Motel reloading

[MT Gianni]

I spend about 90-125 nights a year in a motel, most of them having driven to. I don't drink and stay out of the casinos so a lot of time is spent on the computer or reading as most TV bores me. I ordered a Lee hand press today and hope to be able to load some while I am stuck away from home, probably just pistol calibers. I'm thinking a scale and dippers, dies, bullets brass and primers. Auto Prime and shell holders, a cartridge of oal I want to shoot . Has any one else done this and what am I overlooking? I'm thinking it will all fit in an old backpack and should be cleaned up before the maids get there. I don't stay in dumps but they don't turn the bed down either. Any pointers would be appreciated. Gianni

[Explorer1]

I load at the range, works great. I use a set of Wilson in-line dies and a Sinclair arbor press. Just got an electronic MTM scale which has intially impressed me. While I have a Harrell powder measure, am not really convinced its that much greater than the Redding BR measure I have. All this fits in a nearly brief case sized Pelican case.
Just browse a Sinclair International catalog (or web site) and you will find all you need.

[pumpguy]

I would prime all my brass ahead of time. I used to use a Lee handloader when I still did a lot of traveling by driving. TSA would disapprove these days!:-D

I would also consider a digital scale. Plug it in when you check in so it's warmed up and you can reload after dinner.

[R.Clem]

I used to know a fellow who was on the drag racing circuit all summer, but loved to reload and shoot. He couldn't set his equipment up in the car trailer, for obvious reasons. Joe did love to shoot, he would go out and blow a couple hundred rounds when ever he got the chance.
His equipment consisted of an original Lyman 310 tool and 4 sets of dies, an RCBS 10-10 scale, (digital scales had not come out at that time), a small powder measure of unknow brand ,a couple loading blocks and some amount of his favorite powder, primers, and cast boolits. (Joe shot mostly cast, but if he couldn't find those he would load jacketed).
Joe would set up on a table in his motel room and start loading for his next trip to whatever range he could find.
He carried all but the powder in a 50 caliber ammo can, the powder was in a wooden box with a sliding top.
I haven't seen Joe in many years, but if he still lives, he is still reloading and probably casting boolits on the side.
Good luck and good shooting!

[runfiverun]

set up your stuff on small boards with wooden tops,so it can be c-clamped to a table,and be packed the same way into the case everytime.
make cushioned boxes for your powder dump and electronics.
just the jostling of travelling will take it's toll.
and fit it all into a rolling box with wheels or a travell case with wheels so it is easy to maneuver and looks like regular luggage.
all your stuff can be unpacked set-up and be in use in 5-10 minutes this way.
i used a c-press an electronic scale a lyman br-3 powder drop,calipers and kept a box of 1,000 primers and a lb of powder in mine ,i also later added a lyman trimmer.
brass was kept in a rectangular shaped box and a few rags were stuffed in between everything to hold it tight i then stuffed rags in my brass box as it went down to keep it from rattling. i had a slightly larger box for loaded rounds with rags stuffed into it also.
i built my boxes from 1/4" plywood so that the tops could be slid off like scope boxes.

[Firebricker]

MT Gianni, I'm in the same boat I'm in my hotel room right now. I think its a good idea. I have even cast in motels with the door outside instead of hallway. I would suggest a plastic tote and going with a lee reloader press its small enough to put up but enough press to load abought anything. Good luck. FB

[Leadforbrains]

I have a small reloading stand that breaks down that I bought from midway years ago. On that stand I have a small RCBS press, and an RCBS powder measure mounted on it. I use a hand primer and an electronic scale. All this and my other misc reloading stuff packs neatly into a medium sized trunk that has wheels. I have been reloading in motels while on the road for years. It is a great way to pass time and stay out of trouble. I have a coworker that takes his Dillon 550 with him on the road.

[testhop]

i would use the RCBS LITTLE DANDY POWDER MEASURE .
asit has a fixed powder roter in it so you can cut back on weignting as much.
i onced worked in a factory running a furince we put a load in and have to wait 6 to 16 hrs for it to come so i would use a lyman 310 tool to load ,no powdering (the foreman was a worring kind)

i must have sized ,primed 50000 cases .

but the plant moved and i was out of a job.

