It would be great to gather all these threads to a sticky for this building out works areas. I've seen a LOT of awesome setups and some unique ideas

bench design

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

Here's mine, kinda messy right now. Bench made of two 5x14 white oak planks. Got tired off pulling apart flimsy benches. I'm going to mount another
press just to seat bullets. Got 12'-6" to work with. Far end has my casting
outfit.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hope she does not start eating them that could cause the s--t to hit the fan.

I have a turret press like yours. It is in storage just now, can't remember what brand that is, and don't know any of the history. It was my dad's, then I used it for 20 years or so. Thinking about getting back into it now.

Here's my set up. I'm just starting but have been around reloading with my friends for years. I've already loaded about 300 rounds for my .380, 9mm and .40.

We had a room that never got remodeled, and it eventually became my reloading room. This picture is a few years old, and it was quite disorganized when I took it.

I have a 72" by 22" bench and 60" by 22" bench in an "L" configuration in a 7'6" by 12' room. My gunsmithing workbenches take up the other half of the room.

The Dillon in the middle is the 450 I bought back in 1984 and have since changed to the 550 interchangeable toolhead frame. It is my dedicated .41 Magnum machine.

The Dillon 550 on the left was bought at an estate sale 20 years ago and is now the "Large Primer" machine after I got the 550 on the right at a gunshow which is the "Small Primer" machine. After selling off the unneeded conversion kits, toolheads and other extras that came with both machines I have about $125 invested in the two.

My old Lee Challenger press that I used for rifle just got moved to the end of the short bench to make room for my new Red White and Blue RCBS Summit press.



KO

This is it for now. I definitely see a Dillon 1050 in Reloading Plan 2015 for dedicated .357 production. Currently exploring bench options. The one pictured is only stable if I add a couple hundred pounds of components to its shelves. If anyone has suggestions, please feel free to share them.

After the kids moved out we ended up with an extra room. I've been dragging this drafting table from office to storage to home and back for years. MrsG said it had to look nice so I covered it with some nice cork flooring and put it to use. The cabinets on the opposite wall are reclaimed from a remodel job. A queen size blow up mattress fits nicely between them.

Just added some of the "wall art" received for Christmas!

EDIT - decided to add another table for more work space!

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

Wow, that is a very nice reloading area! As nice as they come!

Happy New Year!

Bob

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"Onward thru the Fog"

Here's my setup. Same RCBS Rock Chucker since 1973.
As you can see, I have my own security staff.

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Here is mine

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^
Love the bench.
I bought the same one from Harbour Freight last summer on sale IIRC for around $130. Couldn't be happier with it! I was working off an old workmate fold up bench before that. Like night and day.

I'm just getting started in reloading pistol and rifle rounds. I really appreciate this thread that you started. It has given me some good ideas.

The old room.


The new room.

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"Tastes just like chicken"

I got to move my room and make a new bench. Should have painted the room first but I didn't want thw wife to change her mind...

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I mostly use my portable reloading table (the legs can be unscrewed) a friend & I made over 35yrs ago. I had my RCBS JR3 on it for a long time but moved it to a ridged mount on the garage work bench. When I put the Lyman T-Mag II on the portable I had to add the 2x4 to space it more towards the center of the table because of it's angled handle. When it's too hot/cold in the garage I use the portable inside, along side a desk/table, to do my reloading. It's real convenient.

Recently upgraded it's color from primer black to prime gray.

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Portable Reloading Table


.



.

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Waiting for the break of day

It's not pretty, but it's so much better when you do it yourself.

After a lot of research into what others have done, I decided to make a wet tumbler from a 4" PVC pipe, aproximately 3' long.
I used 3 pieces of 3/4" aluminum angle inside spaced evenly as agitators, secured with standard hardware and sealed with silicone.

One end is capped with a standard PVC end plug, the other is a rubber boot, with a hose clamp. Have to get into the sucker right?

