I Saved and Saved, but...

[cltitus]

I'm a renter so sadface cant build my ultimate Reload man cave just yet. Heres my question for those that pretty much have a mobile reload stations. What Brands of rolling cabinets would you recommend. Dec 1st I'm about to drop my lovely saving pocket for reload 223 since its what I'm currently shooting a ton of. I'm going with a Dillon XL650, but still cant find a decent rolling cabinet any suggestions

[Clownpuncher]

Are you looking for a cabinet to mount your press to or just storage?

If it's just storage go to wal mart or staples and get those plastic drawer bins that are on wheels. They work good for storing things.

[rsrocket1]

Wait a minute.
You're saving and saving.
You are pressed for space.
You are buying a Dillon 650 for your first reloading press
You are reloading .223 to save money.

Do you have Pablo Picasso as the illustrator for your driver's license?
Just kidding.

Honestly, if you are contemplating a rolling cart to mount your press, the 650 is not a good candidate, or as the Blue Koolaid folks would say, "if you are buying a 650, a rolling cart would not be a good mount".

I have my LnL AP mounted to a Gorilla rack steel bench with a 3/8" plywood top and the press is bolted through a 2x6" length of wood that extends to the back of the bench and bolted to the wall studs via "L-brackets". The press is stiff, stiff, stiff which is the way you want it for a progressive.

For portable work, I have an old single stage press mounted to a 2x4" which is C-clamped to a Black and Decker Work Mate. It is fairly stiff and the table does not slide around while I push down on the handle. For a while, I had mounted a Lee Breechlock Challenger directly to the plywood table top and it flexed quite a bit, but since it was a C-type press, I used my left hand to steady the press as I pushed the handle down. That was acceptable for a while, but not a good solution in the long run.

[kmca]

I doubt you'll find a rolling cabinet stable enough for a press, especially if it's sitting on carpet. The Black and Decker Workmates are a pretty good option, other than mounting your press on a big piece of plywood and clamping it to the dining room table.

[Dark Mod]

wow man, you kinda jumped right in didnt you? no worries, theres plenty of people who have portable setups, although ive never heard of someone with a 650 doing that im sure it can be done. I would just look on craigslist and find something heavy duty, it will be fairly unstable as it is and your gonna want that extra weight.

This situation is far from ideal but it will work, i dont think you should plan on using a casefeeder though.

If your just loading .223 dont plan on saving that much money, unless you want match grade ammo in which case a single stage would probably be better.

Ive been toying with the idea of going mobile for a while now, i have a lee single stage and a lee turret press (that i never use). I was gonna bolt the turret press to a sawhorse and drag that sucker inside so i can load in the comfort of my den

[mikeyr]

my 650 is on a grinder bench stand (Sears $23 ) and it works fine for me, although I load primarily straight necked pistol rounds. I have done very few (less than 100) .223 on it but it worked ok, something more stable would help if I did a lot of .223. For 9mm and .357 that stand is all you need.

[Fyathyrio]

For rifle, you will want your bench to be solid. My bench is made of particle board with a 1" thick top and a 2" x 6" thick front that the press is bolted to and did fine with pistol, but started to flex with rifle. I've reinforced it now and life is good. Since space is a concern, you can perhaps make a small, sturdy bench just for the press and use folding tables or rolling carts or whatever else for supplies, scales, ect.

[sequoia_nomad]

I know a guy that loads more in a week than I do in 6 months or so, using a 650 (complete with casefeeder) mounted on a bench grinder stand from Harbor Freight. You don't need a bench or anything too elaborate, it just makes things a little easier and gives you more room to work. Although if you get that Dillon fully loaded, it'll have a tray for just about everything that will mount right to the machine. You'd just need to find storage for your components, loaded ammo, tumbler, etc.

[cltitus]

Right now I'm just starting with 223 since I still have over idk way to much brass stored eventually I'll have a 308 9mm 40 and 45acp down road. Only reason I ask is my uncle getting rid of a old rolling craftsman toolbox and doesn't take up to much space in my garage. I have been doing my reload reading for about 3 years now slowly bought all the odds and ends to start it last thing was the press and extra's.

F___ I need a man cave

[cltitus]

Right now I'm just starting with 223 since I still have over idk way to much brass stored eventually I'll have a 308 9mm 40 and 45acp down road. Only reason I ask is my uncle getting rid of a old rolling craftsman toolbox and doesn't take up to much space in my garage. I have been doing my reload reading for about 3 years now slowly bought all the odds and ends to start it last thing was the press and extra's.

F___ I need a man cave

[rsrocket1]

If you were to start with 45ACP, you'd be much better off. That round is much easier to load than a bottle neck rifle round, more forgiving of small variations in charges, works well with lots of different powders and begs for loading in a progressive press. You would also see the savings much quicker than with .223 or 9mm. The components are almost the same cost as 9mm, but as you know, loaded store bought 45ACP rounds cost quite a bit more than 9mm.

You would also save a ton by reloading .308, but the case prep is much more involved than with pistol and not as easy to learn on.

[shinbone]

Get a kitchen cart. Many of em are heavy enough to support a progressive.

[Whiterabbit]

Homemade for SURE. You'll never find something retail that will be as good as what you can make for yourself at the same price (something equally serviceable is another point.).

MDF is cheap and machines easy with a reasonable finish that will provide utility. The fact that it weighs 96 pounds per sheet (of .75") will help keep things stable and stationary.

Most important, you'll have the ability to easily design in useful features, such as casters that YOU want that will work best for YOUR location, maybe allow for capability such as feet that screw down for temporary placement. Another good one would be a lower compartment you can fill with bricks for weight above and beyond the MDF.

[Divernhunter]

This is my moveable bench and has works well since the 1980's. Well enought that I built 7 for other people. It works with any press and I load everything from 204ruger to 50BMG on it.

[Whiterabbit]

Heh. It's a turret reloading station. It needs a turret press on it.

Clitus, when I rented I had a shop in the garage. The only reason it wasn't ultimate is because I was limited in facilities like power and water. What's stopping you? Not allowed or able to park your car outside of the shop?