Portable Reloading Set up

[richhodg66]

This has been discussed before. I got a small, Harbor Freight grinder stand from Goodwill for five bucks, one like this; https://www.harborfreight.com/29-inch-heavy-duty-tool-stand-95128.html

I have a 2x10" cut to fit the top I will bolt down to it.

A few years ago, I picked up a little Pacific C press, very old, from a gun show cheap. I'm in the process of cleaning it up. It is a small press, with only two bolt holes for securing it down and it works on the up stroke ( I think it's reversible). I figured working on the up stroke would alloy me to put a foot on one of the cross pieces of the grinder stand thus eliminating the need to weight in down.

I was thinking on the other end of this stand mounting the Lyman All American Turret Press I just got, which is pretty heavy. If I decide I don't like this little Pacific press (ergonomics of it will take some getting used to) I may mount up an old Lachmiller 100 I have which works on the down stroke like most. If I do that, would I need to weigh down the opposite end of the stand? I have a couple of 40 lb dumbells I could set across the cross piece on the opposite end.

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome. When Winter gets here, I want to spend evenings reloading instead of watching TV when it's too cold to load out in the unheated barn.

[JBinMN]

I use the Lee Hand Press for portable use.

[richhodg66]

I use the Lee Hand Press for portable use.

And I have in the past as well, just would rather use a real press. In Winters past, been too easy to waste time in the evenings when it's too dark to shoot and too cold to stay out in the barn long. The end state of that is, when I have some day light after work, I'd rather have ammo all loaded and ready to shoot so I'm shooting and not reloading.

[Kev18]

Depends what you mean buy portable. Lee press is ok, but they sell truly pocket sized tools that do it all. Depending on the calibers you want I know lyman makes hand tools. I have an original tool from the 1800's for my winchester that I can reload out in the bush with.

[onelight]

If you can bolt a piece on each side of the legs of the stand so they will take the load to the floor out past the front of the press to take the load on the down stroke and put you feet on them for the up stroke just need to be long enough to get your feet on while sitting down. Bolt to the sides of front and rear legs. A 3 leg stand is more stable than 4 because because you don’t need to level it.

[Rcmaveric]

I purchased the Lee Stand. Works excellently. I got it to reload in the house. Wife gets mad when she doesnt see me for a few days even though i am home. No i can reload any where in the house.

If you can mount a quick change base to the stand (pick your brand). Then you can easily swap to what ever press or lubrisizer you need.

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[onelight]

I purchased the Lee Stand. Works excellently. I got itnto reload in the house. Wife gets mad when ahe doesnt see me for a few days even though i am home. No i can reload any where in the house.

If you can mount a quick change base to the stand (pick your brand). Then you can easily swap to what ever press or lubrisizer you need.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
I have a Lee portable stand to , it does work well I find it works best if I get the back leg against something solid . I do all my loading on 3 presses on portable stands the Lee and 2 home made .

[richhodg66]

Does that quick change bracket Lee makes work pretty well? Looks like you only have to buy the one bracket and then make the base for each tool you want to use from 3/4" plywood, is that correct?

[onelight]

Does that quick change bracket Lee makes work pretty well? Looks like you only have to buy the one bracket and then make the base for each tool you want to use from 3/4" plywood, is that correct?
It works well , but I don’t know if I would use the wood plates on much of a load I would be comfortable with a bench primer on one. You can buy the steel plate that mounts to a press separately from the whole kit. I am also going to replace the 4 Phillips screws that lock the 2 together with Allen screws. I have found it to be a very sturdy mount.

[Bazoo]

If interchangeable plates is the desired method, and you always have your drill handy like me, it's easy enough to use some scrap plywood or 2x8 and a few screws. In fact, I add and remove my case trimmer to my bench with 1" drywall screws turned by a screwdriver. Once you run them in and out a couple times they move easy and it only takes 30 seconds for three screws when I want my trimmer.

[JBinMN]

I use the Lee plate system and only have 2 plates as I bought an extra plate to start with. All the rest of my "plates" are made out of Oak 1x8 material & I have had no issue with anything cracking/breaking. I really like how easy it is to change from one press on the bench to another. When not in use, I just keep them all on shelves.

[richhodg66]

This is good to know about that Lee system, guys. Does anyone know if those bases are big enough for a Load All shotgun reloader? I have several different tools and only so much bench space.

[Rcmaveric]

Does that quick change bracket Lee makes work pretty well? Looks like you only have to buy the one bracket and then make the base for each tool you want to use from 3/4" plywood, is that correct?I use the wood. Lee has template you can trace out and the cut out. Works good enough for my constant use.

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[Rcmaveric]

This is good to know about that Lee system, guys. Does anyone know if those bases are big enough for a Load All shotgun reloader? I have several different tools and only so much bench space.Lee has template for a wood plate to specifically mount the Lee load all.

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[Green Frog]

This is good to know about that Lee system, guys. Does anyone know if those bases are big enough for a Load All shotgun reloader? I have several different tools and only so much bench space.

