Hand Loading wisdom
- Thread starter Nu2U
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I'm in a condo also. I use a Cameron portable bench. Check it out at www.thec4m3ron.com
Works well for a LNL progressive
A big question is what volume do you want to/need to reload? How many rounds do you shoot per month, per year? I have never used a hand press, but I know how they work and I would not want to reload any quantity at all with one. I would buy a real press and buy or build a small, possibly mobile, stand that will work in your space. You don't have to have a lot of room to reload, particularly if you are just doing one caliber. One solution is this: http://leeprecision.com/product.php?productid=3877&cat=6247&page=1
You didn't ask about presses directly, but take a look at the Lee Classic Turret press.
You didn't ask about presses directly, but take a look at the Lee Classic Turret press.
Starter52
Member
You should be able to attach a single stage press to a 12x12 inch board and clamp the board to a table or counter. The basic Lee press would work fine, and give you more leverage for resizing. Just my 2 cents.
Jim Watson
Member
Hand tools are a drag, I started out with the old W.H. English Pak Tool and soon graduated to a press on a stand made to an NRA design. A shoe box held dies and bullets, powder in the kitchen cabinet. Supplies set out on a folding card table next to the press stand when in operation.
I recall an old article about handloading in England where flats and houses are small.
The Wamadet loader came mounted to a board which you could clamp to a counter or table or even hold in your lap. The Prime press mounted to a tripod like the Lee and could be left in a corner covered with a tablecloth when not in use.
I recall an old article about handloading in England where flats and houses are small.
The Wamadet loader came mounted to a board which you could clamp to a counter or table or even hold in your lap. The Prime press mounted to a tripod like the Lee and could be left in a corner covered with a tablecloth when not in use.
Wreck-n-Crew
Member
Not sure how your condo experiences are but just being able to have reloading supplies in many of them can cause a whole bunch of problems FME and i would never own one because of how they change things on you so quick. To me its like living in a country with a huge government that dictates policy. Hope your experience turns out better.
I've had to reload in an apartment and i just do like others have suggested. Make a space big enough for a small setup and use a press. Mount it to a board to spread the footprint out. Build a small bench or get one. And you can do well.
Also the hand press is a drag. You will tire of it easily and though they are fine for loading test loads in your back yard range they are limited in production and ease of use over long periods. Don't wear yourself out.
I've had to reload in an apartment and i just do like others have suggested. Make a space big enough for a small setup and use a press. Mount it to a board to spread the footprint out. Build a small bench or get one. And you can do well.
Also the hand press is a drag. You will tire of it easily and though they are fine for loading test loads in your back yard range they are limited in production and ease of use over long periods. Don't wear yourself out.
JohnnyFlake
Member
This works great for a Condo or an apartment. It easy to mount a single or even a turret style press on (Lees are worthy). Can be folded up for storage if need be.
I used one for years.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_552088-70-WM225_1z11pdj__?productId=50076731&pl=1
I used one for years.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_552088-70-WM225_1z11pdj__?productId=50076731&pl=1
maxxhavoc
Member
I like to sit in the living room and resize and prep rifle cases. I have been using a Lee hand press to do this for years. Your chest gets a workout after awhile, but nothing ridiculous. It's a bit more time consuming than a bench-mounted single stage. I have used one to reload batches of 500 308s several times, and generally use mine more than the press in the garage.
It also fits in a bag for load development at the range, if you can get out of the wind.
It also fits in a bag for load development at the range, if you can get out of the wind.
vaalpens
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I have mounted my Lee single stage classic on a few pieces of particle boards and then clamped it to a desk, or in this case credenza. I have been planning on putting in something permanent, but so far the temporary solution has worked well for me.
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mahansm
Member
There are several options. Mounting the press on a board and clamping it onto furniture will surely work, but the repeated stresses may cause joints in the supporting piece of furniture to loosen with time. (done this, seen this).
Franklin Arsenal makes portable stands for presses; Midway stocks them. OK for single stage but the lack of stability makes priming on a progressive rather iffy (flipped primers).
