Ideal/good height for a reloading table?

[Caimlas]

I'm finally putting together a bench for myself to reload at. I sit all day at work, so I'm intending to make it high enough so that I can stand and reload. I'm trying to figure out the 'ideal' height to put the bench to clamp the press onto, but not being to familiar, I thought I'd get some advice before I finalized anything.

I'm 6'2". I was thinking I'd put the bench surface about 2"-4" below my elbow height. Is that too high still? I was thinking I might need a little leverage, but wasn't sure at which height is ideal.

 

[dmftoy1]

I'll try to get down and measure mine once the house wakes up. I"m 6' 2" too and I made mine where it works about perfect for me on my single stage but when I put my Dillon RL650 up on a strong mount it ended up being about 3"-4" too tall when working standing up. (I sit all day too)

If you do plan on reloading on a concrete floor I'd recommend putting down a rubber horsemat or exercise mat in front of your bench. If I stand up reloading all day (even with shoes on) my heels get a bit sore. FWIW.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Koos Custodiet]

Dean Grennel, in his 5th edition ABC's of Reloading, says "upper surface is as high as the upper edge of your belt. Alternatively, hold your forearm parallel to the floor and have someone measure the distance from the point of your elbow to the floor".

 

[dmftoy1]

That seems to be a fairly good rule of thumb. My bench is probably 1/2" to 3/4" higher than the top of my belt and it'd probably work just as well at that height. From my standing surface to the top of my bench is 41". It could probably be 1/2-1" lower and work just as well. I wouldn't want it any taller.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Thirties]

Stand while you load . . .

I stand when I reload. I figured how high to make my bench by pulling the hand lever with the press jury-rigged at different heights. What felt comfortable to me ended up being 44 inches (I stand 5' 10"). That's where I built the bench top.

But don't just add/subtract your standing height difference to mine and think you found it. There are several factors, such as:

Where your waist/reach is -- some folks have longer legs/arms than others.

Also there is the type of mount you use. Some are bolted through he top like my Redding T-7, but some use those steel "tower" mounts that Dillon sells which put the base of the press quite a bit above the counter height.

But if you were to ask my opinion, I would strongly advise standing while loading. You can sit to hand prime, or to clean your guns, but you don't want to screw up your back and other parts by pulling that lever from a chair.

Another thing: put your balance measure at eye level!

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`m 5`9 and built mine at ~42" from the floor. This suits me to stand while useing the press and with a bar stool I can sit at it to prime with my Lee hand tool or the other tedious stuff I sometimes find myself doing.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I'm with those that put the height of their loading benches to where they could load standing or with a moderate height bar stool, sit and load...I'm 5' 7" and my bench is 38" high...

 

[BSlacker]

Try setting the press up on some boxes or table so you can adjust the height then operate the handle and see what works best for your arm length and height combo. Using someone elses measurements may not be optimum for you.

 

[jfh]

As I aged, I found two things about bench height:

1. I wanted to sit more often while reloading, and

2. My aging eyes needed a different working distance, even with well-fit bifocals.

Because of my height (6'1") and arm length proportions, a standard 40" height had worked fine for me. What I did was add a simple adjustable-height stool for sitting.

So, if you set the bench at the right height for you for standing--and that advice to put it about 1" below your bent elbow is a good one--then you can probably gain the most flexibility for the setup.

Jim H.

 

[snuffy]

I'm amazed at how many WANT to stand while reloading. I never have considered it. Maybe because I work on my feet, seldom getting a chance to sit.

As far as sitting causing back problems, show me the proof of that! I have back problems, but it wasn't caused by sitting to reload!

 

[AirplaneDoc]

Depends on many variables

How tall are you standing or sitting
how high is the action of your press
how long are your arms
how long is the operatin lever on your press
are other people going to use the bench
etc.

All in all there are many ergonomic factors

In the end get what is most comfortable for "you"

 

[fineredmist]

I stand when I load and my RockChucker and Dillon Square Deal are mounted 44" above the floor. This works well (I am 5'10") as I do have the option to sit useing a bar stool. I load rifle in batches of 40 or 50 and pistol 100 at a time and find that I do tire.

 

[ATAShooter]

I am 5'8" and use 36". makes it comfortable.

 

[Thirties]

Can you come up and clean my loading area???

 

[Walkalong]

Mine is 37"

My belt is around 37" to 38" from the floor. I am 5' 10". I use a tall chair.

 

[Hikingman]

Most tables are nearly waist high? Mine is about 25 inches from the floor. I bolted the press and the powder stand to it. The chair is a desk type that can sit high or low by adjustment. This is a portable arrangement that requires adding the powder tube, scales and all from shelves to the table for reloading sessions.

YMMV

 

[gizmowizard]

I generally stand while reloading but I too would like to sit. However I find that using a chair or such I can't get the leverage needed to work the presses..

ATA shooter do you have any issues with the DPS drifting when you use your press?

 

[ATAShooter]

Giz, yes, if something is lumping / bumping, it goes off zero and I rezero. In my directions, it states that it is sensetive to air movements, and bumping the bench. So what I do is resize my brass ( usually I do a batch of 50 or 100 ), trim if nec, then prime, and I have all casings in a block and charge them w / powder. Then I do all my seating, and crimping. This way it holds zero good for all the time I'm using it. If I am in a situation where I do want to do both simultaneous, then I move it to a side bench.