No Space to Reload?

[crows]

When I first started I had a Lee single stage press mounted to a piece of wood.


I put a table cloth on the kitchen table and C clamped it to the table. All my stuff was in a plastic storage bin.
Set up took a few minutes,

You can do the same with a Dillon Square Deal B. I did when I was in a small apt.

 

[Capt. F.]

I understand when someone doesn't want to reload, but I can't understand the excuse that one doesn't have the space. When I first started reloading with a single-stage press, we lived in an apartment with three rooms and a full bathroom. At a yard sale, I bought a well-used wooden cabinet with fold out wings and it had a space below for storage. These days there are purpose designed and ready made options.

When we were first married we lived in a similar apartment.
My solution was to get a 3’ section of 2” galvanized pipe, have it treaded on both ends, fit it with 4” flanges, then make a plywood base on the bottom and bolt my press on the other end.
I stored it in a broom closet when not in use.
Used it for 2 years until we had our house built and I was able to set up a proper reloading bench.

 

[Model19man]

When I first started I had a Lee single stage press mounted to a piece of wood.

I started reloading in 1981. At that time I lived in a 1100 square foot apartment. I put my press on a wooden block and C clamped the wooden block to the kitchen table. When the press was not in use I put the press and all the reloading supplies in the closet. My reloading supplies at the time consisted of a pound of Bullseye powder, a box of 1000 Winchester primers, and a box of 100 Sierra bullets. I loaded the same box of 357 Magnum ammo endlessly, maybe 50 or 60 times at least.

I don't understand folks who say they don't have enough space or time to reload.

 

[chief38]

One does not need a whole lot of "real estate" to set up a reloading press as it does not take up that much square footage. A 2 ft x 2 ft area is all one would really need to mount the press but the caveat that comes along is that space must be absolutely stable, sound and will not rock while operating the press. I have two machines set up (a Dillon 650 and an RCBS Rock Chucker) in a very small area on my workbench. When I reload I will do at least 5,000 - 10,000 rounds at a time and then cover the press for a long period before having to do so again in that caliber, so I don't need to waste more space on my workbench that gets used every day for other purposes. There are no issues at all reloading in a compact space as far as I am concerned and I am able to do a minimum of 3,500 - 4,000 rounds a day before I get worn out. Two to three days at it and I am done with that caliber for the year. I am a binge reloader because I do not like setting up for small lots at a time and really don't love doing it anyway. I do it because the ammo I make is custom tailored to me needs and spec's, at a great price too!

A portable table (or bridge table) can be temporarily set up while reloading so you can set up a scale, measure, primers, powder, and all accoutrements associated with reloading while you are actively doing so. Even though I have ample space in my garage/workshop, I usually tumble the brass out on my Lanai. I also separate the corn media from the brass outdoors as well as it is a little noisy & dirty to do so indoors.

 

[gwpercle]

No space , no reloading bench , you move around ...

Lee Hand Press !!!

I reload all my handgun and 30-30 rifle with a Lee Hand Press .
I sit at my computer desk , coffee table , dining room table and my desk at work ... I own the company so the boss is okay with it .

Keep everything in a shooting bag ...

Have Reloader Will Travel ... Go anywhere anytime .

The LeeHand Press is one of Lee's best idea's ... a single stage "C" press that will reload just about any round and I'm 75 years old with not much upper body strength .
I store the range bag in a closet ... it's a Cool little press for those with no space to set up a bench or those who move around .
Gary

 

[BLUEDOT37]

In the mid 70's, when I lived in an apartment, a fellow shooter & I made these three legged tables to reload off of.

I still use it inside sometimes when it's too hot/cold in the garage.

.



.

 

[71vette]

I started out at home with a Lee hand press. Works just fine for 38 Special. I still have it for “emergencies”. Not fast, but it works. Everything I need fits in a plastic tub.

 

[BE Mike]

My Dillon 550 and 650 seem to work best when the reloading bench is secured to the wall and with a lot of weight on the lower shelf. The more solid, the better. A single stage press doesn't need that much rigidity, so there are plenty of compact options. There is plenty of compact, used, wooden furniture on Facebook Marketplace that would give a reloader a solid top and storage place for little money.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I understand when someone doesn't want to reload, but I can't understand the excuse that one doesn't have the space. When I first started reloading with a single-stage press, we lived in an apartment with three rooms and a full bathroom.

Same here and C-Clamped my RCBS Rockchucker to the Kitchen Table. When I was not reloading I put all the equipment in a footlocker and put it in the closet.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Long time apartment dweller, 40 years ago built a reloading cabinet out of heavy plywood, covered the work surface with Contact paper, otherwise left it unfinished. My RCBS 4x4 securely bolted down, my Uniflow fastened to it, several shelves, a boom lamp for illumination. Have to stand up to reload, NBD. A tad cramped but uses its space efficiently. Lyman used to make a hand press, don't see it listed, Lee still does. I have them for rounds such as 45-70 that my 4x4 doesn't handle.
Both take regular dies, can be used for full length resizing.

 

[Patrick L]

In our apartment when we were first married, I would clamp whatever I was using to a Black and Decker Work Mate and load away. Happy and simpler times!

One thing in particular I remember was lubing and sizing cast bullets. I would cast at my parent's house, but I would put the bullets in 3# coffee cans and bring them to the apartment. My wife worked evenings and nights, I spent many an evening watching old movies with the Workmate set up in the living room with my Lubesizer clamped to it sizing away.

 

[JKP099]

When I started reloading, back in the early 70's, I lived in a small apartment in Sturbridge, MA. The ONLY place I had to reload was the kitchen table. I bolted my press to a board, and clamped that to the table. Reloaded there for a few years like that.

There's ALWAYS a place to reload!

 

[Toxophilus]

Once our Spawn moved out, my best Friend George Jefferson'd my butt from the garage to one of their empty bedrooms. She bought storage cabinets/drawers/rolling drawers etc.

She's planning on keeping me around, the other side is another press and storage for other hobbies..., the plus side to this is they can't move back in!

 

[JKP]

I have my 3 presses each mounted on an 8"x 20" oak board. I clamp them to the end of my work bench with 2 of the large C style vice grips. When not in use, I set them inside the cabinet below. This has worked for me for the last 30 years.