creative reloading area in a mobile home

[7x57mm]

A good friend back in Grants has never reloaded for his Winchester Model 70 FTW in 7x57mm. He and his wife live in a mobile home and there isn't an iota of left-over space for a reloading room or bench for that matter. He has a Lee Anniversary Kit in a box that is about two years old and has never been opened. He used to come over to my place to do his reloading when I lived in Grants, N.M., and now that I have left he wants to drag out his kit and begin reloading for the first time. I told Tom that he needs to get a two-feetxtwo-feet piece of 3/4 inch plywood and mount the press and powder measurer on it and then use C-clamps and clamp it to his kitchen table, as I have never been able to come up with any other suggestion. He has powder and bullets he keeps in a closet. Do any of you folks have any other suggestions, other than moving to another place and building a reloading bench. Finances won't allow that right now. Thanks in advance ... Tom Purdom

[ButlerFord45]

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=989

I used this for several years and for a while had a progressive mounted on it as well.  I had enough room to leave everything set up but if you are really strapped for room, everything fits in the box.

[7x57mm]

That would be right up Tom's alley. What kind of wooden crate is that, it kind of reminds me of an old wooden ammo box. Also, where can Tom get one of them. I have an old reloading bench made up of planks and it serves me well, but Tom is really crowded for space and that thing of your's is a good idea. Tom Purdom

[ButlerFord45]

I've had that box so long I don't remember not having it.  I don't know what type of box it is but it could be easily and cheaply constructed.  It's all 1x4  about 18x18x20.

[Chuck White]

Tom;
When I was stationed in South Dakota and lived in Military Family Housing, space was also at a premium!
I sacrificed the hallway closet and built a bench with a 22 in X 4 ft top, made out of 2 pieces of 3/4 inch plywood laminated together and it just fit inside this closet!  The closet had sliding doors and when I wanted to reload, I simply lifted the doors off and pulled up a chair and started reloading!  Not only was it convenient, but when not in use, it was out of sight!
I still use that bench today!

[beemanbeme]

Don't forget they still make Lee Loaders in 7x57.
 :grin:

[myronman3]

lee makes a hand press still, dont they?  

yep.   here is a link.  scroll down a bit and you will see the hand press.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1125928406.953=/html/catalog/rlpress1.html

[rickyp]

midway usa as a protable reloading bench. I use that and have had no troubles with it for the past 10 years. it is big enough to mount press on and then I use "C" clamps to mount my lee powder mesure on.
you can buy extra tops and use them to mount other tools as needed.
I think they now came out with a table top version of the portable reloading bench. you firend could store everything in a closet then pull it out when he wants to reload. I no most of mine in front of the TV then whenh I do the pweder I will do it at the kitchen table, this way if I spill pwder I can sweep it up easy.

[brasskeeper]

If he is loading for only one rifle the lee hand press would do great. I would suggest using a neck size only die. As far as a bench I think a great idea would be to use a black & decker workmate bench or similar folding work bench. It Will fold up and lay flat and could slide under a bed.

[Haywire Haywood]

I realize you are asking about a small setup for the press he has already but I can also recommend the Lee Hand Press.  I have a universal decapping die in mine. Will work great as long as he isn't doing high volume stuff.  Cranking out a couple dozen at the kitchen table would be a breeze and he could fit all his stuff in a briefcase.

Ian

[Blackhawk44]

Don't forget the portable folding offset workbenches/saw horses from the hardware store.  Bolt the press to a good 1 x 6 long enough to go from front to back and c-clamp on both ends.  About the only other piece that might need a 1 x 6 board would be a trimmer, everything else just c-clamp directly.  When done, just unclamp and fold away.  I even have a Dillon set up this way.

[Steve P]

I too have that portable reloading table from Midway.  http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=155024

Picked it up on a sale years ago.  No, I don't use it exclusively.  I have a large bench with a lot of presses on it.  I used this dandy little stand when I was out fishing in the winter.  Fishpole set up in pole holder outside my conversion van.  I sat inside, watched ball games, and reloaded ammo.
When the bell went off outside, ran out to grab the pole.

If it will work in a chevy van, it will work in a mobile home.

Good luck,

Steve  

[7x57mm]

I want to thank each of you for your suggestions and recommendations. I have told Tom about this sight and suggested that he take a look at it and hopefully will get something that will solve his limited space problems. He has a Model 70 FTW in 7x57mm and that does not allow him to just go down to the local sporting goods shop and buy a box of ammo and go for it. He has a brand new, never been used, Lee Anniversary Kit and knows he will also need some calipers, a couple of reloading books, a powder trickler and other such goodies. When I lived in Grants, New Mexico, Tom came over to my apartment and we manufactured reloads for his Mauser on my bench, but now that I live in Kansas, that just isn't possible. Again, thanks so much and good luck to you all. Tom Purdom :-)