Need a bench to reload in an apartment.

NorthernPF

Regular
Rating - 100%
9   0   1
Location
Ramore, Ontario
I want to get into relaoding and I will but the only thing that has me wondering is where to mount my press. I have seen a buddy mount his press on a piece of 2X6 then use C clamps to hold it to his Kitchen table but I was wondering if anybody out there has seen/done anything different?

Would like it to be fairly portable to take down in apartment after use and myust be solid enough to support a Dillon 550.

Thanks
 
I did something similar to your friend, but with my computer desk.

I took a 1 inch thick piece of press board, about 12 inches across and 30 inches long, and I mounted it to my PC desk.

All I did was drill one 1/4 inch hole under my monitor, at the back of the desk, for a nut and bolt to provide leverage. The front is held down by 2 inch hobby clamps, and the front is supported further by two 3/4 inch square poplar dowels that act as front legs to take the pressure off of my desk. I drilled 1/4 inch holes into each of them to screw into my board.

It holds everything, my Lee press, my powder hopper, and it's easy to take down and put away in my closet, it takes up very little room. I'll probably have it up this weekend if you can wait for pics.

It's also VERY sturdy, despite its flimsy appearance. I can resize the most stubborn 7.62 brass without issues.
 
Reloading is not to be done in shared housing that's a huge no no and highly illegal.

Says who? I think you're wrong. Have facts to back that claim up? Restrictions on quantity and method of storage of primers and powder are the same, regardless of dwelling type.

I reload in my apartment. I have my my Dillon 550B mounted on a high mount to a red metal Sears Craftsman toolchest, approx 36" high. Took the wheels off and bolted the press mount into the metal top. The sliding drawers are lockable and make for handy and safe storage of tools, components, ammo. I throw a light sheet over the press itself when it's not in use and it's very tidy looking, all things considered.
 
Your joking right
1. Handloading in detached dwelling only. The accidental ignition of 5
kilograms (kg) of black or smokeless powder can cause a fireball several
metres across. This would undoubtedly initiate a rapid and intense fire in
a normal room. We do not believe that residents in a multi-unit dwelling
should be subject to the risk.

2. No more than 5 kg of propellant to be stored within a dwelling.
According to hand loading tables this is sufficient for 1500 (shotgun) to
20,000 (pistol) loads. This amount seems adequate.

3. No hand loading within 15 meters of a neighboring dwelling. Again,
this proposed change relates to protecting neighboring properties from the
risks and hazards associated with ammunition loading activities.

4. All propellants to be given a United Nations designation. There is
nothing new here. All explosives made in or imported into Canada must be
authorized and classified under the UN system.

The Explosives Act prohibits the manufacture of explosives (including
ammunition) anywhere except in a licensed factory - unless exempted by
regulations. We have for many years made regulations to exempt handloaders
from this prohibition and, thus, avoid the expense of acquiring a factory
license.

the sticky is right above your head......man if I ever caught some one reloading in an apartment next to me they would get the s**t kicking of a life time! What gives you the right to screw around with explosives around my family!

I maybe wrong I have read some places that those provisions were shot down but to me reloading in an apartment just doesn't sound very responsible.
 
Last edited:
Well thanks for the quick response. This obviously needs some study.

I don't see a "sticky right above my head", not a link anyways. I'd like to read it in context. There are many broken links to govt sites with explosives and handloading regs. Does someone have a link with the latest regs for handloaders?
 
man if I ever caught some one reloading in an apartment next to me they would get the s**t kicking of a life time! What gives you the right to screw around with explosives around my family!

Wow, reading your stuff again... What's with the anti-style rhetoric, man? "Screw around with explosives"? Reloaders don't screw around. Smokeless powder is not an explosive. Primers are explosive, sure. That's why there are limits to how many can be stored in a dwelling. Do you "screw around" with guns and ammo?

Propane and white gas are far more dangerous in a house or apartment than primers and powder. Go tell you neighbours you're going to s**t kick them for their BBQing and camping habits.

to me reloading in an apartment just doesn't sound very responsible.

Sorry to hear that. To some people, owning guns and ammo just doesn't sound responsible. What are you going to tell me next? If banning reloading in apartments saves just one life, it will be worth it?! If you think reloading in apartments is a threat to society, go elect a Liberal MP.

And please share with us the basis for your "it's highly illegal" claim.
 
