The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 19, 2008, 09:25 PM   #1
murphjup
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 18, 2006
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Posts: 460
Minimum amount of space needed to reload?

I'm considering reloading... handgun rounds... .380, .40, .45 maybe some .223and .308's...

How much space would I need to do so? I'm in florida, so I don't have a basement... But might be able to get some garage space...

Is there some equipement that takes up less than others?

Thank you in advance...

murphjup is offline  
Old August 19, 2008, 10:47 PM   #2
croc4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 9, 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 191
I do mine in a ~14"x6' closet that I built in the garage when I added a pantry, not much room ,but room enough for two presses, ammo, shells, and other reloading related items
croc4 is offline  
Old August 19, 2008, 11:33 PM   #3
DWARREN123
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 22, 2006
Location: BETWEEN TN & KY
Posts: 1,758
I use a Lee Anniversary Kit and reload 40 S&W. The die sets take up little room and I mount my press on a older computer desk. I keep everything but the press in an old plastic tool box and only use about 1/4 of the desk top when reloading. You can keep it small but it depends on the type press and if you break it down after use or leave it setup.
__________________
Have a nice day!
DWARREN123 is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 12:02 AM   #4
CraigC
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 28, 2001
Location: West Tennessee
Posts: 4,300
My first reloading "bench" was about 14"x24", quite cozy but it worked. Kept my bullets on the floor under it and everything else on a shelf above it. After moving to TN, I built a new bench in the basement about fourteen feet long so I've got some growing room.
CraigC is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 05:31 AM   #5
darkgael
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2006
Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania.
Posts: 5,473
space

If you use a hand press, not a high volume process, then everything that you need can be stored in a toolbox and kept in a closet.
When I started using a progressive press, I bolted it to a piece of plywood and kept it behind a sofa and out of sight. When I used it, I would clamp it to the kitchen table with wood clamps.
Pete
darkgael is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 08:02 AM   #6
Sevens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 28, 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 11,755
You might be surprised at how often this question comes up.

When I started at age 17, I had a dedicated room with a bench and a whole clean setup. When I moved away to college at 18, I packed it in to a small box, and much like Pete who posted right before me, I attached it to a wood plank and then attached the wood plank to a surface with clamps. It was a temporary situation and it worked. It wasn't great, comfy, or ideal, but it worked.

Now, I've got a fully equipped man cave and I wouldn't want it any other way.

But if you've got a mid-sized Rubbermaid tub, you've got a portable setup that works effectively well to make good ammo. And you for damn sure don't need to downgrade to a hand-press, though a hand-press is a versatile tool that works quite well on a trip to the range.
__________________
Attention Brass rats and other reloaders: I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.
Sevens is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 02:03 PM   #7
Inspector3711
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2008
Location: Puget Sound Washington
Posts: 1,553
I'm set up on the work bench in my (small) garage. I have a set of used kitchen cabinets with 1" plywood mounted on 8 2X4's bolted to the cabinet for a bench top. I trimmed the edge with baseboard moldings to hide the 2X4's. I cut out the molding out in an area about 1 foot wide where the diswasher should go and mounted my bench vise and reloading press in that area. I shored up the press by mounting 1/2" aluminum plate above and below the benchtop. I then drilled through the aluminum, plywood, and 2x4's, and used wing nuts under the bench. Now I have an easily removeable press that can be stowed when I have big home improvement projects going on..
__________________
"If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times)
"That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell
Inspector3711 is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 03:51 PM   #8
Loader9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 29, 2008
Posts: 949
I started out using a heavy wood cabinet that measured 30"x 30" with the press bolted to the butcher block top. I used that for about ten years. Now I have several hundred square feet. My bench is now 3'x 7' with drawers and shelves. There is a cabinet with highly speced ammo and a room with nothing but ammo in cans. Then there is the refrigerated 18 wheeler with cabinets and shelves with powder, components, and ammo. And you thought this was just a hobby. Sorry, but it's a sickness that there is no cure for.
Loader9 is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 03:57 PM   #9
murphjup
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 18, 2006
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Posts: 460
Thanks, guys.... I learned alot in 24 hours from all of you...lol

I am considering a Lee Classic Turret setup...

murphjup is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 07:02 PM   #10
Slamfire
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Posts: 5,261
For years mine was a Black and Decker Workmate with a RCBS rocker chucker on it. The Rock Chucker was bolted to the top, and I had 1/2 * 4's clamped across the top to keep it all level.

The problem was, storing all the powder, primers, and bullets.

The more you reload, the more you hoard..
Slamfire is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 07:27 PM   #11
Stagger Lee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 7, 2007
Posts: 342
I was set up for a while in a coat closet in an apartment when I was in college. Shelves and workbench were made from milk crates and scrap lumber, and to use it I had to pull a kitchen chair up to it but I made thousands of rounds of ammunition there right under the nose of a rental manager who was always telling me that my BOOKS on my bookshelves were a "fire hazard".

It doesn't take too much space if you're creative.
Stagger Lee is offline  
Old August 20, 2008, 09:31 PM   #12
BigJakeJ1s
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 8, 2005
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 663
I bought a heavy duty steel router table leg set, and locking, heavy duty casters from Rockler wood working supply. Added a top and two shelves below. Loaded up with bullets, brass and tools, it is very stable. I store it in the laundry room, and roll it out when I need it. Because it is on casters, I can use all four sides of the bench easily.

Andy
BigJakeJ1s is offline  
Old August 21, 2008, 08:20 PM   #13
1911_freak
Member
 
Join Date: August 21, 2008
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 25
i reload on a 4x4' table!
__________________
My loads are 45. acp, 9mm, 38., 357., 7.62x39,
223., 308., 16 and 12 gauge
1911_freak is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08201 seconds with 8 queries