Your Reloading Area

[ENGINE18]

As mentioned in my previous thread, I'm thinking about getting into reploading and you all provided great info.

I have a 12' x 11' spare room that would work well but I don't want to take up too much space in there. I'm thinking of a somewhat compact set-up as, in the beginning, I'll be reloading for .38/357 and .44 Special.

I sure would like to see some pics of your reloading set-ups; benches, rooms, areas, whatever. I'm thinking of something on the compact side just to get started. Thanks again!

 

[TwoPoundPull]

Compact?

 

[DoubleH]

Sorry, I don't have any pictures, but my reloading area is a bench inside a 5' clothes closet in the 3rd bedroom that is also my office/computer room. Of course, I am only using a single stage Lyman press(which I have used for over 30 years!) but I have room for powder scales and power case trimmer with shelves on 3 sides for loaded ammo and powder, primers and bullets. When I am finished for the day, I close the closet doors and nobody sees anything! It does not take a lot of room if one is creative.

 

[Dan Cash]

At one time, I lived in a double wide with 3 bedrooms. One of the rooms was used as a TV room with the closet in there closed off by sliding doors. I made a built in bench about 24" wide in each end of the closet with shelves above and below. One end of the closed had the Dillon 550 and the other end held a Rock Chucker. One of the best setups I ever had. Now, I have gobs of space and it is all junked up.

 

[Dale53]

Here is a picture of my bench. It is Industrial grade, not furniture grade but has worked for my purposes (I have moved it three or four times) for nearly fifty years:

Dale53

There are several qualities you should strive for:
1- Sturdy
2 - Lots of light
3- Relatively inexpensive
4- More room than you think you need.

Just a thought or two:

 

[rwnielsen]

I have a spare bedroom and, apparently, the same nasty powder hopper as Dale53

and some almost organized brass

 

[686 shooter]

I don't have any pic's, but I can assure you that whatever room you have will be consumed by reloading! Even a basement can get crowded given enough years.

 

[semperfi71]

A very cheap but very stout and indestructible reloading bench is to go to a surplus/used building supply house and buy a solid core oak door, or a steel/metal one. They can be found cheap, they will require that you pre-drill ANY holes needed, but they make great reloading/work benches.

 

[ENGINE18]

Again, you guys are great! So many choices, so little time.

 

[Dale53]

Mine was built after a change of job and a "forced" move when money was VERY tight. In my new area a good friend directed me to a salvage lumber company. The legs are telephone pole cross ties ( 4x5's) and the top was from salvaged 2"x10"'s. The top surface is 1/4" plywood for a smooth surface with a 2x4 rail at the rear to keep things from rolling off the bench. I think I had a total of $14.00 in it when the smoke cleared. I bolted it together with 1/2" bolts as I knew it would be moved around the state. It has survived several moves with no damage (it's kind of like trying to scratch an anvil>)).

Dale53

 

[Rule3]

Here is my portable "Summer" reloading station. It is mounted on a older version Black and Decker workmate made of heavy metal and a 3/4 plywood top. Don't know if they still make the heavy kind. Anyway, the press is bolted to the plywood with carriage bolts and the plywood bolted to the top of the Workmate with wingnuts. The two bottom shelves just drop in.

It is too hot in my garage in the summer, so I can carry it inside to the kitchen and work in Air conditioned comfort. The Dillon scale I put on the kitchen counter.

Could put the whole thing in the back of a pickup and bring to the range for on the spot load development if needed.

 

[enidpd804]

My man corner. If you're limited in space, the peg board is great. That's just a really old desk and a Partner Press I've been using since 1990. I have some large shelves (laundry room type) above to keep brass and a small homemade shelf for bullets.

 

[EMT Edu]

Here's my "small space" set-up. It can be rolled out to use and rolled back when done.

 

[pps]

Here's part of it.

Couple of single stages and the casting area not shown.

 

[Baldy]

I have a day bed, computer, and my loading bench in my little part of the house. It a 24x52" Craftsmen bench.

 

[Beans]

My reloading area is NOW 13.5 Ft by 30 ft and it is full.

I spent many a year using a 4x4 Ft space as a loading table. I set it up whereever I could, moved it whenever it got in the way.

I have found that no matter how much or how little space you have for reloading you will fill it up.

 

[ENGINE18]

Once again, you guys out-did yourselves! From truely large, "mass production" areas to compact and portable. You have all been very helpful. What a place this is!

 

[roger460xvr]

Heres mine.......

 

[jlynch34]

I know you didn't want me to clean it up!

 

[s&wchad]

I mount my presses to boards and c-clamp them to the bench as needed (except the Rockchucker).