[cannon]

There, I said it.

I'm in a different house, and despite the fact that I haven't even bought my hunting license for the year, I'm going to build myself a new loading bench. Not a mega-bench, mind you, but one sufficiently large to throw a couple of single-stage loaders with the requisite storage for tinkering. I'll still use the bench at the Compound when things get serious, but I just don't believe that a house is a home without a reloading bench.

It'll take me a month or two to decide exactly how I want to do what I want to do and the materials necessary for the project. In the meantime, inspire me, gents. Post up some inspiration pics and help me get ideas for how this thing needs to look.

 

[Farm4wildlife]

For the pictures I have seen before I think you already have the bench we all wish we could have. Everything even seemed organized. I guess maybe you just need to find some nice cabinets to clean it up.

I definitely like having a hole in the bench with a trash can under it.

 

[cannon]

For the pictures I have seen before I think you already have the bench we all wish we could have. Everything even seemed organized. I guess maybe you just need to find some nice cabinets to clean it up.

I definitely like having a hole in the bench with a trash can under it.

You're too kind. I do like the idea of an integrated trash bin, though.

The bench I built on the farm was easy because it was new construction and was part of a room that was intended to be used for that purpose. When you start off with a 15'x15' room that is dedicated as a loading room, and particularly when that room is in a hunting lodge and therefore not subject to any level of influence by significant others of the female persuasion, the build is exponentially simplified. This one will be harder. It'll be in a bare 8'x14' room, but it will be in a sufficiently visible portion of the house that I'll have to balance functionality with the wife's aesthetic.

 

[lostknife4]

Cannon I would buy 3 of those Mec Adapter plates and drill holes through the bench to look after the spent primers etc. I have also drilled mounting holes for my Ponsness Warren 375's in those plates. I sold all my Mec 6000's and P-W 800 and 900 progressive presses as they were constantly keeping me in a state of need for more components. These adapter plates will permit fast change outs but retain all the peripheral stuff like drop holes , lighting and generally handy consistent access to those components that are in continuous use like primers and powder.

I have a stripped MEC Sizemaster mounted beside a P-W 375 and use them both simultaneously, the mec for sizing and priming with their priming tray and the P-W for partial finish of the RTO cases and full fold crimps. Much more versatile IMHO and light years ahead of the progressives for loading small batch jobs. I'm now only loading for 12-¾" and 28 ga-2¾" hulls, either lead for clays or TSS for Birds. I sold all my gear for 20 ga and 10 ga, guns and all.

Therefor the "bench" need not be a string of loaders rather just a loading "station". It's not as fast as a designated spot per gauge but it is very fast to re-arm!

Lost

 

[cannon]

Cannon I would buy 3 of those Mec Adapter plates and drill holes through the bench to look after the spent primers etc. I have also drilled mounting holes for my Ponsness Warren 375's in those plates. I sold all my Mec 6000's and P-W 800 and 900 progressive presses as they were constantly keeping me in a state of need for more components. These adapter plates will permit fast change outs but retain all the peripheral stuff like drop holes , lighting and generally handy consistent access to those components that are in continuous use like primers and powder.

I have a stripped MEC Sizemaster mounted beside a P-W 375 and use them both simultaneously, the mec for sizing and priming with their priming tray and the P-W for partial finish of the RTO cases and full fold crimps. Much more versatile IMHO and light years ahead of the progressives for loading small batch jobs. I'm now only loading for 12-¾" and 28 ga-2¾" hulls, either lead for clays or TSS for Birds. I sold all my gear for 20 ga and 10 ga, guns and all.

Therefor the "bench" need not be a string of loaders rather just a loading "station". It's not as fast as a designated spot per gauge but it is very fast to re-arm!

Lost

Wise counsel.

 

[Farm4wildlife]

Don't know if you reload metallic or just shotshell but one thing I did for metallic was build a stand that is mounted on wheels and can be rolled. Goes in a corner when not in use but doesn't take up space on the bench where I have powder measure, case trimmer, and case prep set out. Makes it so I just turn 90 degrees to use it. I have thought about doing something similar for loading steel shotshell. Could be done in a corner just the same.

