New Reloading Bench in the works, question on press spacing.....

[Chuck R.]

Guys,

I'm in the process of designing a new bench that will run the length of my safe room wall (20') and finally give me room for my 5 reloading presses and enough room to work brass, powder operations etc. I'm working with a friend of mine that's a highly skilled cabinet maker on the design and getting materials at his cost. Plans call for adjustable/removable shelving, that will be replaceable with drawers once I sort out where they need to be.

I want to mount my presses (Ponsness Warren (2), RCBS Rockchucker, Redding Ultra Mag, Dillon 550) on standardized plates utilizing the same hole pattern to minimize the holes in the bench top and allow flexibility as I sort out where I want everything to finally end up. I also want to add a Dillon 650 either this year of next to speed up my match and training class ammo production.

Couple questions for you guys that have multiple presses set up:

1. What approximate spacing do you have between presses?? I've thought of using clamps for a while till I sort this out.

2. IF you use the same concept (mounting plates), what did you use for your plates?? My current version is simple plywood.

Current bench/reloading area, basically all of this will be replaced by the wall length bench and shelving. Current bench is 8' long:





Thanks,

Chuck

 

[flashhole]

Don't mess up the bench top. Mount your presses to a vertical 6" x 6" timber and affix the timber to a wall. I had a really long bench with 5 presses mounted to the bench. Went with an island style bench and mounted a press on each corner directly over the upright. Very solid and I really like accessing all sides of the bench.

 

[cfullgraf]

Check out Pat Marlin's RockDock press mounting system. It has common mounting system for presses plus a shelf storage brackets for storing presses not in use.

https://www.patmarlins.com

I have my presses mounted on free standing floor stands and move them in and out of the operating position as needed. I set the press at the end of a 5 foot long table with the press on the right side. At the left end of the table, I set up the powder measure and scale for charging the cases.

So, I'm not much help on press spacing.

 

[Browngirlsdad]

Mount them to plates that you can clamp down for a while until you find something comfortable, then mount them up. If you are anything like me, having that flexibilty will let you tailor your reloading sessions and let you change your mind without putting a bunch of holes in your bench.

 

[Axis II]

what In the world do you have in that room to have an actual safe door as an entrance? Just asking cause I think its cool.

 

[hdwhit]

My bench has two spots for reloading presses. I only have one installed, but put made provision for a second because I wanted a dedicated decapping press. I currently have a vise mounted in the spot because the second press is at my retirement property. The mounts are 36 inches apart. This is plenty of distance for me and I don't feel confined, but I would consider it the minimum spacing. You might also want more spacing around the progressive press.

I don't use mounting plates so I can't help with that. Both my presses are RCBS Reloader Specials so they use the same bolt hole spacing which, coincidentially, so does the vice.

 

[Johnnyd]

I have adjustable spacing. I attached all my presses to the same size 3/4" ply and put t-trac down the length of my bench top.
http://www.rockler.com/17-piece-uni...CUVjShQc6kiyZV2zprWbAXutD8s4u2lKv4aAqlH8P8HAQ

You could save some money my sinking 2 lines of threaded inserts down the length of the bench and also attaching the presses to 3/4" ply.

http://www.rockler.com/threaded-brass-inserts-select-size

 

[DRAINSMITH]

All you need is 8"

You all think I a crazy. But I like to be able to reach over and grab my bride of 42 years seater when reloading.

 

[Blue68f100]

Inline Fabrication sells a line of mounts to fit your needs. With this system you could have a place to store them and move them into place when needed. Freeing up bench space.
https://inlinefabrication.com/collections/quick-change-press-mounting-system

 

[Doublehelix]

Inline Fabrication sells a line of mounts to fit your needs. With this system you could have a place to store them and move them into place when needed. Freeing up bench space.
https://inlinefabrication.com/collections/quick-change-press-mounting-system

This is what I do as well. Works great.

 

[Chuck R.]

what In the world do you have in that room to have an actual safe door as an entrance? Just asking cause I think its cool.

Also serves as a "safe room" shelter and general gun room. It's under the 3 car garage, below grade on 3 sides, 10" reinforced concrete, and on it's own zone for the geothermal unit, 750' of no-wife zone". Sort of a man cave that is actually a cave.

All,

Thanks for the suggestions.

Not too concerned with saving bench space with a 20' bench and a 750 square ft room to play with. Once mounted, presses will stay put. Current bench is going to be moved and set up for gun cleaning/maintenance and some brass prep but am looking at flexibility. I'm planning on mounting the 550 permanently as the "anchor" point and using clamps for the rest till I sort out where I want them. Planning on 3 bench "zones"; Loading (presses), powder dispensing (measures, scales, trickler, laptop camera etc.), and brass prep (drill press, case prep station, annealing machine, case trimmer etc.). Each zone will have about 4-5' of bench space.

Biggest reason for expansion is when I have guys over to reload (friends that don't shoot much or reload) my current bench runs out of space real quick. This way I can position a single stage press at one end, and continue to crank out round on the Dillon.

Thanks again,

Chuck

 

[red rick]

That sounds like a lot of distraction ( friends over to reload ) . You might can concentrate well enough while reloading as not to get distracted , but can your friends . I think it is nice , you inviting friends over to reload , but I would only have one doing it at a time and me as a supervisor , at least during the powder step . I would mount them as far away from each other as I could .

 

[dh1633pm]

Golly Gee Wilikers. Give yourselves some space to work. Your idea of clamping until you get it right is a good one. Keep it simple, keep it clean. I keep the reloading bench top as clean and clear as possible. I keep my auto powder measure separate. Heavy makes the bench not move. And make yourself a foot rest under the bench. Height should match your own so you don't have to bend over when working. Think comfort.

 

[Kingcreek]

Not much help here I s'pose but mine are 12" apart and that's plenty. I keep powder primer and bullets on shelves on a different wall. Only have 1 recipe components on loading bench at a any time. I have a seperate disassembly cleaning bench.