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Old February 9, 2011, 03:22 PM   #1
LittleHouse
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How Many Presses On Your Bench At Once?

Hello All,

Well, about 5 months into the hobby, my second press is on the way, despite "vows" I'd made to myself when buying the first press.

My first press is a Forster Co-Ax, the second press will be a Lee Classic Turret, in case you're curious. Will probably keep the Co-Ax as a backup and as an "if-I-get-into-rifle" press. I like it a lot.

I'll probably need to experiment and figure out what works for me but I'm curious how you multi-press owners have approached this. Do you keep more than one press mounted at the same time?

It seems like the convenience would be outweighed by clutter/cramped quarters. My bench is about 5 feet long. A large vice is mounted at one end (general work bench, not a dedicated loading bench). My Co-Ax is currently mounted to the other end. I don't "need" to use it regularly as I presently don't load rifle.

One bias: I don't like the plywood/clamp approach. I like my press to be mounted directly to the bench.

PS: As much as I love looking at others' loading setups I don't have a photo handy.
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Old February 9, 2011, 03:52 PM   #2
wncchester
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A five ft. task sharing bench is too small for multi-press reloading. IMHO.
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Old February 9, 2011, 04:09 PM   #3
spacecoast
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What bench? What mounted press? I use a hand press at my home office desk. Everything goes back in the drawer when I'm done.
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Old February 9, 2011, 05:49 PM   #4
Civil War Life
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I have a similar size and multi use work bench. I mounted my press onto a 2x6 that is C-clamped to the work bench. I also have 2 Lubri-sizers mounted to the 2x6 as well as my case trimmer. If I need the work bench I just remove the 2x6 and the bench is clear. If I get another press I'll mount it to another 2x6. I can stand the extra 2x6 in the corner when I am not using it. Probably not the best solution, but so far it is working for me.
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Old February 9, 2011, 06:03 PM   #5
wogpotter
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Two.
My original single-stage Lyman, which I use for accessory tasks, such as de-priming to clean primer pockets, pulling mistakes with a collet puller & so on.
My Dillon progressive that does the grunt work of reloading in volume.

My bench is 8' long & I find room for both presses, a Dillon crimp remover, a case trimmer& a small (3") vice.
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Old February 9, 2011, 06:12 PM   #6
DiscoRacing
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two... one turret... one lee shotshell
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Old February 9, 2011, 06:26 PM   #7
SVO
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Two on a 4' long bench. A Rock Chucker at one end and a Dillon 650 at the other end.
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Old February 9, 2011, 06:28 PM   #8
maillemaker
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I only own one (Lee Pro 1000) so just one.

Steve
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Old February 9, 2011, 06:29 PM   #9
SauerGrapes
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3 presses on a 12' bench. 1 metallic and 2 shotshell loaders. I only load pistol so I don't need tons of room for it.
I wouldn't be happy with 2 presses on a 5' bench. {just saying}
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Old February 9, 2011, 07:13 PM   #10
rg1
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RCBS bench mounted Automatic Primer tool, then a Forster Co-Ax. Sitting next to the Co-Ax is a RCBS Big-Max and then a RCBS 50 BMG press. Last press on the end is a RCBS RockChucker. And to top it off is a MEC SizeMaster shotshell on the end of the short 5 foot bench. All presses on a 5 foot long bench and mounted close together. Just enough room to operate each. I don't have any problems with this close set-up. I sit at the bench and have a box in my lap to hold tools and components. Sitting just to the left of my bench is a cabinet the same height as my bench that the electronic powder scale sits on. I use the presses in tandem and for instance seat in one press and crimp in another, or size pistol in one and expand in the other.
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Old February 9, 2011, 07:49 PM   #11
jmorris
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9 ok they are waiting on a new bench I should have room for 7 with an 8th spot setup with a quick detach for the five or six other presses I don't use often.


