How often do you guys buy ammo for your wants/needs? Now that I'm back at work (seasonal layoff) I'm gonna start weekly. Maybe a couple or so per week as that's how often I get paid.
I'm also gonna find somewhere I can start reloading. Thought about renting a storage unit for that. I have nowhere in my place to do it.
Mr. Wannabewoodsman,
A few months ago I decided to get back into reloading, and like you didn't think I had room for a big reloading station. So originally I added a small shelf to the side of my gun safe because it was solid and heavy enough to use my press on without a lot of tipping, etc. Pretty quickly I learned that just wasn't going to work since the shelf was only 5.5" X 18". Plenty of room to mount the press, and it was strong enough, but then I had no good place for my components and tools like a caliper, hand priming tool, etc. Well, it was right beside the bed so yep, that's where I put all my supplies, etc, while I loaded.
In walks the wife and says "That'll be the end of that"!!! Actually that's not true, she was OK with it but not thrilled, and since it really was limited in space to work I started thinking of an alternate solution. And the outcome was better than satisfactory, I might even call it 'Perfect' for my situation of living in an apartment with limited space.
I'm including here for you a link to a thread from a while back that has a few pictures of my solution. I used a small roll around service cart for my loading station. My press is mounted to it by way of the addition of a small work top, along with my powder measure, room for my two powder scales, and even room for some components. It also has a drawer to store my extra components, supplies, papers, etc.
On top and behind the added work top is lots of room for additional die sets, trimming tools, priming tools, scales, etc. Best part is it takes up only a little space and can be parked right outside the utility/mechanical room in our apartment, then moved around to anywhere I want it while using it to reload. When I'm done, I can park it back by the utility room, or anywhere else in the apartment I wish.
Underneath is a shelf where I keep my vibrator tumbler, a strainer and bucket for separating the media from the cases, a gallon container of cleaning media, and even a small vacuum cleaner for those times when a little powder might get spilled onto the light colored carpet.
All in all it turned out really well and since I've put it all together, I've loaded probably 1K or so 9mm and .38 Spl/.357 Mag rounds on it with just a single stage press. No muss, no fuss, and it's never in the way of me or the wife. Go here to see a few pictures of how it turned out and let me know what you think. I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have:
Some time ago we moved from our single family home to a retirement community, and in doing so I had to give up a lot of things I enjoyed doing simply due to lack of space. Well I was really missing my reloading which I had been doing for about 40+ years, but just couldn't find a space to fit the...
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