Your joking right


the sticky is right above your head......man if I ever caught some one reloading in an apartment next to me they would get the s**t kicking of a life time! What gives you the right to screw around with explosives around my family!

I maybe wrong I have read some places that those provisions were shot down but to me reloading in an apartment just doesn't sound very responsible.

I'll have you know that anytime I handle a firearms or any components I do so carefully and with full regard for the people surrounding me.

More fires start with people carelessly leaving candles burning then fires started by people reloading, and although not illegal, it's not very responsible.

Also I realize that you are concerned about your families well-being just as much as I am, next time you see your neighbor, ask him if he blew out all his candles.
 
...man if I ever caught some one reloading in an apartment next to me they would get the s**t kicking of a life time! What gives you the right to screw around with explosives around my family!

I maybe wrong I have read some places that those provisions were shot down but to me reloading in an apartment just doesn't sound very responsible.

The regulations you quote never went through. And has to be one of the most ignorant loads a crap I've ever heard coming from a supposed gun owner. You have a higher chance of dying in a fire living next to a smoker or someone who burns candles that you do a reloader.

I reload in my apartment and I can promise you that if anyone ever tried to "kick the #### out of me" for it, the last thing to go through his mind would be his own butt. ;)
 
Your joking right


the sticky is right above your head......man if I ever caught some one reloading in an apartment next to me they would get the s**t kicking of a life time! What gives you the right to screw around with explosives around my family!

I maybe wrong I have read some places that those provisions were shot down but to me reloading in an apartment just doesn't sound very responsible.


You really need to think long and hard about your continuing gun ownership. If you get this wound up over the harmless actions of your neighbours, you need help.

Mind your own knitting.
 
Holy f**k srt4u2nv my friend,you would not want to be my neighbour for a couple of reasons,here is a picture of one! :slap:

000_0315.jpg
 
Last edited:
If you're putting your neighbours at risk by reloading in an apartment, you would also be putting anyone who lives with you at risk, in any dwelling. By extension, he is calling anyone on here, who has family or roomates living with them, irresponsible for supposedly putting them at risk. Who would be so thoughtless and irresponsible as to put their own family at risk by screwing around with explosives under the same roof as them?
 
Last edited:
"...Reloading is not to be done in shared housing that's a huge no no and highly illegal..." Nonsense. Like kombayotch says, those stupid rules were never enacted.
"...they would get the s**t kicking of a life time!..." You'd be arrested and convicted of assault, lose all your firearms, your PAL and get a prohibition from owning any firearm for 5 years or so. What your neighbours does in HIS home is none of your business.
In any case, smokeless powder is not an explosive and neither are primers.
Go buy a Black and Decker Workmate. A Model 425 will hold up to 550 lbs. A 225 up to 450. They seem to turn up at pawn shops and garage sales regularly.
 
sorry guys I read the sticky up top and figured that's the law maybe some one should sort the crap out up there, there is 3 different reg's threads going all with different info......

one question though in the event of a fire would gun powder fuel the fire? say if a fire occurred close to where the powder is stored and it ignited would it be as easily controlled as the fire would have been if the gun powder wasn't there?
 
Last edited:
Of course it would fuel the fire becuase it's something that naturally made to burn. Would it cause a massive explosion? I don't think so. In my opinion if there ever was a fire I think that it would melt the container, the powder would fizzle make the fire a little bigger then once the powder is burnt settle down again.

But then again I'm not a fire fighter and I'm only assuming that's what would happen.
 
"I reload in my apartment. I have my my Dillon 550B mounted on a high mount to a red metal Sears Craftsman toolchest, approx 36" high. Took the wheels off "

Hey....mtbore

I was thinking of using the exact same idea. Was wondering if you left the wheels on, it would be easy to roll the chest/press out of the way when done. Or would the wheels make the whole chest unstable? Would love to see pics of your setup.
 
I myself use a workmate foldable working bench from crappy tire and a 2'x2' sheet of 5/8 plywood on top. The only issue I had was the legs were sometime folding while pushing down on the press ram. I fix that with some little piece of metal wrapped around to lock the folding mechanism. This is not my main reloading set-up but my range set-up so I can bring it everywhere.

For the other issue, I agree with the fact that reloading in an apartment is probably less dangerous than a lot of other stuff. You probably get more chance of frying from some junkie cooking up crystal meth....

Cheers
Gaetoune
 
Back
Top Bottom