***Reloading bench/room picture and FAQ thread***

[mvpatriot]

It seems like there has been pictures of reloading benches posted here, but not sure if there was a thread started just for reloading pics?
I know when I was researching I could not find alot of visual info here or on youtube (especially regarding the dillon 650)
In up coming weeks I will post more pics and vids of my setup
as well as the actual reloading process of 223 and 9mm loads.

Here is my reloading room as of now. Dillon 650 223,w/ casefeed,
9mm caliber conversion and quick change and powder checks on the way.
I will be adding more as time goes on. I do my tumbling in the garage
and will soon be adding a power trimmer to the mix.
Dillon trimmer or Girraud????


Please post pics of your reloading bench, press, gear whatever....
My main goal is to interest more people in reloading,
and give people a place to show off their own production line of course!

PS thanks to Chief (MIA) and Randall for the help. Their purchase thread for the 650 helped a ton.

[Someoneelseok]

well, here I go.

I built my reloading bench using $60 worth of Home Depot lumber. i share it with my roommate. not as spiffy, but gets the job done quite well.






*dead* tumbler and Dillon Swager.
*not pictured is a drill press used for case trimming.


those ammo tins are full, and the 8lbs powder jugs on the floor.

[mvpatriot]

Nice bench! Thanks for sharing the pics.
I have the same tumbler, hope mine has some longevity.
How do you like the dillon swager?
What trimmer are you using?

[Revoman]

Here is my shotshell reloading area........the metallic is now mounted to the right of the shotshell bench and is mounted to the vise so that I have two SDB's available. I simply rotate the metal plate that holds them both in place and away I go! I will try to get pix of that set up.

The stainless steel overhead hopper has 75# of lead shot in it. Really beats trying to pour in 25# at a time into the small bottle provided with the MEC.

[sza]

Here's mine. I could use more room but the bench is already pretty damned long.



When I build the next one I'll be upgrading the Dillon Square Deal B's with strong mounts. Mounted on the tabletop they require the top to overhang too much for best stability.

[TMC]

Here's mine

[mvpatriot]

Great pics guys!

I was thinking about getting rid of my single stage, but it looks like most of you guys still have them next to the progressive.
Are they mostly used for match stuff? Or do you also use for decap and other calibers etc?
Also list your primary calibers/loads if you can.
Thanks for contributing to this thread!

[cleanguy46]

Well.....doing it the single stage way on a temporary bench, but punching out quality rounds!

[Someoneelseok]

Nice bench! Thanks for sharing the pics.
I have the same tumbler, hope mine has some longevity.
How do you like the dillon swager?
What trimmer are you using?

Just go easy on the tumbler in terms of weight, I was greedy and fed it too much at once.

Dillon Swagers are worth every penny. Faster and easier than reaming. Onced swaged, the primer just glides in tightly. For better results, you have to re-calibrate it for each headstamp.

I use the Possum Hollow Kwick case trimmers chucked in a drill press for American cartridges, it trims as fast as you can grab another case. For my C&R's and odd ball cartridges, I chuck the Lee Case Trimmer into the drill press, attach a case length gauge and put a scrap piece steel on the bottom - decently fast.

[sza]

Great pics guys!

I was thinking about getting rid of my single stage, but it looks like most of you guys still have them next to the progressive.
Are they mostly used for match stuff? Or do you also use for decap and other calibers etc?
Also list your primary calibers/loads if you can.
Thanks for contributing to this thread!

My Dillon SDBs are dedicated to .45acp and 9mm. I load most rifle cartridges on the Rock Chucker: .45-70, .30-30, .30-06, .223 for my bolt actions, .338LM, etc... Every once in a while I load some pistol ammo on the single stage for old time's sake, and I also use it for decapping.

I load .223 for my semi autos on the Hornady press, as well as .38spl, .357mag, .44mag, .45LC, and .460S&W.

[mvpatriot]

I know... after using my progressive, it will be difficult to go back to single stage.

I will be posting some videos when I'm done with this cold I have!

[freakshow10mm]

Phase One



Phase Two


Current

[fairfaxjim]

Reloading "Crash Cart"

I've posted these before, but since you asked. I am limited for space. I have a Dillon Square Deal B and a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP mounted back to back on a rollaway tool chest. I call it my "Crash Cart" (wife is a nurse.) Works pretty well actually. I am contemplating finding a place in the garage to put a "docking station" to hold the chest a little more rigid than just the caster brakes. It also holds a goodly amount of tools, dies, and supplies. Right now it is set up and stocked up to do 9mm, .38 special, .357 mag, .223 and .308.

[mvpatriot]

Nice "crash cart" Jim.
Takes mobile reloading to a new level!
Did you machine the mounts for the presses?

And hey Freakshow..
It looks like you got relegated to the garage, what happened?

[freakshow10mm]

And hey Freakshow..
It looks like you got relegated to the garage, what happened?

Part of me overhauling the business. I used to keep everything and do everything in my office. Now I use my office for paperwork, website work, and processing shipments. Ammo loading, machining, gunsmithing is all done in the garage.

This way I can be working on shipments while the machinist is making suppressors and the loader is making ammo. They can work in the garage, I can be in the office doing the paperwork. Spring is supposed to be here soon (but we got 15 inches of snow yesterday) so it will be warm enough in the garage.

The loading bench you see is temporary until I get another one of those 2x4 Basics kits and make another one like on the left.