I used an old Ryobi 18v cordless drill motor powered by an old 18v PC power supply. I chucked the drill with the small sprocket from a kids bike and attached the large sprocket on the tumbler canister. The chain was adjusted to fit. Currently using the trigger for speed control but, purchased a electric motor controller with a switch and speed dial for final wiring. It moves around 45-50 RPM.

The base is just 1x4 with 2" castors, 4 tumbler rollers and 1 to hold the end by the rubber boot. It has about a 3/4cant to it towards the back end where the boot is.

Pictures are of my first run, using 5 lbs of stainless pins as media, aproximately 1 gallon of water (about half full) and some Lemi-Shine dishwasher water softener. Results were amazing.

IMG_2804.jpg

IMG_2805.jpg

wet tumbler.jpg

Not counting the media, I have about $30 in this, the stainless pins cost about $40 for 5 lbs.

(Note: I have a tumbler, been accumulating brass, building bullet and brass feeders, and plan to buy a Hornady LnL Progressive in the spring of 2016.)

I'm just getting back into reloading after a 15 year break. I just got my Hornady Ammo Plant setup last week. I got everything dialed in to start loading 45ACP and have been sick for the last week with an infection. So I have just played with it a few times and I'm loving it already. I bought 2 semi-auto Tommy guns in the last 6 months and they go thru 45ACP very quickly!! I'll also be loading 45 Colt and eventually some 308 and maybe some 5.56/223 down the road.

Here's a picture of it on my bench.

Reloader Setup.jpg

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gunfighter48
NRA Life Member

Primers and powder stored elsewhere.

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Old bench...




New bench....

This is my setup, I've made a few changes since this pic was taken. I added some cabinets across the top and added a RCBS auto bench primer

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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

We downsized to a two-bedroom condo five years ago so the space we have has to do double-duty. This second bedroom has become my office/gun room.







Thousands of rounds of handgun and rimfire ammo along with many thousand handgun bullets, extra brass and 27 cases of shotshells are on super heavy-duty shelving or on the floor in the double closet across from the bench. Between the closets is where my small desk with my desktop PC resides and my 50 cubic-foot safe is to the near side of the loading bench.

It's surprising what you can make fit into a small space when you have to!

Ed

O.K. time for an update I have added a few things. And my grand daughter taught me how to post photos.

^
WOW!!!!!
You sure filled up your Harbor Freight bench top.

Sad thing is I have an other Ammo-plant sitting on top of a 55 gal barrel that I use for scrap metal. I am building a reloading room off of my shop that I am going to have 4 harbor freight benches end to end.

So much red . . . looks like hel . . . er, HORNADY Love it!

My reloading stuff was starting to take over my bench so I set up a new area where the press is mounted on shelves.... keeps it very neat as there isn't enough room to store stuff.

My bench is almost back together after a recent change in my single stage setup.

Single Stage for rifle and my big bore pistol loads


My Dillon 1050s for 45 and 9


Keith

Here are a couple pictures of the reloading/gunsmithing room I just finished in my garage. I have a 30x40 garage and built two walls inside to box off a corner into a 10x12 room for a reloading room. I built the room in order to keep it cleaner in there, I do a lot of mechanic work in the garage, and to be able to keep things locked up and out of sight. I added a window A/C unit as well..... it's turned out much better than I expected!

The work bench and shelf above it are both 10' long. The other side of the room has another short bench and a desk for my laptop.

My neighbor and I did the carpentry work...... and it took about $500 in materials.

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UP DATE

I don't often trim case lengths as I usually only do it once for a box of 50 44's.
Working with some old .445 that had been made from 30-40 discovered it needed trimming as the lengths were not uniform.
Dug out the old Lyman trimmer which is kind of loose.
I bought it used 30 years ago at a swap meet.
Figured maybe a new cutting arm might help so got the drill adapter setup.
It is tighter but not perfect. It cuts almost flat.
Here's how I mount it temporarily.
The left rear corner is butted up against the powder measure mount so the whole thing does not move.
And yes that is our very own forum on the netbook in back.