 

[cannon]

Don't know if you reload metallic or just shotshell but one thing I did for metallic was build a stand that is mounted on wheels and can be rolled. Goes in a corner when not in use but doesn't take up space on the bench where I have powder measure, case trimmer, and case prep set out. Makes it so I just turn 90 degrees to use it. I have thought about doing something similar for loading steel shotshell. Could be done in a corner just the same.

That's a good thought. I don't load metallic (although that's always subject to change), but I'm always hesitant to set a digital powder dispenser on the bench while I'm loading because the movement tends to throw the powder charge off a bit. A rolling cart for the DPS is a pretty good idea.

 

[mudpack]

Here's what I used for a starting point for my workbench:
https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/123/1692/=1aopycx P/N 4882T48
Then, add 4x4 legs and lots of diagonal 2x4 braces . Lag-screwed to wall studs made for one solid structure. Built it eight years ago and it's going strong. I put a lower shelf (plywood and 2x4's) on it to hold additional stuff and to brace my feet on while working.

 

[baltz526]

Sounds like you need to hit some used furniture stores. Looking for an old solid top kitchen table for a sit to reload setup or serving table for a stand up table. I would go with a serving table, they are normally 24"-30" deep 60"-96" long. I have a 30"x72" in my kitchen which would make a great reloading bench.

 

[BT Justice]

Cannon I can say you were correct when I built my new bench, no matter how big you make it they eventually become crowded with to much equipment!!

 

[cannon]

Cannon I can say you were correct when I built my new bench, no matter how big you make it they eventually become crowded with to much equipment!!

That's an absolute. I tell myself that I'll keep the lion's share of stuff at the farm. Truth is, I'll just buy more and blow this place out, too.

 

[3200 man]

I remember the days when the obsession of a PW with special dies for loading Waterfowl loads haunted You !
Is this going to be a rerun or are you still obligated to load 12 / 15 flats a year ? If you're just loading clay target
ammo for you and the girls , there's not much room needed with you knowing which components are needed ?
Save all that Steel Shot stuff for the Great Way you have the Farm room setup ! :yes: :thumbsup:

 

[lostknife4]

For my bench I used a solid core door sitting at one end on a 2x4 attached to a wall and the other end resting on a 2 drawer file cabinet. I narrowed the door a bit which got rid of the hinge cut outs as this was a used door we took out of a house renovation. Cost nothing and I use the file cabinet to store components. I'm not cheap just frugal as hell LOL.
Lost

 

[lostknife4]

Don't know if you reload metallic or just shotshell but one thing I did for metallic was build a stand that is mounted on wheels and can be rolled. Goes in a corner when not in use but doesn't take up space on the bench where I have powder measure, case trimmer, and case prep set out. Makes it so I just turn 90 degrees to use it. I have thought about doing something similar for loading steel shotshell. Could be done in a corner just the same.

I'm 72 years old and have been reloading and casting for metallics for rifle and pistol since I was 15, I started on shotshells when I was about 18. The only factory ammo I have shot in the last 50 odd years are 22 RF and I have been looking at the reloading kits available for the RF as well. Like you, one of my metallic presses, a Bonanza Co-Ax is mounted on a moveable post but the rest of the presses are bench mounted along with the SAECO lube-sizers and Dillon RL55B. The SAECO is mounted on a cantilevered steel base that has a magnetic automobile block heater "attached" to the underside of the plate, I did this long before any of the heated lube sizers or heater plates were "invented".
Lost

 

[cannon]

I remember the days when the obsession of a PW with special dies for loading Waterfowl loads haunted You !
Is this going to be a rerun or are you still obligated to load 12 / 15 flats a year ? If you're just loading clay target
ammo for you and the girls , there's not much room needed with you knowing which components are needed ?
Save all that Steel Shot stuff for the Great Way you have the Farm room setup ! :yes: :thumbsup:

I've cut waaaaay back. This one will just be for tinkering, not for the mass production that kept me up late at night years ago.

 

[BT Justice]

Don't know if you reload metallic or just shotshell but one thing I did for metallic was build a stand that is mounted on wheels and can be rolled. Goes in a corner when not in use but doesn't take up space on the bench where I have powder measure, case trimmer, and case prep set out. Makes it so I just turn 90 degrees to use it. I have thought about doing something similar for loading steel shotshell. Could be done in a corner just the same.