[captaint]

I recently got one of those MTM scales from Sinclair - amazing, cheap too. Talk about weighing boolits quick. Best purchase I've made in years. Mike

[billyb]

I also spent a lot of time in motels when I still worked. I would take already sized brass that needed to be trimed,Lee trimmer, Or primed. I primed a lot of brass with a rcbs handy prime while wating for the call to go to work. Bill

[Sprue]

Hi, I stayed in motels, actually lived in them 7x24 for five years. After that I changed jobs but still spent 4 days a week in a motel for another 5 years until a local position opened up within the same company. That move allowed me to come home, buy a house with a yard to mow. I just played golf in those days.

Where are you guys, are you frequently traveling and on constant move?

I would enjoy hearing more about your travels, a picture thread maybe?

[MT Gianni]

My travels are usually in Montana, Dillon to Lewistown and Red Lodge to Deer Lodge is my normal area. I do get sucked in more than occasionally from Hamilton to Whitefish and Whitefish to Havre. Bi-annual training in one of the 10 western states and occasionally Houston.

[Rocky Raab]

First, my most sincere condolences for living in motels that much. My worst year on the gun show circuit was 100 motel days - and one out of three nights is way too many to be away from home. Coincidentally, I'll be in Dillon myself in two weeks!

Back to the OP ...

The Lee "Thighmaster" squeeze press is probably ideal for your needs. Knowing how cheap most motel furniture is, I wouldn't want to clamp anything to it for fear of breaking the furniture in half on the first handle pull!

Do keep the makings out of sight - you'd probably get kicked out or arrested for bringing powder into a motel room in many places. Other than that, your plan sounds great.

[woody1]

I too use the 310 tool for my traveling reloading kit. Handles, at least 2 sets of dies, dippers, boolits, powder(s), primers, and various other small stuff fit into a 30 cal. ammo can. No scales or powder measure as loads are all preset and dippers made to fit. YMMV but it works for me.

[encoreman]

My first glimpse of the post and I laughed aloud. My condolences also. It is certainly not the ideal family arrangement, but man must do whatever to provide for his family. I'm in the boat with ya'll about not drinking or doing the casino, lounge deal. This is just a thought, but wouldn't it be neat if a fellow reloader would offer his "man cave" to travelers. Just think of all the "new" friends one could meet. Heck they might be willing to share a few primers, or whatever for the use of the cave. Just thinking aloud. Hope ya'll have a great day!! Mac

[HeavyMetal]

I don't travel as much as you do but do want to load at the range for testing and that sort of stuff.

The hand tools are nice but either just neck size or require way to much Grunt to work. Yes I've tried Lee's Hand Press.

What I've done: Lyman tru line Jr. conveted to take standard shell holders and with a replacement turret that is drilled for the 7/8x14 dies.

This is the later version with the compound linkage. With some Imperial sizing die wax and carbide dies I can easily size 44 mag case's on it.

Building a travel box that will open to a V shape and will be drilled to accept the mounting holes of the press. once open the press will mount at the narrow part of the V and a pair of C clamps can attach it to any table in the room and not leave marks on the top of the table!

Compartmented properly it will hold a battery powered digital scale, several sets of dies, a Lee primer tool and the press with clamps.

I will most likely find I need to reinforce some of the joints and mounting holes but I think you get the idea.

The Tru line give me more leverage with less effort and really isn't that much bigger than the Lee hand press.

Just an Idea I thought I'd pass along.

[Down South]

I've been thinking along the same lines myself. I'm gone from home 4-1/2 days a week. I do stay at an apartment while away so setting up wouldn't be that big of a deal. I'd like to see what you finally come up with as a traveling reloading room.

[Tom Herman]

I have even cast in motels with the door outside instead of hallway.

Casting in a motel room?!? Hard Core! You're certainly no Farb!

