What do you take to the range when you want to work up a load? I want to make a portable reloading station I can take to the range. I have an extra Redding Ultramag press and am looking for options as to how to use it. Thanks in advance.
Portable reloading ... pictures please
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hydraulicman
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I would guess the lee handpress would work for your needs . If you really want to load at the range . also sinclair.com has stuff for loading at teh range
Bwana John
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I have a small RCBS Partner Press that is screwed to a 2"x 6"x 8" that I attach to the bench with 2 "C" clamps.
I also attached a piece of 1/2" plywood to the bottom of the powder measure base and clamp it to the bench with C clamps.
I bring a scale, power trickler, hand priming tool, and case lube pad.
The most important thing is to keep good notes. Reloading at the range is only worthwhile if you record all the data.
I also attached a piece of 1/2" plywood to the bottom of the powder measure base and clamp it to the bench with C clamps.
I bring a scale, power trickler, hand priming tool, and case lube pad.
The most important thing is to keep good notes. Reloading at the range is only worthwhile if you record all the data.
Landric
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Offfhand
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As rondog said above:
"It would be nice to have a Winnebago with a bench in it!"
I met a shooter last summer who did just that and I took some pictures of his fancy rig with built-in loading bench. He just drives up close to firing line and reloads in comfort. Picture attached:
"It would be nice to have a Winnebago with a bench in it!"
I met a shooter last summer who did just that and I took some pictures of his fancy rig with built-in loading bench. He just drives up close to firing line and reloads in comfort. Picture attached:
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Innovative
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Load development at the range ...
Here's a recent article about the portable loading press that I use at the range.
http://www.larrywillis.com/Lee.html
It works well for me ...
- Innovative
Here's a recent article about the portable loading press that I use at the range.
http://www.larrywillis.com/Lee.html
It works well for me ...
- Innovative
zac_christy
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I use the Lee Handpress for my reloading at home. Everything I have fits in a plastic ammo can, I can carry it to the range if I wanted to.
So you guys with the hand press, do you use it to size cases (maybe neck size)? Lyman used to make their version that had a fixture to allow bench mounting. Any experience with that one?
Both my 221 Fireball and 223 have very tight chambers with virtually no throat. I find the best results are when I FL size the brass as it only bumps the shoulder back .002" so I am interested in FL sizing, at least for these cartridges. I guess I would have the option of taking presized brass.
Both my 221 Fireball and 223 have very tight chambers with virtually no throat. I find the best results are when I FL size the brass as it only bumps the shoulder back .002" so I am interested in FL sizing, at least for these cartridges. I guess I would have the option of taking presized brass.
Innovative
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flashhole .......
Read the article at the link I provided above, and you'll see the advantages of preparing your brass at home (on a regular press). The Lee hand press is only good for seating bullets, because it has almost no leverage. It would be a real pain in the butt for resizing rifle cases.
However, when it's used with the Redding competition seating die it's a very handy setup. I have other articles about FL vs. NK resizing.
- Innovative
Read the article at the link I provided above, and you'll see the advantages of preparing your brass at home (on a regular press). The Lee hand press is only good for seating bullets, because it has almost no leverage. It would be a real pain in the butt for resizing rifle cases.
However, when it's used with the Redding competition seating die it's a very handy setup. I have other articles about FL vs. NK resizing.
- Innovative
zac_christy
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I resize, deprime, seat bullets and crimp with mine and I have plenty of leverage for .223 Rem. Its not the fastest setup out there, but it works for me.
Offfhand
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The Huntington Compac hand press is very portable, easily stored and has plenty of leverage for sizing. Much better tool than Lee but also costs more. Check it out at Huntington Dies. The absolute top-of-the-line portable press is made by charlie Hood. It stores flat, mounts quickly and works like a sizing press for standard dies or arbor press for in-line bullet seaters. I've seen lots of Benchrest shooters using them. A bit pricey however. See pictures and details in Hood Custom Products page.
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Offfhand
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Here are quick pictures of the setup I use for loading and cleaning at range. (Set out in sun for picture, for use I set up in shade under roof at rifle range.)
The top is 24"X 36" piece of wood from Lowes, got folding legs there too. Took a couple of hours to put it all together, including coat of spray-on poly. Hood press serves for sizing with sizing die, and also as arbor press for in-line bullet seating die, seen in tool block along with primer seater. Holder for Jones powder measure clamped to table, quick on and off. The press is quickly attached or removed by thumb nuts at rear, shown in closeup pic. Hood Kwick Kradle holds rifle and cleaning rods conveniently out of way. Bullets and cleaning materials stored in plastic boxes. Nothing is crowded, yet takes up small space, takes down quickly and fits in back of my SUV.
The top is 24"X 36" piece of wood from Lowes, got folding legs there too. Took a couple of hours to put it all together, including coat of spray-on poly. Hood press serves for sizing with sizing die, and also as arbor press for in-line bullet seating die, seen in tool block along with primer seater. Holder for Jones powder measure clamped to table, quick on and off. The press is quickly attached or removed by thumb nuts at rear, shown in closeup pic. Hood Kwick Kradle holds rifle and cleaning rods conveniently out of way. Bullets and cleaning materials stored in plastic boxes. Nothing is crowded, yet takes up small space, takes down quickly and fits in back of my SUV.
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Innovative
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Offfhand ......
That's a neat setup. Wow .... routed edges and all. Well done!
(I made the 2 piece version of yours.)
- Innovative
That's a neat setup. Wow .... routed edges and all. Well done!
(I made the 2 piece version of yours.)
Portable Black & Decker bench
with countertop and Rockchucker press.
The Rockchucker press is for those all day
at the range tests - like when
you get another new rifle ....
Separate shooting bench.
with countertop and Rockchucker press.
The Rockchucker press is for those all day
at the range tests - like when
you get another new rifle ....
Separate shooting bench.
- Innovative
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41 Mag
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Nothing real special about mine, just a couple of small presses I got over the years on sale.
Everything but the presses will fit into that one box there on the table, and with the wide or deep throat c-clamps I can mount them on just about anything. I select the powders I want to try out, and pre-measure them with the Uniflow and record the stem setting from min to max loads. When at the range I set the stem to the min and work up in 1/8 or 1/4 turns. Once I hit a load with promise I record the stem setting and weigh it at the house. Then I load up 20 which are all weighed and tweak the seating depth in for the final load if needed.
Good luck with yours.
Everything but the presses will fit into that one box there on the table, and with the wide or deep throat c-clamps I can mount them on just about anything. I select the powders I want to try out, and pre-measure them with the Uniflow and record the stem setting from min to max loads. When at the range I set the stem to the min and work up in 1/8 or 1/4 turns. Once I hit a load with promise I record the stem setting and weigh it at the house. Then I load up 20 which are all weighed and tweak the seating depth in for the final load if needed.
Good luck with yours.
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