I'm 72 years old and have been reloading and casting for metallics for rifle and pistol since I was 15, I started on shotshells when I was about 18. The only factory ammo I have shot in the last 50 odd years are 22 RF and I have been looking at the reloading kits available for the RF as well. Like you, one of my metallic presses, a Bonanza Co-Ax is mounted on a moveable post but the rest of the presses are bench mounted along with the SAECO lube-sizers and Dillon RL55B. The SAECO is mounted on a cantilevered steel base that has a magnetic automobile block heater "attached" to the underside of the plate, I did this long before any of the heated lube sizers or heater plates were "invented".
Lost

Lost you have a regular production foundry going on from the pictures I've seen, where do you get all the lead you use it's getting hard to find these days.

 

[lostknife4]

BT when I was in my teens we used to beg, buy, borrow or steal old used junked cars and a couple of guys with axes and mauls would go at them and in very short order have them separated into tin and cast iron and steel piles and load them onto Dad's truck and head for the Salvage yards lol, those were the days.... So very early on I was seeing junked cars for what they actually were, just piles of different valued commodities.... that trait has never left me and I'm always looking for "junk" to sort into "cash".
These last few years good clip on wheel weights and lino and Monotype are getting really hard to get, a lot of the newer style wheel weights aren't lead so you have to do a lot of sorting to get the lead out. Plumbers bar lead, the suitcase handle stuff, and tin from 50/50 solder is getting a lot scarcer to find and whenever I run across any of this stuff I buy it even though I have no immediate need for it. Just the times we now live in I guess, "life is tough, even tougher when your stupid"..... according to John Wayne.
Lost

 

[BT Justice]

BT when I was in my teens we used to beg, buy, borrow or steal old used junked cars and a couple of guys with axes and mauls would go at them and in very short order have them separated into tin and cast iron and steel piles and load them onto Dad's truck and head for the Salvage yards lol, those were the days.... So very early on I was seeing junked cars for what they actually were, just piles of different valued commodities.... that trait has never left me and I'm always looking for "junk" to sort into "cash".
These last few years good clip on wheel weights and lino and Monotype are getting really hard to get, a lot of the newer style wheel weights aren't lead so you have to do a lot of sorting to get the lead out. Plumbers bar lead, the suitcase handle stuff, and tin from 50/50 solder is getting a lot scarcer to find and whenever I run across any of this stuff I buy it even though I have no immediate need for it. Just the times we now live in I guess, "life is tough, even tougher when your stupid"..... according to John Wayne.
Lost

I hear ya, it's getting a bit ridiculous around here you can't even get tire shops to give you old wheel weights they sell them to scrap dealers now and the scrap dealers want $2-$3 a pound for lead ingots.

 

[Rob MacK]

Here is some pics from mine.......

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=672065&hilit=+bench

Good luck

Rob

 

[cannon]

Don't know if you reload metallic or just shotshell but one thing I did for metallic was build a stand that is mounted on wheels and can be rolled. Goes in a corner when not in use but doesn't take up space on the bench where I have powder measure, case trimmer, and case prep set out. Makes it so I just turn 90 degrees to use it. I have thought about doing something similar for loading steel shotshell. Could be done in a corner just the same.

I'm 72 years old and have been reloading and casting for metallics for rifle and pistol since I was 15, I started on shotshells when I was about 18. The only factory ammo I have shot in the last 50 odd years are 22 RF and I have been looking at the reloading kits available for the RF as well. Like you, one of my metallic presses, a Bonanza Co-Ax is mounted on a moveable post but the rest of the presses are bench mounted along with the SAECO lube-sizers and Dillon RL55B. The SAECO is mounted on a cantilevered steel base that has a magnetic automobile block heater "attached" to the underside of the plate, I did this long before any of the heated lube sizers or heater plates were "invented".
Lost

Lost you have a regular production foundry going on from the pictures I've seen, where do you get all the lead you use it's getting hard to find these days.

Caught a deal on it a while back, but I can't remember where I ordered it from. It worked out to roughly $30/bag, so I ordered 1k lbs.