It sounds like you will be putting together and tearing down between uses... one thing you might look at is the Black & Decker Workmate. I have one of the lightest ones with a Mec 600 Jr mounted on a piece of plywood and clamped to the work surface. I am planning to add a second “top” with a press for metallic loading. IIRC, there is a picture of this type of setup in a post in the Stickies at the top of this page.

Anything less than this and I would be going with the Lee Hand Press or better yet Randy Buchanan’s hand press.

Froggie

[onelight]

If interchangeable plates is the desired method, and you always have your drill handy like me, it's easy enough to use some scrap plywood or 2x8 and a few screws. In fact, I add and remove my case trimmer to my bench with 1" drywall screws turned by a screwdriver. Once you run them in and out a couple times they move easy and it only takes 30 seconds for three screws when I want my trimmer.


It sounds like you will be putting together and tearing down between uses... one thing you might look at is the Black & Decker Workmate. I have one of the lightest ones with a Mec 600 Jr mounted on a piece of plywood and clamped to the work surface. I am planning to add a second “top” with a press for metallic loading. IIRC, there is a picture of this type of setup in a post in the Stickies at the top of this page.

Anything less than this and I would be going with the Lee Hand Press or better yet Randy Buchanan’s hand press.

Froggie


I use the Lee plate system and only have 2 plates as I bought an extra plate to start with. All the rest of my "plates" are made out of Oak 1x8 material & I have had no issue with anything cracking/breaking. I really like how easy it is to change from one press on the bench to another. When not in use, I just keep them all on shelves.
Well there you go, I used some scraps of birch plywood I should have used solid hardwood. I had visions of 30lbs. Of cast iron falling on my feet:oops:

[frogleg]

I use what you a similar set up all the time because of limited space i used a grinder stand with a heavy plywood top 1ft X 33inches long but two ft. would be plenty and the weight of boollet boxes keep it from moving. I put a picture of it on this months picture thread.

[bgw45]

Years ago I shot benchrest in the light varment class. I used a Sinclair Int. Arbor press, Wilson dies and a Harrell Powder Measure. Produced very accurate loads and rewarding groups. Of course the glued in Panda action with a Hart barrell in 6PPC was a common combination in that era. It was fun! Twenty pieces of brass would last for a couple of practice sessions.

[jsizemore]

Co-ax bolted on a board and clamped to the bench. Used a Harrell's in the past now use Custom Products powder measure. RCBS hand prime.

[Clark]

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RCBS partner presses in a vehicle, in a camper, and clamped to this desk.

[onelight]

Clark it looks like you have got you a mobile reloading rig !
I would probably make it more complicated than needed , was thinking of a fabricated bracket mounted in the bottom of one of the seat boxes that would accept square stock (think receiver hitch) vertically cut to height with a plate on top to take the press the post pinned to the mount like a receiver hitch , pull the pin and lay post and press in the seat box . It could be made where it could be moved outside to the vehicle hitch if wanted.
Give me a little time I can come up with a complicated solution to a simple problem :oops:
simpler the better if it gets the job done.

[Gus Youmans]

richhodg66,

The trick to getting a reloading press to work on such a small stand is to make sure that the load/stress is directly above one set of feet, or even better, somewhere above the inside of the foot print of all four feet. If you can figure out how to do that you will not have to worry about the table trying to tilt in the direction of the load. I used a Black and Decker Workmate for many years. I built a top that consisted of a 2.5'X2.5' sheet of 1/2 inch plywood screwed to a 2X6. Notches were cut into both edges of the 2X6 so that the Workmate jaws could clamp on the top edge of the 2X6 below the plywood so that the 2X6 could not escape the jaws of the Workmate when under a load. The press was bolted through the plywood and the 2X6 so that the press sat just above the inside of the foot print of the workmate. When it came time to store the setup I loosened the jaws on the Workmate and the top part just slide off the Workmate and was leaned in the corner of a closet. In your case, you could probably use 1/4 inch bolts and wing nuts to make assembly and disassembly pretty fast.

Gus Youmans

[richhodg66]

richhodg66,

The trick to getting a reloading press to work on such a small stand is to make sure that the load/stress is directly above one set of feet, or even better, somewhere above the inside of the foot print of all four feet. If you can figure out how to do that you will not have to worry about the table trying to tilt in the direction of the load. I used a Black and Decker Workmate for many years. I built a top that consisted of a 2.5'X2.5' sheet of 1/2 inch plywood screwed to a 2X6. Notches were cut into both edges of the 2X6 so that the Workmate jaws could clamp on the top edge of the 2X6 below the plywood so that the 2X6 could not escape the jaws of the Workmate when under a load. The press was bolted through the plywood and the 2X6 so that the press sat just above the inside of the foot print of the workmate. When it came time to store the setup I loosened the jaws on the Workmate and the top part just slide off the Workmate and was leaned in the corner of a closet. In your case, you could probably use 1/4 inch bolts and wing nuts to make assembly and disassembly pretty fast.