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

I was thinking of getting into reloading, but seeing some of these reloading rooms is scaring me off. LoL.

It all depends on the kind of shooting you do.
If you compete and shoot several hundred rounds a week you may need one of those "factories".
But the little desk I posted right above has served me just fine for over 30 years.
I am an internal ballistics guy who enjoys exploring all kinds of component combinations mostly those NOT in the books.
Also enjoy the statistics and math of simulating loads and seeing how well one can predict performance.
Precision reloading doesn't require any more than the basics of equipment as you can see from my pictures.
Quality is more important than quantity in the long run.
Get the very best you can afford and it will last your life.
Redding, RCBS, Lyman all make good stuff.
If you ever move to a progressive press Dillon is the standard.
I have never needed that kind of volume.
I shoot maybe a couple hundred rounds a month and keep all my ammo segregated in their own boxes of 50 for their lives.
Record keeping is just as important as the rest of the meticulous routine of precision reloading.
Some of the history of each box I write right on the box with magic marker like how many time they have been fired.
I also have most of the targets I have ever shot with notes on each one detailing the load and its velocity if known.
If you read a couple of the better reloading manuals like Hornady, Lyman, Lee they will help get you started.
If you want an advanced procedure book "Mic" McPherson's "Metallic Cartridge Handloading: Pursuit Of The Perfect Cartridge"
is the most detailed book I know of.
His writing style wanders a little but after 30 years I learned a thing or 2 from this book.
Like "swirling" powder in the funnel into the cartridge packs it in better when using stick powder.
You can never have too many reloading books!
Hope this all helps you get into the fantastic fun lifelong hobby of reloading.

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

Richard,

Handloading ammo is one of those things where you can make it very simple or very complex and every point in between. That is probably one of the reasons many of us love it so much. It is one aspect of firearms where we can experiment and tweek and also ensure a generous supply of low cost ammo for our use.

I don't disagree with anything that Nemo has written. But his perspective is from one who has a lot of time invested into the hobby. For many years, decades actually, I thought about handloading and in the back of my mind knew it was just a matter of time. Then I started shooting handguns in a more formal organized way that made my consumption of ammo skyrocket, the actual push to get into this hobby had lost all of it's excuses not to do it.

As far as the space needed you can start this adventure with something as small as a sturdy old desk. To properly equip yourself will cost some money. A lot of people will put a fine point on the shopping list but it really comes down to budget and what kind of shooting you do. This is not easy for the beginner because you may not have an exact goal in mind.

Having said all that here are my two points of advice:

1. Budget. If you set a realistic budget then you will not lose your mind when you discover that you need something extra that costs $50.00 when you thought you were all set to start making ammo. You can spend a ton of money on the pursuit of happiness but at the opposite end if you allow a minimum of $500.00 to start then you can get just about everything you need without having to improvise.

2. Scope of Operation. We all have at least several handguns and several rifles. Pick the one firearm that you use the most and start handloading for it. Instead of buying 10 sets of dies for 10 calibers and large and small rifle and pistol primers, rifle and pistol powders, concentrate on 1 caliber and learn the basics of that round. It will take 100s or maybe 1000s of rounds to get at least a partial understanding of exactly what it is you are trying to accomplish so put all of your time and money into one thing first.

Many people will tell the newb to buy such and such book and read it cover to cover two or ten times then go shopping for your tooling. Buy a book, ok, but trying to mentally visualize the process when you have no experience is tough to do in my mind. What you really need to know and understand beforehand are the safety rules for storing/handling components and selecting/charging your loads.

There are a lot of youtube vids out there. Some are dangerous but there are many that are quite good. You can find people who profess to be accomplished using very expensive tackle and some who have inexpensive C presses. I would caution you to be careful of getting load information from theses vids but you can certainly get a feel for what we do by watching them. You will see guys with poorly mounted presses having to support the press with one hand while pulling the lever with the other hand. Try to avoid having such a flimsy bench set up. Efficiency is important. That is why I think looking at the 100s of bench pictures in threads like this is a very useful activity.

