No Space to Reload?

[BE Mike]

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.

 

[Autonomous]

About a decade ago I bought a Frankford Arsenal folding reloading stand thinking I'd give it to my wife as a project table if it was flimsy.
Turns out it is adequate for handgun cartridges.
It is an option for limited space.

 

[zeke]

My reloading table that has rock chucker and powder measure mounted is small, heavy and on wheels. Have a small cabinet that is also on wheels. Storage is on fixed shelves.

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

FWIW, I knew a guy a long time ago who dealt with this issue by converting a small closet in a hallway. Open the door and there was the bench with a stool tucked up under it.

 

[dwh]

I think some of that may stem from learning from an experienced loaders. Let's face it most reloader's have a lot of stuff. I started loading and tying flies on my dad's desk. 40 years later I have a 12x6 L shaped bench with 3 press and all accessories on it and a standing wardrobe for powder and primers. The cast equipment in the garage. When we bought a new house my wife looked at me and ask if half of the basement was enough to load in or do I need more. It can be absolutely overwhelming to a new reloader.

 

[Nevada Ed]

My loading table is 21 x 39 inches.

A 366 shotgun loader, a RCBS, a Pacific powder drop and a Forester reamer
are attached with room for bullets, primers, die boxs and case holder boxs.

The word is................... Organized.

 

[Rule3]

I always thought this one was cool!

 

[Rule3]

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,

 

[mikerjf]

I have a hard-side attache case with a Lee hand press, couple sets of dies, primers, a pound of 231, ziplocks full of bullets, a little electronic scale, and a Lyman manual. Good to GO!

 

[67tempest]

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,

I had the same setup when I first started reloading, clamped my press to the kitchen table, reloaded that way for 10 years. Made sure the kids were outside playing, didn't want them running around the house distracting me while I reloaded.

 

[Marksman]

Reloading area.............

Microwave cart from the unfinished furniture store or used from Good Will, yard sale etc., sturdy with a big enough top and storage drawer & shelf. Roll into a closet when not in use.

 

[GypsmJim]

The guy that encouraged me to start reloading lived in a small ranch house with no basement or garage. He kept his stuff in a closet on a board that he clamped to the kitchen table. Crude, but it worked.

My Dad and Grandpa before him had 8' workbenches in the basement. As do I. My presses are on a board and the board is attached to the work bench with carriage bolts and wing nuts. There is enough room left for normal work, but if I need the whole 8' the board comes off in a few minutes and can be on the floor for awhile. All my presses and such are covered with cloth bags to keep them clean. In a year, they only have to come off maybe twice.

To add to my flexibility I bought 3 upright lockers when a local school modernized their hallways. 5 bucks apiece was a bargain. I added shelved about 1' apart. One locker is for handgun and rimfire, one for rifle and shotgun and the last for powder, primers, boolets, dies and a bottle of Hoppes.

I realize that basements to some are not available nor wanted. To me it is not an option.

 

[Piwo]

My start up reloading was a Lee Loader for 12 gauge and 44 magnum. It all fit in a footlocker. I reloaded on the kitchen table. I would reload a 25 round box of shells for the shotgun, 50 for the magnum. I still have both.
For a lot of people, they still make sense. I did buy a Lee single primer hand primer for the 44. I had too many primers pop in the hammer seating method!

 

[geeollie]

I've seen this used on video.
I started on a tiny homemade table.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A small single stage press (from RCBS or Lee) cab mount to a picnic table with drywall screws. My Lee fits in a 30 caliber ammo can with everything needed for on caliber. A Lyman 310 or Lee Classic Loader can fit several calibers in a 50 Cal. ammo can.

I load a batch of 100 rounds every winter with these loaders, just to remind me how good I've got it with the Rock Chucker and the Dillon 550b! The old style yields 50 to 100 an hour, once you have everything together and develop a system.

Ivan

 

[zeke]

By far the most space used up by my reloading is storage. Buying in bulk is the cause, but gets you consistency and lower prices.

 

[GypsmJim]

My start up reloading was a Lee Loader for 12 gauge and 44 magnum. It all fit in a footlocker. I reloaded on the kitchen table. I would reload a 25 round box of shells for the shotgun, 50 for the magnum. I still have both.
For a lot of people, they still make sense. I did buy a Lee single primer hand primer for the 44. I had too many primers pop in the hammer seating method!

I started as a poor college kid and didn't buy a lot of stuff. I DID buy the hand primer after several years, but I never popped a primer with the hammer.

 

[glenwolde]

In the 70's my reloading bench was a Black & Decker Workmate with a piece of 3/4" plywood bolted to the top. I folded it up and put it in the closet.

These days I can fit everything I need using a Lee Hand Press in a plastic ammo can. I use it in the RV.

 

[rwsmith]

My big operation was in the garage.....

...but I had a spare bedroom with a desk in it. I mounted my press on a 3/4" piece of plywood and clamped it to the desk. I use about a foot and a half of the desktop to do the loading. I have my power measure on a piece of plywood I put on a TV table to do the charging. I load for a lot of calibers so storage of tools, powder. primers, bullets, dies, containers of shell cases in various stages of prep and loaded ammo take up the most space My tumbler and media are in the garage and I put it on the back steps when in use.

I could condense the operation considerably if I needed to.

 

[Rule3]

 

[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.

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[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.