Gus Youmans

I have two possible solutions to this. First is to use a small, very old Pacific press I got cheap that works on the up stroke. That way, I can just step on the cross piece under it and apply as much pressure as it takes to do what needs to be done.

I have a feeling the ergonomics of that little Pacific will drive me crazy after being so used to a Rockchucker, though. In that case, I plan to mount an old Lachmiller 100 I just finished cleaning up and which works now and weighing the opposite end of the stand down. Among my folks other stuff I found were two 40 pound dumbells I made as a kid with one of my dad's lead pots, range salvage and a couple of pipe sections. I was surprised Dad never cast bullets out of them at some point, but laying those across the opposite side cross piece ought to hold that little stand down.

I just ordered one of Lee's systems for quick change out of loading tools and I will try that. I'd like to be able to use Lyman 450s and my Lee load alls for shotguns on this stand as well. I need to get this figured out before the three months of cold and dark all the time sets in.

[Bwana John]

The RCBS partner press is a nice size for a portable setup, as long as you are not trying to do any major resizing.

I had mine mounted on a piece 1" plywood about 2" bigger than the footprint of the press, then used a "C" clamp to attach it to different surfaces.

I also had a powder measure stand mounted the same way for a portable set up

[kmw1954]

As I read this I understand that you have 1. Harbor Freight Tool stand, 1. Lyman All American Turret press and 1. old Pacific C press. Without knowing what your storage arrangements are for this the way I would proceed is this. 1/2" cabinet grade plywood that has 5 plys. Home Depot or Menards sells handi panels that are less than full sheets. I would cut this to length and then wider than the 22" width just to add some top space. X2 so that you can laminate the two pcs together. This will give you 10 plies and should be quite ridged. I would then drill and bolt it to the stand with carriage bolts.

For the presses I would mount one at each end facing the end. The All American as I recall should sit flat and be able to be bolted back from the edge. The other press is tilted as I recall so that will help offset the loading force somewhat and help eliminate tipping. Both presses can be mounted to the top by thru bolting and using Tee nuts under the top, they work very well. With both presses mount on there it should be very stable.

Just a quick thought on how I think I would approach this.

[onelight]

Here is a link to an older thread about if you searched you may have already seen it.
Several people describe portable stands they made and had good service from.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?376819-A-simple-portable-press-stand

[Clark]

My requirements are getting easier.

I started handloading in 1999 with a Rock Chucker. I was full length resizing. I need a 100 pound bench or one lag bolted to the wall.

Then I got a couple of Co-Ax presses that require much less force on the handle for sizing.

Then I mostly quit reloading and mostly just handload new brass. That can be done with a pair of lightweight RCBS Partner presses.

[Gunners Mate]

Here is my portable setup 247378

[onelight]

Here is my portable setup 247378
That looks handy!
Have you used it much ?

[Tom W.]

I bought one of those portable press stands from Midway some years ago when I was living in a trailer. I had a Lee O-press on it and it did okay. When I bought my double wide I had a dedicated room in the back that had a Sears work bench I used to mount my stuff on, as well as my gun cabinet, a powder storage cabinet, an old and heavy book case that held loaded rounds plus my corner computer table, big Dell computer and new office chair. I suspect it was a "man cave" before the term became popular.

[Three44s]

Here is my portable setup 247378

Gunners Mate,

That is one very tidy stand. I like it much!

I built one from 2x4’s back in ‘75 when I started loading. My venerable RCBS Jr sat atop it until I got my very own man cave about 8 years ago. I thought my version was “cool”, well I am flat footed embarassed of my stand in comparison to the above pictured submission.

Well done!

I did build a metal stand for a shotgun loader using a worn farm disc blade for a base that works well but the above still beats it as well IMO.

Gunners Mates stand stirs my noggin quite a bit. On my wood stand I added a couple of attachment points for the powder measure and a diy brass tray. The advent of universal press and other tooling quick mounts can extend the usefulness of GM’s stand. The stand becomes more storable with a quickly removable detachment capability.

I like working with steel. Give me some appropriately sized welding rod and disc grinder and cut off wheels etc etc and prepare for some sparks!

Best regards

Three44s

[Gunners Mate]

I have used it quite a bit for R&D Load Development, built it back when everything dried up after sandyhook to cut back on waste in Load Development, now I prep brass take it to the range and do my R&D there powder thrower mounts on side press, dies, scales, chrono and powder thrower fit in a couple of knock off Sams Pelican style cases

[Three44s]

My portable stand came about so I could handload in the first place. No where else suitable to mount my press existed until my man cave was built. Range wise I shoot right here on the ranch so I am blessed there.

All this portable stand discussion got me all nostalgistic and I dusted off my old portable unit and bolted a spare RCBS Jr on top of it. 30+ years of history there.

We have our summer weather going and I started going through a 150 rounds of 7 mm Rem Mag a stranger’s handloads to pull acquired in an estate sale. I use a hammer puller but if you seat the jacketed bullets a bit deeper they slide out a lot easier. With my portable stand I get to watch Mother Nature and get a bunch of primed brass and bullets to use and fertilize the lawn all at the same time.

Best regards

Three44s