Show your reloading benches

For those of you who have multiple Dillon progressives - what was it that drove you to buy the second (and third)? Is it a desire to be able to do high volumes of 2 or 3 calibres that you bought them and leave them permanently setup that way? One for large primer, 1 for small?? I've got a 650 and I've bought 4 or 5 tool heads which really helps, but I always hate changing primer size... :(
 
I got two to keep one set-up for large primer calibre and one for small primer calibres. Keeps the swap out a little quicker especially with the case feeders. I only do pistol on the Dillions. I do all my rifle (even my .223) on a single stage Lee.
 
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Shibby! said:
I like your powder boxes.

Did you make those?

Too bad they wouldn't work with different sized containers though. I guess you win some and lose some. Aliant powders use small tall tubes, maybe they would fit horizontal and stacked two high?
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They are crates from surplus Romanian 7.62x39 just screwed into a stud. I didn't put a divider shelf on the other one so i can put in taller containers.
 
It's not the size that matters it's how you use it.

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kb007 said:
For those of you who have multiple Dillon progressives - what was it that drove you to buy the second (and third)? Is it a desire to be able to do high volumes of 2 or 3 calibres that you bought them and leave them permanently setup that way? One for large primer, 1 for small?? I've got a 650 and I've bought 4 or 5 tool heads which really helps, but I always hate changing primer size... :(
Click to expand...

I started on an RCBS Rockchucker kit (still have it), then my first progressive press was a 550.
I used that system for everything and then updated it to a case feeder when that kit came out.
In my case the case feeder for the 550 doesn't work all that well with 9mm (I.D. Of case tube is too large I think) plus the fact the 550 with case feeder won't do rifle...
I then bought a Hornady LnL - the selling feature being the 1000 free bullets.
I mucked about with that for a little while before realizing I should have bought the 650 from the get go.
I now have a 650 which does the majority of work. I kept the 550 because:
A) it doesn't owe me anything as it's paid for itself 5 times over.
B) I have the room on the bench and too lazy to pack it up and sell it.
C) I keep it for doing runs of large primer pistol rounds (10mm & 45 auto)
 
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Show off the work station... boy it needs to be tidied up again.

Only the RockChucker for now; eventually will get a progressive to increase production rates for pistol and .223 ammo. Building a Mobile work station to go for this room as it's also my painting room for the rest of my hobbies.


And yes I need more lockers; wife gave me permission to build a custom entertainment wall unit that will double as a display case for collection. But for now, cheap Lockers from CT will have too do. And yes that's a $20 LED kit from IKEA in the locker. Works like a damned charm too! Make sure you get the ribbon with the sticky back kit though.
 
I use my shop for many things, so I made "quick mount" adapter plates for my first Lee pro 1000 press so i could mount it on my heavy duty welding table in only a few seconds when I wanted to reload.

I quickly added another Lee pro and another and another until I got to where I'm at today. Now I can literally pick 1 of 5 rounds to load and in 5 minutes I am making rounds since they all usually have primers in the trays and powder in the hoppers.

9mm, .357, .45acp, 44 Magnum, and .223 (with room and threaded holes down on the left end for a 6th press if the need arises)

1 press on the bench ready to go.



And all 5 presses put up and out of the way.

 
yeah that's the exact plans that i used. i made some changes to measurements its really easy to put together. i think all the wood and hardware cost me about 200-250 or so.
 
Here's a pic of my "winter haven". I reload fifteen different calibres, both pistol and rifle. Keeps me busy when the weather is too crappy to shoot in....Pic two is the new "carousel" I recently fabricated for my RCBS & Redding Powder Measures (also visible in the lower RH corner of pic 1). It maximizes bench space. I also made a larger diameter plate (visible at bottom of pic 2) to accommodate Lyman Powder Measures (7" diameter for Lyman, 5" for RCBS/Hornady & Redding).



 
Here's my recently built bench. Made it 72" X 32". Used Cedar 4X4's (6 of them for strength) and the rest of the frame is 2X4 / 2X6. Top is double thick 3/4 ply, finished good on the top side, glued and screwed together. I even added a 1X2 trim piece around the edge of the plywood - only because I had it in the garage already.

I left my Dillon mount on the piece of butcher block and simply drilled some bolt holes in the top to mount the butcher block to the bench. I can see a time when I may add a second Dillon, this way I can easily interchange by simply unbolting the butcher block and swapping them out.

Not a pretty thing by any means, but solid.

 
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