Workflow while reloading

Silverado

Silverado

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In the next few days I'm finally getting around to building myself a proper bench for reloading, cleaning etc.

Being very new to reloading, I haven't figured out what works best yet, so...

Gimme a few hints as to how your reloading process works in terms of workflow and bench layout. I'm only reloading rifle for now...

Do you load left to right? Right to left? Where's the press in relation to everything else? 1 press for everything, or do you have a dedicated press for one process, like priming, decapping or whatever.

I'm hoping to put things where the'll work smoothly and I'm not always crossing over myself or something...

Thanks
 
It would help to know what type of press you'll be using.

When I had a single stage and then my Hornady, I mounted the press on the right hand side of the bench. My scale and seperate powder measure were on a shelf above.

With the 1050, my bench is barely wider than the press itself, with two rows of shelving in behind for tool heads, die sets and conversions, spare parts, and loaded primer tubes.
 
I've found that the best place (maybe the only place) to mount the press itself is on the right side of the workbench. When I load with a single-stage press, I mount my powder measure on the left side, with the loading trays, bullets, brass, etc in the centre. Unless your workbench is solid, don't place your powder balance on it...the vibration from operating your press will throw it off zero if it's an RCBS model with the adjustable 'foot'.
Because my reloading station has to be portable (lack of space dictates that :( ), I mount all of my equipment onto a 30" x 24" reinforced top, which is clamped into a Black & Decker Workmate bench. You really don't need that much room to reload...
As for 'work flow', I would say that most go left to right with Turret and Progressive presses, however, with a single-stage press, you'll find yourself going in both directions, depending upon the operation.
 
Being right handed I mounted my press on my right, make sure bench is secure, you will under stand when reloading large magnum cases. This leaves a lot of space in front of you open. I use a old heavy office desk just for my reloading.After reloading a while you will know where to place everything.
 
I size & decap my cases in the press. Bag of new or fired brass on my left, ammo box on my right. This only takes a few minutes.

Then I go inside (press is in the garage). I trim/chamfer/prep the brass while sitting in front of the TV, then give it all a good run through the ultrasonic cleaner. Depending on the condition of the brass, this stage can take up to a couple hours per hundred.

I clean any pocket primers that might still be dirty (most all shiny-as-new though, so this part goes quick). Then I let it all dry overnight.

Next, I prime them all with my Lee autoprime, again on the couch in front of the TV. This goes really quick, maybe 20 min per hundred.

Then I charge the cases, trickling each charge with my chargemaster (takes about 20 seconds per), which I set up again, in the basement by the TV.

Lastly, I take the charged brass out to the garage, and seat all the bullets. Left-to-right, as before. From the loading block on the left, into the ammo box on the right. Takes about 20 min per hundred.
 
I just set up as a new reloader too. I've got a 5 foot chunk of 2"x12" yew wood for a bench and a window sill of about 5" behind it and its working pretty good. I ended up bolting my single Lee press about 8" from the right end. Leaves a little room behind and to the right of it for a block or cartridge case. Seems to work pretty well.

Another thing you can do, and I'm going to get another press and do this I figure, is bolt the press to say a 8" square chunk of plywood or whatever and just clamp it down where you want it. Just counter sink the bolts on the bottom. Wala, a portable press....
 
My bench is L shape bench, and press is right in the midle. All other small things you will figure out as soon as you load first 10 rounds.

Enjoy
 
Single stage press in the middle of the bench. Put the unprocessed cases in a bin(a bag is slower) on one side with another empty bin on the other. (Left or right has to do with your 'handedness'.) Use both hands. Take a case out of the unprocessed bin with one hand and into the shell holder. Do the operation and take out the case with the processed side hand while reaching for the next case and put it in the empty bin. Do one operation to all your cases then switch dies, move the bins and repeat for the next operation. Use the ammo box only when you've seated the bullet. Or not. A bin will do for that too.
 
Reload bench doubles as a work bench. The turret sits on the right side. It was there first, it got to choose :D :p . My single that I picked up later is on the left side. No biggie, you'll adapt to whatever you have.

(E) :cool:
 
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