Reload bench setup help

Very happy with my RCBS single stage. Made my own bench after watching you tubes, 24" deep by 48" wide. Perfect size for me. The key to attaching the press to the bench top was to buy the RCBS mounting plate, it's great, worked well to stabilize the press. Just need plywood and two by fours with some braces to attach the pieces that I bought at Home Depot, super simple and sturdy.
 
what height ? everyone I'm talking about this project says that 24'' deep and 30ish '' is going to tilt over ... I can't attach it to the floor nor the wall since I'm renting a flat and the owner's gonna kill me if I do that haha

and yes, that's what the guy told me about RCBS... gonna cost a little more but I won't have to buy again.with that I'll be all set to start and can upgrade other hardware at my rythm to improve efficiency.
 
Make a custom workbench height to be between belt buckle and belt button. Then purchase a wide and stable adjustable chair (an old drafting stool or similar). For me that is 39 inches.
 
As I posted a while back kitchen counter height, typically 35 inches, is good for standing at and working or with a bar stool is a comfy height to sit at. If you're a taller sort of fella then go with a full 36 inch height for the work surface. If shorter then shoot for 34 inches. That two inch spread makes a surprising amount of difference.

The concrete ballast is a great idea. But instead of building blocks with the big holes in them use solid patio paving stones. Being solid they take up far less room for the weight. Then lay a second sub shelf over the pavers to store more stuff on. Based on a 12 inch wide by 4 foot long shelf down in the foot well area it would not take a whole lot of effort to plop up around 100 lbs down low and towards the rear. That'll keep the bench in place. For example I know from using them that the 3 inch thick by 12 x 24 inch long cap stones for walls weigh 80 lbs each. Two will fit and that means you have 180 lbs in there. Or make the weight up using smaller size blocks. However you do it a 3 inch thick by 12 deep by 48 long collection of concrete is going to be 160 lbs. That will hold your bench in place easily.
 
I would suggest you have a look at the Lee Classic Cast single stage press.

I don't think the breech lock bushings are worth the effort, changing dies is no great hardship.. Just my .02 cents.:)

I agree. The bushings are a waste of time and money, and you still make die adjustments regularly. Not worth the effort.
 
I used these plans to build off of:

https://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/downloads/bench_plans.pdf

I built one about like this, minus the shelf doors (other than the fold down one I use for the beam scale). I used the plans and made a cleaning bench, minus the shelves and about a ft from one end. With all the bullets and lead I have stored on it, the beasty is not moving at all.

I do most of my reloading while standing, but I picked up an Ikea folding tall chair when want to sit. It works well when needed, and folds up out of the way when not needed.
 
found a deal on a steel workbench, I'll add plywood to the existing work top and that should do it! I'll post a picture tomorrow when I get it. That'll have to do until I get more space and funds lol... damn hardware sucked up more of my budget than I thought it would.
 
...For what it's worth, I've been using the same "Bench" for decades! Small admittedly,30"x18" and 38" high. It's a discarded check out type of cabinet/station. To raise it up, it's in 4"x 4" beams running the full depth (18") bolted to the bottom of the main cabinet, and in turn I've screwed a piece of 1/2" plywood to the 4x4" with enough overlap that I can stand comfortably on it to prevent the leverage created from the press shifting anything. The corner that the Press sits on is reinforced with a piece of scrap aluminium bent at 90' and the top accommodates the press, powder thrower, scale, case trimmer and powder trickler and a small swivelling, vice. So you really don't need all that much space, and if you use your own weight ( like pulling yourself up by the bootstraps! ) neither floor nor wall supports. Not that it matters, but all my gear is RCBS more because that's what I started with, a donated Press! ...... David K
 
I bought this same kit this month from the US for 172.00 Dollars Canadian.

You can get it in Canada for 250.00 anything more and your being ripped off.
 
I purchased the Lee system. Spoke to many people and from what I go unless you wanted a Progressive reloading system Lee was a good buy.

I got all the same equipment plus a few other parts for 172.00 Canadian.

I found used Lee Pacesetter Dies for 25 bucks for my 375 Winchester and have a set of 270 Winchester RCBS Dies coming I got for 10 bucks.

Got 375 Winchester Brass for lower than the advertised rate and already was saving brass for the 270 as well as getting the bullets at a good discount.

witch kit ?

I bought the RCBS Supreme Master reloading kit

http://www.rcbs.com/Products/Presse...ck-Chucker®-Supreme-Master-Reloading-Kit.aspx

no way I can find this at 172$ in the states
 
I purchased the Lee system. Spoke to many people and from what I go unless you wanted a Progressive reloading system Lee was a good buy.

I got all the same equipment plus a few other parts for 172.00 Canadian.

I found used Lee Pacesetter Dies for 25 bucks for my 375 Winchester and have a set of 270 Winchester RCBS Dies coming I got for 10 bucks.

Got 375 Winchester Brass for lower than the advertised rate and already was saving brass for the 270 as well as getting the bullets at a good discount.

That's the way I'm going to go the lee 50th anniversary kit, I'm just waiting for cabelas to have the 99 free ship.
 
I purchased the Lee system. Spoke to many people and from what I go unless you wanted a Progressive reloading system Lee was a good buy.

I got all the same equipment plus a few other parts for 172.00 Canadian.

I found used Lee Pacesetter Dies for 25 bucks for my 375 Winchester and have a set of 270 Winchester RCBS Dies coming I got for 10 bucks.

Got 375 Winchester Brass for lower than the advertised rate and already was saving brass for the 270 as well as getting the bullets at a good discount.


ha ok ! the guy advised me against the lee scale they provide with the kit I wanted. With the rebate the RCBS kit comes cheaper than the Lee anyway it's just the other things I needed aroudn it that I didn't think of that made me went overbudget
 
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