standing stand. I can put them anywhere. But I usually place the press at the right end of my work table. I stroke the handle with my right hand and handle cases and bullets with the left.

I have a Dillon SDB that I am waiting for time to build a stand for (the material is cut waiting for the welding machine). Since cases are fed from the right and bullets from the left,it will be interesting to see how I operate it.

Ergonomics = Time and Motion efficiency

The closer the press, pow dispenser, scale, trickler, bullet supply and loading trays are to each other, the less you have to reach or move your body to operate each one. The key is having them close while maintaining easy unimpeded access to each device.

Figuring this out starts from where you will be standing or sitting.
Then mock up your bench with the above in mind. Experiment a bit. See where your manipulations are smoothest and your reaching minimal. Make sure you minimize upper body pivots. Minimize the up-and-down and side-to-side movement of your head. Avoid reaching too high. Get your eyes somewhat in line with your scale's pointer.

Mine is in the middle of a four foot long beanch. I have the 550b, pull the handle with the right, index then place the bullet with the left and then place a empty case with my right hand. I can load about 500 of 9mm an hour that way.

I voted center... but mine is more right of center, but I don't want mine all the way right like some. I would say 2/3 right. I think it is a personal thing like a lot of the stuff we do.

Jimmy K

Ranger pretty much covered it.

Am left handed, bench is 12ft in a 14ft room, 5 presses mounted, sit while loading, so I move one way or the other. It's easy, experiment.

Mine is usually in the center, I have it set up so I can move it. I have the powder dispenser to the right, behind the press for components. the trimmer is also removeable and is located to the right of the press most of the time. My Power chamfer station is located to the far right of everything.

Mine's in the center & sometimes I wish it weren't.

I wish I would've left more work space on one side or the other to fill out the load cards, or put tumbled brass into their respective boxes, or other stuff like that.

I could move it, but then I'd have the extra holes in the work space
and that would defeat the purpose of moving it.

My SS is nearly all the way to the right, leaving just about 8 inches of extra bench space. To me, that's just about perfect. But I use my bench for other things besides reloading, and bench space is at a premium. (I also stow my press if I'm not planning to use it, soon.)

I feed primers and filled cases from the right. And I catch flared cases in a bin on the right. So half a foot of space is really all I need over there.

Mine is on the far right hand side. My bench is about 7ft wide, i have my LCT mounted with about 1ft on the right side left and its perfect for me.

I'm left handed, all of my single stage presses are right of center.

DM

I am a righty and mine is far right, RCBS Chargemaster is on the left and working cases are in the middle. My bench is a measly 5 foot wide. I wish I had space for a bigger bench. Dude, a 12 footer would be awesome.

It's good to see we don't have many leftist-leaning liberal wackos around here.

My right hand is always on the ram lever handle, so I don't need much space at all, right of the press. My left hand loads bullets & does other chores, while the right hand cranks away.

I go right of center and rock em out like a machine

ps: I also have shell holder entrance at 12:00, just works best for me...

Dillon 650 and Ammomaster mounted at extreme right of two different benches.

Everything else moves around on clamped plates, including a RCBS Partner press.

How about one on each end?

It may change depending on how large your bench is. I once loaded on a 34 inch bench. I put the press dead center. It was cramped but I got by.

Now I am on an 8 foot bench and have two presses on it. There is pretty good space on both sides of both presses.

36" bench top & rt handed: I load pistol on a turret press and need enough room on the right for boxing the cartridges and to have my caliper handy.

The left side has bullets, cases, my radio and coffee.

Scale is on a shelf above the bench and never moved--rt. side.

"OTHER STUFF" is on a second shelf, cabinets above and below the bench, and drawers just below the bench top.