Show us your reloading setup!

[keithherrington]

My modest setup

Single Stage for rifle and my big bore pistol loads


My Dillon 1050s for 45 and 9


Keith

 

[chief915]

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.

 

[DRAINSMITH]

UP DATE

 

[Nemo288]

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.

 

[Richard M]

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

 

[Nemo288]

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.

 

[Thomas15]

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

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.

 

[H Richard]

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.

 

[rwsmith]

You don't want to see......

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

 

[Nemo288]

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

 

[mmaher94087]

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

 

[Nemo288]

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.

 

[mmaher94087]

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.

 

[M1A]

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

 

[andyo5]

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

 

[walkinghorse]

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

 

[Richard M]

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.

 

[Wise_A]

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 D) 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!

 

[SixShooter14]

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 D) 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.

 

[SixShooter14]

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.

 

[Wise_A]

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 do. I like how it frees up my left hand for handling bullets and cases. Instead of having to index the turret at every step, I just lower the ram fully while reaching for the next bullet or case.

I also usually only do 100 at a time, but I did 250 .38s once. That session, I reached 225 rounds per hour (clean spent case to loaded round). Probly would have hit 250 if I'd been using CCI primers, which are packaged a bit easier.

 

[SixShooter14]

I do. I like how it frees up my left hand for handling bullets and cases. Instead of having to index the turret at every step, I just lower the ram fully while reaching for the next bullet or case.

I also usually only do 100 at a time, but I did 250 .38s once. That session, I reached 225 rounds per hour (clean spent case to loaded round). Probly would have hit 250 if I'd been using CCI primers, which are packaged a bit easier.

So do you run each round through all steps before moving to the next round? Basically loading 1 round start to finish at a time.

I only turn the turret 3 times during a session. I run all the expected rounds through each die before indexing it. So I'll size all the rounds before switching to the powder-expanding die. Then I charge all rounds before switching to bullet seating.

The slowest process for me is measuring powder. I scoop and weigh every charge. When I was using Universal powder, my scooper dropped between 4.7 and 4.9grns every time. So I quit weighing every load. I've been wanting to try some of the auto-measures. But have never taken the plunge.

 

[emptypockets]

This is mine for now.

 

[10mm_Shooter]

This is my humble abode, its 43 inches high suits my height, 27.5 inches deep to be able to move thru interior doorways, 72 inches in length. I used to make do on a 4ft length bench for 15 years but it gets crowded so I recently built this new one at 6 ft. I use the old 4 foot bench in the garage to cast on. Still have another closest to store, ammo cans, powder and extra plastic ammo boxes etc. No matter what I build it seems to collect more stuff.

 

[racefan]

Here is mine Nothing great just a simple movable dest that can be stored out of the way when not reloading. Just started reloading today as my press just arrived Friday been thinking about taking the plunge into reloading but only shooting 9mm right now made it a bigger thought process till I got my CZ scorpion 9MM carbine and it loves ammo and easy to blow through 20 rounds in a few seconds if I want to so created this setup. I have to get a better balance beam hate the lee one already way to hard to set the gn on it so looking for a RCBS 505 or a redding #2 one. Just have to settle a bit before I spend more money LOL.

 

[S&W HE]

Here's my set up.

 

[Racer X]

 

[sasu]

Decided today instead of going to the range to go buy supplies to build a new reloading table and this is the result:

I only had time to install the presses: two Redding Turret presses, one RCBS Rock Chucker, new Dillon RL550B partly assembled.

The turret presses are superb as I can leave the most often used dies in place. The other turret press is brand new, it waited a long time in storage for a table to install on.

The red Lee plastic powder measure functions the best. My RCBS and Redding measures do not get used much.