Portable reloading benches--Pics please. I need ideas

[ol' scratch]

What an interesting morning! We found out we have to move and I thought I would have to stop reloading. While my wife has been checking school districts for the kids, I have been reading up on portable reloading benches.

These things seem really cool and I would probably set one up if I wasn't moving. I think I have settled on the B & D Workmate set up as I already own one. I need direction and am asking those people with portable benches to educate me regarding their set up and even how to build one. I want to set up my Hornady Lock n Load and my Lee Single stage. Does anyone have any experience using specifically a Lock n Load with this set up?

 

[J_McLeod]

I've had the same problem, and here are two solutions I came up with. Look at the last post on this thread

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=218720&page=78&highlight=bench

and post 1617 on this one

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=218720&page=65&highlight=bench
This one is really good for portability, and cost me almost nothing.

 

[Clark]

Screw the press to a board.

Clamp the board to a desk or bench.

I can watch TV on my computer while I reload.

Screw a bunch of presses to a big board, and clamp that down to the bench in the reloading room.

 

[ol' scratch]

I think I found what I was looking for. I am also moving to an area that is 30-35 minutes from the range. I need to work loads up and trying to do it at home and then go to the range is a pain anyway. This is what I found.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2007/08/portable-shooting-bench-free-plans/


Thank you for your advice. It gave me some ideas. I think I can use this with my Hornady without any problems and take my single stage to the range when I need to work up rifle loads.

 

[Blue68f100]

That should work nicely. You may want to get some Plexiglass to make a wind shield for your scales.

I have the LNL-AP and have used it as a portable press. What I do is mount the press to a board that 4' x 1' x 1.5"T. I mount it on the narrow end and then c-clamp the board to the kitchen table. I center the board to the edge (over one of the table legs) for strength to keep from damaging the table. With the LNL-AP you can grab the front bar for seating the primer so you don't push the table around.

 

[hanno]

Here's mine made from a Black & Decker Workmate. I removed the top and replaced with a piece of 3/4 oak plywood. The photo was taken when it was new and meant to be temporary. I've been using it for years now.

The press and powder dropper are attached with bolts and wingnuts - very fast to take down and fold away if necessary.

 

[J_McLeod]

Here's mine made from a Black & Decker Workmate. I removed the top and replaced with a piece of 3/4 oak plywood. The photo was taken when it was new and meant to be temporary. I've been using it for years now.

The press and powder dropper are attached with bolts and wingnuts - very fast to take down and fold away if necessary.

I almost bought that bench before finding something similar that my current setup is on.

 

[Offfhand]

Here is my simple, inexpensive portable bench with 24X36" wood top with folding legs attached, that I made for loading and cleaning at range. Hood loading press easily attaches and removed, along with C-clamped mount for powder measure. Dies, scale, primers and powder, plus cleaning supplies carried in plastic boxes. Everything fits easily in car trunk. Usually I load in shade near shooting bench or in club house but set in sun here for photo.

 

[Red Cent]

Lordy, Lordy, I'd go nuts. You have to sign a waiver to go in mine.

 

[gamestalker]

I use a 6" or 8" C-clamp and then clamp it to any table that is stout enough to handle the resizing step. If you put a towel under the top and bottom mounting suraces you can clamp it to just anything without worrying about scratching the surface. I've clamped mine to our expensive oak dinning room table and the oak coffee table.
My Son's and I would also clamp our Mec 600 Jr. to a small table in our van and reload while driving down the interstate. Our favorite pheasant hunting spot was about 2 hrs. away so that would give us enough time to load up 8-10 boxes.
Even though I have a permanent loading table in my hobby room, I still use C-clamps because they save me a little time when I'm changing presses or need to move one over for what ever reason.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

How portable do you need it? Can you leave it set up, but out of the way in a corner or closet, bringing it out when you need it? If so, here's what I did: I got a Rockler heavy duty router table leg set and their HD locking casters. I put a top and two shelves on it. With most of my brass, bullets, powder, primers, dies, tools, etc. on the lower shelves, it is rock-solid with the casters locked, yet easily rolls out of its nook in the laundry room when I need it. The press is bolted on, as is a modest bench vise. Since I don't have to set it up every time I want to use it, it is very convenient. And just as convenient to stow away.

Also, since I can roll it out into the middle of the room, I have easy access to all four sides of the bench top, and the shelves below. This helps make the small (22" x 28") top work as well as ones more than twice its size.

Andy

 

[perrito]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75074840@N00/1084100739/in/photostream/

 

[kludge]

I loaded for several years with the press mounted to a 2x6 and a couple c-clamps on the kitchen table.

Take the advice above and use a towel.

 

[NAK]

This is an 'older' Workmate, but still new enough to have a plastic top. Quite a bit studier than the new ones. 5.56 and .40 S&W are no problem. The force required decapping and resizing 30-06 is enough to make it walk a little. My trimmer mounts on the back corner.

The plywood stays mounted, but everything else is bolted on with wing nuts for fast removal. That lets it fold up and lean against the back of the closet.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Sorry, no pictures.

No pictures, but here is my reloading setup:

Everything fits in 3 toolboxes:

One is 23" x 10" x 10" and contains my press (Lee Classic Turret), mounting system (a 2"x6" board that I clamp into a portable workbench or anything handy) a small "4"X8"X1.5" fishing tackle box to contain all the small parts & tools and the primer feeding system. There's room for a couple of manuals in there, too, but I store them on my bookshelf, with one next to the computer.

The second (15"x8"x8") contains all the gunpowder handling parts. Scale, funnel, Lee Auto-Disk Powder measure/dispenser and a set of Lee's measuring scoops/dippers bullet puller, micrometer and my loading safety glasses (as opposed to my shooting glasses).

The third (15"x7"x7") contains seven sets of reloading dies, mounted in their turrets inside their plastic storage cylinders, ready to plug into the press and use.

With my folding workbench, I can set up my reloading room anywhere in just a few minutes.

Lost Sheep