Clamping the press in or on something like a Black and Decker Workmate is possible.
Purchasing a small roll around toolbox and topping it with a sheet of plywood gives you a strong portable stand with storage for supplies and other tools as well as allowing you to mount several devices on the edges. (friend does this, works very well)
Franklin Arsenal makes portable stands for presses; Midway stocks them. OK for single stage but the lack of stability makes priming on a progressive rather iffy (flipped primers).
Clamping the press in or on something like a Black and Decker Workmate is possible.
Purchasing a small roll around toolbox and topping it with a sheet of plywood gives you a strong portable stand with storage for supplies and other tools as well as allowing you to mount several devices on the edges. (friend does this, works very well)
BullRunBear
Member
Vaalpens photo shows a workable set up and I've done that. I've also used a Work Mate folding bench with a press clamped to it. Either of these and an inexpensive small press would suffice easily for reloading 45acp. I splurged on that Lee loading stand which supports the heavier cast presses with no problem but it might be more than you need for pistol cartridge reloading. Beats loading in the garage when it's near zero degrees or in summer when it's 200 percent humidity. 
Jeff
Jeff
I think the simplest way would get a Lee Hand press. The press, dies, and assorted small tools fit nicely in a plastic shoe box. A scale is almost a necessity, but you can make safe reloads with Lee dippers, and either can be stored easily. Powder and Primers can be kept in a closet and you can safely reload at the kitchen table without a wobbly press attachment. Before I had room to reload, I used a hand press, kept it in a shoe box with dies and 2-3 loose dippers (with the Lee load/instruction sheets) and a ram prime. Stuffed the box under my bed and kept one lb of powder and a few sleeves of primers in a "utility" closet. When Ihad more room, but no dedicated area to reload, I used a Workmate with a scrap piece if 3/4" counter top (a 2x4 screwed to the underside, clamped in the Workmate, with press bolted to counter top).
Of course before any equipment purchases, I'd suggest a couple books. The ABCs of Reloading and a Lyman's 48th Edition Reloading Handbook. These will tell you how to reload, why each step is done, and you'll find out the equipment that suits your reloading needs...
Of course before any equipment purchases, I'd suggest a couple books. The ABCs of Reloading and a Lyman's 48th Edition Reloading Handbook. These will tell you how to reload, why each step is done, and you'll find out the equipment that suits your reloading needs...
beag_nut
Member
Sounds like all the replies which do not include the hand press are the answer(s).
Used to live in a third-floor apartment of a house, and it was a b***h to keep the noise down. Found that the portable-clamp/on style of function was the best.
Used to live in a third-floor apartment of a house, and it was a b***h to keep the noise down. Found that the portable-clamp/on style of function was the best.
oldpapps
Member
I've been using a 'Work Mate' folding table for years, 28 years to be exact. I bolted a top board over the supplied wood and mounted my presses, two of them, to that board and countersunk the bolt heads. I can break it down in 3 minutes, putting my presses on the mounting board in a heavy plastic trunk. Takes just a little longer to re-mount as I have to line up the bolt holes holding the top board in place.
Someday I may build a 'real' bench. But not soon
Someday I may build a 'real' bench. But not soon
I've used the hand press and it works good for pistol rounds (haven't loaded any rifle rounds yet) but there is no way to meter powder with it. I don't trust the dippers and it would take for ever to load rounds that way. I did load my first few 38 special round with the dipper that came with the dies.
There are all sorts of ways to make a press portable. Stands, c-clamped to a table, Workmates and similar devices.
I do not need to but I mount all of my presses on its own a free standing floor stand. It's a carry over from a time I was on temporary assignment for work and I took reloading along for evening entertainment. I liked the stand and kept using the idea at home.
I store the presses over against the wall, out of the way, and only have the equipment that I am using at the time next to the work table. When I was on the road, I just used a table or desk in the apartment I was living in.
