Building a reloading bench; where to spend

Don't forget that all of it is for nought if you can't take accurate measurements of your headspace, bullet seating depth and case length. Some really good digital calipers are a must (Mitutoyo is arguably the gold standard, but you can find other good ones on Amazon) and a good set of headspace / datum gauges and bullet gauges are also really important. Personally, I like the Short Action Customs stuff (you can use the headspace gauge on their powder funnel - tight fit)! The Hornady bullet seating measurement tool and modified cases are very useful as well. You can get a little kit from Creedmoor Sports to make your own modified cases from previously-fired cases (just resize them without the neck bushing before drilling/tapping) which will fit your rifle like a glove! Enjoy falling down the rabbit hole!
For handloaders, headspace is a fleeting myth.

The only instance hand loaders need to worry about headspace is when they insist on full length resizing the case.

Partial neck resizing takes care of any headspace issues, other than if there is damage, such as set back on the bolt lugs or lug recesses in the receiver. If there is such damage, likely the damaged part should be destroyed/discarded.

Way too many people obsess over "headspace" IMHO.
 
Loading Table; try the local thrift store for women,s make up table made of walnut or other hard wood. May be 50 to 100 bucks. Strong and heavy.
Those are usually too light.

One of the best tables for mounting reloading presses onto come from commercial sewing machine tables.

They have steel bases, 4cm thick plywood tops, covered with arborite. Most draperie manufacturers will have two or three of them sitting in a corner, and are willing to either give them away, so they don't have to pay disposal costs, or will sell them for under $100.

I've helped several people acquire these super strong tables over the past couple of decades from draperists in our area. As often as not, they come complete with a high 3200rpm 1 horsepower motor, and worn out sewing machine.

If you need lots of room, a 4x8x3/4 sheet of fir plywood, cut in half, screwed/glued together, screwed to the top of a 2x4, that has been screwed to a wall, with a couple of 2x4 legs on each end, and one in the center, all come together for under $100. Sanded works best, but paint or arborite can be added, if it suits your sensibilities.

My present reloading bench has two vices, an electronic scale, powder throw, cartridge trays, and all sorts of stuff on it. It's 10 feet long, with a 2inch plywood top, covered in arborite, complete with full length shelving underneath.

It's a repurposed counter out of a restaurant. They were tearing it out, and I got it for the price of carrying it out of the building and loading it in the back of my truck. Saved them a lot of precious time and money.

When it comes to loading benches, use your big head and be creative. Think outside of box.

I know a fellow, living in a very small apartment, with a wife and two children. He has a very good loading set up.

It started with a very solid wooden bar stool, that had a non rotating, 2inch thick, flat seat, where he mounted the press.

The whole thing was about 18inches square across the top. He added sides and shelves to store his components, scale, dies, and tools underneath, with a locking door. Then mounted it on wheels. It tucks neatly into their bedroom clothes closet. He only loads for one rifle, so it suits his purposes perfectly.
 
Might not be the most popular opinion but I got the lyman all american kit with the 8 turret press and digital scale for like half off at cabelas (they almost always go on sale at christmas) and ive been nothing but happy. All ive bought are dies. I wouldn't recommend caring for the lyman dies, i use mainly just hornady dies because even RCBS ones have let me down, but that was likely user error. Loaded enough 308, 30-30, and 223 at a nice enough spec that it paid itself off in savings vs nosler custom comp that I was using before and down-loaded 30-30 is just insanely fun to play with
 
Might not be the most popular opinion but I got the lyman all american kit with the 8 turret press and digital scale for like half off at cabelas (they almost always go on sale at christmas) and ive been nothing but happy. All ive bought are dies. I wouldn't recommend caring for the lyman dies, i use mainly just hornady dies because even RCBS ones have let me down, but that was likely user error. Loaded enough 308, 30-30, and 223 at a nice enough spec that it paid itself off in savings vs nosler custom comp that I was using before and down-loaded 30-30 is just insanely fun to play with
Lyman cast steel presses are as good as any other cast steel press, when it comes to building accurate cartridges.

The Forster press is easier to use, especially for those with larger hands, and with a couple of sets of shell holder jaws, it will do it all.

I have a 35 year old Rock Chucker and a Forster. I like them both. They're both capable of making very straight ammo.
 
I ended up getting used Dillon 550 in fine shape. It came with some upgrades and the correct conversion kit and die set. I picked up a spare toolhead and some of those free-float lock rings from Armanov. I'll drill and heli-coil the spare toolhead so that I can bolt it to the press and screw in the stop pins for the lock rings. From what I gather, I want to remove slop from the tool head and add it to the sizing and seating dies.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions.
How have you made out? Did you find your sugar dispenser? and all that good stuff... to make things go boom...
 
How have you made out? Did you find your sugar dispenser? and all that good stuff... to make things go boom...
Getting there I think. I went a little silly and bought a few more Armanov upgrades and I have a micrometer seating, neck sizing die and depriming die coming mid next week. As for the sugar dispenser, going to see how accurate the Dillon is with the Armanov powder measure knob (with absolute position(tm)). I figure if its close enough it will get me started. Waiting on powder, decided on N140 to get me going. Annealer project is coming along, still looking for a digital scale to compliment the beam scale I got with the press. Deciding on a case trimmer this weekend. As for brass, I can get some Norma relatively locally, along with primers. Haven't decided on bullets yet. Status report complete.
 
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