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Old February 9, 2011, 07:51 PM   #12
Crashbox
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On the right-hand side of my bench I have a Hornady LnL AP near the edge and an LnL Classic a couple of feet left of the progressive. On the far-left side of my bench I have an RCBS Bench Mounted Priming Tool anchored about one foot inside the left edge. Bench is about eight feet long.
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Old February 9, 2011, 08:33 PM   #13
t45
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I have 2. A RockChucker Supreme and a Lee Chalenger press. Soon to have a Hornady LNL progressive.
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Old February 9, 2011, 08:53 PM   #14
GP100man
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4 mounted , O crusher & T mag 2 RCs & 2 450 bullet sizers on 16ft of table (2 8ft tables)5 in storage all smaller or older presses!

Smaller table has 3 tumblers & brass/media seperator.
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Old February 9, 2011, 09:19 PM   #15
Rembrandt
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Of the six reloaders, two can be mounted (quick attach) at any one time on a three foot section of 80-20 rail.
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Old February 9, 2011, 09:30 PM   #16
dlb435
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Only two; A Dillon 550B and an RCBS Pro 2000. One for small primers and one for large primers.
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Old February 9, 2011, 10:05 PM   #17
BIGR
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Just one......RCBS RockChucker
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Old February 9, 2011, 10:27 PM   #18
That'll Do
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Right now I have a Hornady LNL AP and a Lee Classic Cast press. The presses also share space with a RCBS Lube-A-Matic 2, an RCBS Trim Mate case prep center, an RCBS Chargemaster, and a Lyman case trimmer. This is all packed onto a 5 foot bench. It's horribly overcrowded. I'm buying a home later this year, so I'll finally be able to have a man cave all my own. I'm thinking a 10 or 12 foot long heavy duty bench will do the trick.
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Old February 9, 2011, 10:37 PM   #19
Swindler1
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4 on 38 ft of bench space
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Old February 9, 2011, 10:57 PM   #20
IllinoisCoyoteHunter
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MEC 600 in 12 ga, MEC 650 in 12 ga, MEC 650 in 410 bore, Texan in 12 ga, Lee single stage, Lee Classic Turret, Hornady Lock n Load AP, and Magma Star Lubrisizer (if this counts as a press ). I need more room, so if anyone in the St. Louis area wants my Texan 12 ga press for FREE, you can have it. It is rusty but loads shells just fine.
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Old February 9, 2011, 11:10 PM   #21
oldreloader
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3 on a 54 inch bench, a RCII, Lee Classic turret (just bought) and a Mec 600 JR. yep it's crowded.
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Old February 9, 2011, 11:14 PM   #22
Miata Mike
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One. I have a Lee Classic cast turret press bolted down to a $15 Craigslist desk.
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Old February 9, 2011, 11:58 PM   #23
chris in va
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I use a Lee Hand Press, so the question is moot in my case. Does my La-z-boy qualify as a bench?
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Old February 10, 2011, 12:23 AM   #24
hk33ka1
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2. I put a Lee Bench plate at each end of my bench and mounted most of my presses to the piece of wood that fits in them. Now any 2 at one time. If I ever built a 25 foot long bench I'll permanently fix them all every couple feet.
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Old February 10, 2011, 12:30 AM   #25
reloader28
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I have a Rockchucker and a little Partner press for rifles on 1 bench and a lubesizer and a Rockchucker/Piggyback for pistols on another bench.

I have MEC shotgun presses to load 410, 28, 20, 16 and 12 gauge that can bolt on to another area with wingnuts. Since I dont load those as much, most of the time they are sitting on a shelf and that area becomes work bench. This time of year, this spot is for brewing beer.

I have another bench that is for powdering, priming, trimming and more work bench. 2 of these benches have slide outs to bring the bench from 2' back to the wall to 3 1/2' and they get used alot. Its easy to do and I recommend it. It gets crowded fast and I even keep my loading room clean.

This is in a 12'x14' room. There is sofa under a gun rack with rifles currently being used or worked with against the 4th wall and I'm thinking of moving that out and building another bench just for the extra room. If you can make anything easy to detach, do it.
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