Loading with a hand press or Lee loader gets old quickly. They are great for portability but slow, noisy, and harder on the hands.
I do not need to but I mount all of my presses on its own a free standing floor stand. It's a carry over from a time I was on temporary assignment for work and I took reloading along for evening entertainment. I liked the stand and kept using the idea at home.
I store the presses over against the wall, out of the way, and only have the equipment that I am using at the time next to the work table. When I was on the road, I just used a table or desk in the apartment I was living in.
Loading with a hand press or Lee loader gets old quickly. They are great for portability but slow, noisy, and harder on the hands.
I have two Lee presses (turret and single stage) mounted on a 2x10 clamped to a desk. It works well and I have drilled out holes and slots to hold chamfering tools, a whetstone, etc. I drilled two holes and inserted a straw so my primers fall directly into the trashcan as I deprime. Mounting this way allows a lot of modularity and customization without messing up a table or desk permanently. The board itself was a scrap piece from Home Depot or Lowes for a few dollars.
Dunno know what you mean. I doubt if there is any quieter press than a Lee hand press...
Arkansas Paul
Member
I live in an apartment and have a press and powder measure mounted to a 2x8 that I attach to my bar with C clamps. Works great.
I just hope maintenance doesn't open my coat closet door and find 15 pounds of powder and several thousand primers. They probably wouldn't like that much.
I just hope maintenance doesn't open my coat closet door and find 15 pounds of powder and several thousand primers. They probably wouldn't like that much.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I feel you will end up hating to reload and avoid it because the process is difficult with a hand press. If you were loading 20 or 30 rounds of rifle ammo for the hunting season, sure, but loading handgun ammo for range days, not me!
There are many good suggestions here. I'm sure you can figure something out that will work for you. A single stage press or a Classic Turret Press will serve you well and not take up a lot of space, especially if you don't make the mounting permanent. Good luck working it out...
There are many good suggestions here. I'm sure you can figure something out that will work for you. A single stage press or a Classic Turret Press will serve you well and not take up a lot of space, especially if you don't make the mounting permanent. Good luck working it out...
Lloyd Smale
Member
don't know how many rounds ive loaded using a lee hand press and a cheap powder dump or even lee powder ladles. Many Many thousand. Not that id want to go back to that but it can be done.
My reloading bench fits into a walk in closet that is now a fortified gun vault.
The whole room is 8'x8' and that includes another bench for working on the guns and 3 safes. Its tight, but it works!
I used kitchen counter tops from Lowes cut down, mounted on wall ledgers which are lag bolted to the studes and table legs, also bought at Lowes, for front support. The counter tops were cheap as they had some damage but I didn't care. I drilled holes all in them anyway.
Not sure how big your condo is but its an idea, if you have a spare walk in closet.
The whole room is 8'x8' and that includes another bench for working on the guns and 3 safes. Its tight, but it works!
I used kitchen counter tops from Lowes cut down, mounted on wall ledgers which are lag bolted to the studes and table legs, also bought at Lowes, for front support. The counter tops were cheap as they had some damage but I didn't care. I drilled holes all in them anyway.
Not sure how big your condo is but its an idea, if you have a spare walk in closet.
You can buy up to 1500 rounds of 45 ACP from natchez right now for $0.23/round after rebate from Federal. I don't think reloading 45 ACP makes a lot of sense at that price. 9mm, 45ACP, 5.56 NATO, you can buy these so cheap almost all the time.
That said; I reload 45LC with a Lee Hand Press and even using a 4 die set it's quick and painless to load 120 rounds in an hour start-to-finish. Winchester brass is pretty soft and no problem re-sizing even in a hand press with no lube.
That said; I reload 45LC with a Lee Hand Press and even using a 4 die set it's quick and painless to load 120 rounds in an hour start-to-finish. Winchester brass is pretty soft and no problem re-sizing even in a hand press with no lube.
Arkansas Paul
Member
That's $230 per 1k rounds.
I can cast and load 1k rounds for $60.
$170 savings makes plenty of sense to me.
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