Happy Shootin'! -Tom

[Firebricker]

Thanks Tom the guys I work with get a kick out of it when they see me casting. MT Giannis post is exactly like I am but I do hit the casinos but not to gamble though. Casinos have some great buffets the one thats close to Umatilla,OR has crab legs on thursdays. FB

[Beekeeper]

Mt Giannis,
Instead of a back pack I recommend an aluminum hard case. It will give better protection for your equipment and if necessary provide a work surface.
I traveled internationally for a while and know what hotel and motel staff are capable of doing to destroy luggage,( I think they get points for it ).
I think your idea is great and wish you lock.

There was a post by someone (returning from the sandbox) who was going to use a Army secretarial box for reloading as I remember, looked like a great kit.
Don't know how much space you have but that might be the way to go.


beekeeper

[gon2shoot]

I spend about 320-350 days a year on the road, a Lee hand press works well (even on 45-70).
An old footlocker works well for carrying your necessities. Consider making your own dippers so you have more options.
It's a little more difficult when componets are not readily available but it's doable.
Casting is a marathon on days at home.
Where there's a will there's a way. :drinks:

[Dale53]

The Lee Turret press is the most practical pistol reloading outfit to have when you have to think in "mobile terms".

You can turn out 200 rounds per hour in a VERY compact package. Lee even had a wooden case that would hold the Lee Turret press (NOT the Classic Turret) and use of the Lee Pro Disc powder measure really works well. I also used this outfit for reloading on the range, working up loads for rifle cartridges, as well. Having the turrets with all of the dies fully adjusted really saves time and effort.

Dale53

[MT Gianni]

Dale, That is an intriguing option as I have one set up at home. A good wooden box with a piano hinge should help there. I have assembled a brass kit of an Auto-Prime, elec screwdriver and Lee trim gauges as well as a case length gauge & misc hand tools. I can size at home and clean pockets, trim and chamfer over a trash can then prime cases ready to load.
Next option is to build a case/box frame and charge, seat and crimp.
I did mis-add my time away it is 90-110 days but still gone a lot. Gianni

[Dale53]

My good buddy, "The Green Frog", and I often have shared a motel room when shooting Schuetzen at Etna Green (American Single Shot Rifle Ass'n) and Charlie is often seen using a lube pump (Pope Style as made by Charlie Dell) lubing bullets the night before a single shot match. He claims he wants to have his lube as fresh as possible but the real truth is he lets it go until the last minute:mrgreen:. Me, on the other hand, would NEVER (well, almost never[smilie=1:) be so late to the party... Naturally, Charlie uses a special lube (Bull Frog Green) as befitting a real Bull Frog...

Dale53

[bruce drake]

I thought i had posted pics already.

Here they are again. I used the setup to reload several times while I've been assigned down here in Maryland. Wife visited last week with the kids and took the setup back north to NY on Sunday.

Hope this helps you with some possible ideas

[dominicfortune00]

I spend 200+ nights a year in hotels.

And I've worked in 49 out of 50 states.

Just missing Alaska.

Want to go there in the summer so I can gold pan.

I have taken my Rock Crusher Supreme and a bunch of 348 Winchesters that I cut down and resized to 10.4x38R in a hotel.

[cajun shooter]

They have a guy who sells plywood boxes for the Lee presses to make them portable. He is on flea-bay and if you have a look I'm sure you could make your own. It's a mount and storage all built into one. It would be a lot better as you could use the Lee turrent and not the thigh master. Later David

[rockrat]

I used to load in front of the TV in my recliner (yes, I would use a loading block and check charges---before you ask--also, I was single then!! Can't do that now) and take the tools with me when I went to an IHMSA match. I used a hand press, the Lee priming tool and the Lil Dandy powder thrower. I had most of the rotors and would just throw a double to get to the charge I wanted. Might grind a little on the rotor to get the charge I wanted. Sometimes used the 310 tool to seat the bullets. Everything, including a pound of powder would fit in a 50cal can. It will build up your muscles, using the hand press.

[MT Gianni]

It would be a lot better as you could use the Lee turrent and not the thigh master. Later David
I started milking by hand at age 5 and later did sheet metal work so grip has never been a problem but I hear you about the "thigh master".