Thomas gives good advice. Start small. Check out yard sales and 2nd hand stores and estate sales for reloading equipment. Talk to people at your range and see of anyone is going to be selling any equipment.

I started with a used old Texan turret loader for $50, and 2 sets of Lyman dies for $15 each. I bought a used RCBS scale for $25 and some trays for 3 or 4 dollars. I started with 38 Special, and within a year added 44 magnum (I was shooting metallic Silhouette at the time). I made my loading bench in a corner of my basement from an old solid core door I bought for $3, and a couple scrap 4X4's for front legs and anchored the back to the studs of a wall. Total cost of bench was probably under $10. Over the next 35 years I have added all the rest, but I made just as good of ammo early on as I do now.

I still use that old Texan turret loader and still do all my rifle loads on it and some low volume pistol on it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

You don't want to see my reloading setup. Really. For the good of all concerned.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Reloading on the kitchen table with hammer, pliers, ice pick, muffin tins, funnel and a glass pitcher are we? ;>

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

Question: On the Hornady LNL press; can the handle be moved to the left side for southpaws? I'm partial to red.

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Mike Maher #283

There are 3 LNL presses.
The Classic
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Reloading :: Metallic Reloading :: Presses and Kits :: Lock-N-Load® Classic
looks like it only has a right hand handle.
The new Iron Press
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Reloading :: Metallic Reloading :: Presses and Kits :: Lock-N-Load® Iron Press
does have both left and right handle mounting holes.
The Ammo Plant
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Reloading :: Metallic Reloading :: Presses and Kits :: Lock-N-Load® AP™ :: Lock-N-Load® AP™ Reloading Press
also looks like it is right handed only.

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

NEMO, thank you. The info is what I thought I was seeing. Won't be the first time I've had to learn something right-handed. I do like the LNL AP.

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Mike Maher #283

Some of you folks are so neat and organized. How do you find anything?

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"from my cold dead hands" C.H.

Here's my Dillon 550. I have owned it since the late 1990s.

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No pictures, but an article by a man who most of you know who confirmed my choice made in the 60's! There was a picture with the original of the article but I was unable to find it.
A Letter From Skeeter Skelton

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

Thanks for all the info and the pics. I am thinking of starting with a Lee Classic 4 hole Turret press or a Dillon 550, with the Dillon taking 1 case and going through each stage until familiar with the operation.

Either is a good choice--just make sure you get the Classic Turret with auto-indexing. Look for the indexing rod running from the turret down to the ram.

A lot of guys seem happy with their 550s, but I would maybe give a thought to the 650--literally just to get the auto-indexing. I can't remember which of the Dillon presses is upgradeable to which. I'm sure one of the Boys in Blue () will be along to tell you.

Which to get depends on how much you want to shoot, and how much time you want to spend reloading. Fred will be along to tell me I am insane (again, ). I concur that either the 550 or the 650 is money well spent, I'm just too damn cheap to spend the money!

Do you have/use the LEE auto-index?

I have found it to be slow and cumbersome. I love my classic turret press. But I prefer to run 100rnds at a time before changing dies. Trying to turn it into a progressive press just seems to slow me down.

I'm in my 3rd apartment in 5 years. So I can't have anything permanent. I've been making do with this mobile setup. For about 10 years I have been using a Lee classic turret press mounted to a 2"x8" Clamped to a $20 Clist desk. I also clamp my case trimmer when needed. I can set up or tear down in less than 5 minutes. So I stash everything but the press in the red tote box. The press sits in a thick cardboard box and it all hides in the closet under Christmas decorations just in case of apartment inspections or nosy maintenance men.





Overall, it works for me. And provides a little bit of a ceiling to the amount of reloading equip. I buy. I'd have a house full of components if I could.