I am looking for plans to build a portable reloading stand to load at the range or out of the back of a pickup. I will be using a T7 press and also hand dies. Thanks
Posts: 6 | Location: st. joseph mo. | Registered: 10 March 2003
If you want something metal look for a cheap grinder stand ($20 at Harbor freight). If you want to make something out of wood the best one I have seen was a wooden box that opened in half like an old steamer trunk, turned on the end it was table top height and the press bolted to it. When you were done everything fit into the box.
Posts: 7786 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000
tell ya what i use...craftsman two drawer tool box. then get a sinclair catalog. the powder measure mounts to the box. the press and hand dies are used on the truck bed or shooting bench. with a good powder measure, once you know how much is added by each click of the measure, there is no need for a scale. if its a chamber i have to neck size for, either hand dies, or a lee hand press. works very well.
Posts: 21 | Location: dallas,tx | Registered: 08 February 2003
I just bought a portable workbench (the kind that's split in two & screws shut or open to use as a clamp) from Menard's for $19.00. It folds for storage and is steady enough to use as a shooting bench. I rigged a piece of 2x4 to a piece of kitchen counter top so it can be used as a bench or, take it off, and use it as a tool stand.
The May 2003 issue if "Rifle' has an article with pictures of portable shooting benches. It should be easy enough to build one of such benches using the pictures as a guide, as long as you can weld.
Posts: 2448 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 25 May 2002
Gidday, I would appreciate if anyone had plans for a portable bench if they could e-mail them to me as we do not have those magazines or shops over here. Thanks, Peter
Posts: 171 | Location: australia | Registered: 06 July 2000
I made a stand out a large wheel rim, an axle, and a flywheel. The wheel rim is the base and I welded the axle to it as the upright, then welded the flywheel on top of that. I mounted both a regular and pipe vise to it for use outside the workshop. It would be easy to mount a couple of presses or powder measures to it. Nice and heavy so very stable. All the parts came from the dump so my only cost was a little electricity and several welding rods. If I were going to do range work on my ammo I would have them resized and primed so we're talking powdering and bullet seating only -- a Black & Decker Work-Mate and a light duty press would work just fine for this.
The board is attached to my bench at home or a table at the range with two "C" clamps.
I think I can clamp to the bumper of my friend's camper for varmint hunting.
The 3 Lee presses are used for: 1) Depriming 2) Priming 3) Crimping
The little RCBS press is used for seating. It is mounted on the balance point of the assembly and the frame and handle act as the handle for carrying the assembly.
The big RCBS press is used for sizing, and is mounted endwise so the forces on the "C" clamps are small when I push hard on the handle.
The space between presses is where I reach through to the bullets, brass, cartridge boxes, etc that are on the bench.
I PICKED UP SOMETHING A GUY COULD USE FOR A PORTABLE LOADING BENCH THE OTHER DAY. IT'S A HOSP TABLE FOR THE ROOM. IT ADJUSTS UP AND DOWN AND HAS WHEELS ON IT. WE HAD A CITY WIDE CLEAN UP OR OUT DAY HERE LOTS OF TREASURES TO BE FOUND ON THE CURB. 2 YRS AGO I GOT ME A GOOD WEEDEATER I'M STILL USING.