Apartment/Small space reloading Setup's??

[Fortkevin2]

I'm moving in about a month and a half to a studio apartment to finish up my undergrad degree(finally). I am looking for a compact setup to keep on loading while I'm there the next two years. I am 11 miles from a public range on National Forest land so I'd like to keep shooting and reloading if at all possible.

I am limited on space being that the apartment is basically like a hotel room. My kitchen is my living room and same with the bedroom. lol Best I could afford currently...

Anyways, what portable bench ideas do you all have? I will be using a basic Lee Turret press to do all my bullet sizing and loading on just as I have the last few years. I have an old wooden two drawer filling cabinet that I was thinking about bolting the press down to and then filling the bottom up to add weight/stability.

Who all has had to reload with a limited amount of space? Even if you haven't any idea's or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!

[462]

Go to this sub-forum's 4th sticky from the top.

[Lonegun1894]

When I was in that situation space wise, the first time, I build a small 2 foot x 2 foot top table with a 2x4 frame and a 2x12 top (2 side by side). The second time, I had a few extra bucks to spend, and bought a $35 (at tje time) collapsible frame from Home Depot and put the 2x12 top on it. The top is bolted to the frame, and I am still using this setup because it has lasted the last 7 yrs and is showing no signs of even coming loose, so I will kppe using it, and it doesn't hurt that it is small enough to put in a corner of my mancave for storage, in the middle for loading, or carry it into the living room to resize/deprime brass, size bullets, etc (functions where I am not handling powder) while I put on a movie. Currently, I have my Lee Anniversary kit press mounted, my Lee Classic Cast press for the heavy duty stuff, and both the Lee 12ga and 20ga loaders, and the table works well with all 4 and provides enough space to easily work with as long as I dont try to do several calibers at once.

[Mk42gunner]

I have bolted a press to a 2x6 roughly 18" long and then used a big C-clamp to hold it on the kitchen table. Lots of room for the scale and components, of course you have to keep the table somewhat clean to do this.

Robert

[Wal']

You've got a month, make up a plank/timber board that will hang over the end of your kitchen table, pre drill it now & fit up your press & what ever else you need, a couple of G-clamps to fit & you're right to go.

[rasto]

I was fighting with small place as well but right now I am even in tinier like previously (family growing) :-( :-)

http://s14.postimage.org/4f03ga7nx/CIMG5323_resize.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/4f03ga7nx/)

http://s14.postimage.org/wt5j05v7x/CIMG5324_resize.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/wt5j05v7x/)

[44Vaquero]

I saw a small space set up, that was mounted on the back of a closet door. It was constructed out of 2x6 and 2x4 and had shelf railings like on a boat. I thought it was very clever.

The Lee Turret would lend itself to this type of set up, as it is small and light.

Here is a similar idea from another board:

http://www.thektog.org/forum/showthread.php?t=235438

[jmorris]

I have a number of presses mounted on steel or wood that I dont use enough to take up space on my bench. Clamp them down when I need them otherwise they are in a closet. When we were kids my brother and I mounted them to 4X4s and clamped them in Dadbench vice to use them, stronger mount than even Dillons "strong mounts".

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/reloading/stmounts.jpg

[Az Rick]

I too am loading in a small space for now. I use a Black and Decker Workmate. RCBS turret press is mounted in the middle and there's enough room for cases and bullets on either side. I mount my powder measure only when in use and then remove it. It would definitely fit in a closet but I leave mine out in the corner, "Man furniture", you know. Don't buy the cheapest model though, I think mine was $70.00 or so. I have loaded thousands of rounds so far and it's a workable solution.

[paul h]

Even though this is in my garage, I only had a 4' space to put my loading bench, and storage of components. Note, you need really strong shelves if you're going to store bullets and loaded ammo.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/evefiles/photo_albums/3/4/4/344100033/8961075121_E2353690A1DF38E7BF166BDAC1B6505E.JPG

[Ben]

Fortkevin2

There are some very good ideas here.

If I lived in an apartment and space was limited, I'd
have this box slid up under my bed and I'd still be
reloading :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=123331

[94ranger]

I'm planning on building something like this: http://www.saubier.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7334

[429421Cowboy]

What about Lee's Reloading Stand? I am not a big pusher of Lee stuff (99% of my stuff is RCBS, but i'm not a hater either) but i've always thought that their little stand would be a neat deal for a small setup, could set it next to the kitchen table to lay out your cases on and use the press on the stand, then stow powder and small stuff under it, die rack for dies and bins for the rest of it all.

[Green Frog]

When I want to load in my camper, I go with either a 310 tool or (if I want full size dies) a Lee Hand Press. Recently I upgraded from the Lee to an RCBS Compaq. I can clamp a board to any available table or other horizontal surface to mount a powder measure. Storage of the whole mess could be done in one of the various small plastic tubs available at Wally World, etc.

Froggie

[W.R.Buchanan]

A 2x3' sheet of 3/4" plywood with a 4" wide strip screwed lengthwise on the bottom. Then you clamp it onto a Black and Decker Work-Mate.

I used this set up for years and recently gave the plywood top to my Bro in law when he started reloading. He has it clamped to his B&D WorkMate and uses it in his one bedroom at his parents house.

It is very stable, takes up little space, can be folded up to take even less space, and can be used for a zillion other things. I have had my B&D Workmate since 1976. It will be one of the last things to go.

This is a simple thing to do and will cost you around $50 to execute.

IF this is still too big then a Lee Hand Press is the next step down in size.

Randy

[Utah Shooter]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31yJqmJ5iCL._SL500_AA300_.jpg This is what I am using. If I had more time I would take a photo of my RCBS Supreme. You need to have a piece of wood cut under the top plate for reinforcement but has worked for me in my apartment for over 2 years now.

[David2011]

Built mine on a Craftsman roll-around base. Should you go this route you really will want the ball bearing drawer glides if you put boolits in the drawers. Trust me on this as I learned the hard way!

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=12392&page=43 --Post #844

David

[Hang Fire]

Fast and easy build for small portable wood bench which served me well when apt dwelling about 50 years ago. Nothing fancy, but heck for stout and stored in closet when not in use.

2”x12” for top, bottom, and two upright supports.

Visualize top and bottom 24” long. Uprights 20” long. For front overhang, backset one upright desired distance, (6” or ?) for back, set upright even with top and bottom ends.

Wood glue contact areas, screw or nail it together and good to go

For component storage, **1”x4” can be installed along bottom sides. If more storage desired, fasten 1”x2” wood cleats midway (or high as desired) up inside front and back uprights. Install bottom, and again 1”x4” can be strung along sides.

**1/4” plywood or whatever.

[dk17hmr]

My setup for a couple more weeks.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=147809