Last year my wife and I built a reloading bench using a solid wood core door and wood bought from Lowes. It cost us less than 100 for all materials used. I got 2 overhead kitchen cabinets from another member for on the bench storage for free. Under the bench I have space for my reloading buckets, ammo cans with bullets and an overhead light to see under the bench.
I currently have mounted from left to right an ohaus powder measure, a lee single stage, a rcbs reloader special 5, a dillon 450 set up for 357, a square deal set up in 45, and a lee loadmaster set up for 9mm. I have them all evenly spaced so I can insert brass and bullets but getting into the cabinets is a bit of a challenge. I also have a good 8 in of space between the presses and cabinets.
I've been thinking since we had our son in March of selling off the loadmaster and lee single stage and buying conversion kits for 38spl, 9 and 357. I love the way the square deal operates and would more than likely use the 450 as my dedicated 223 press. I would use the rcbs for my odd ball calibers in which I only have a gun or 2 and dont shoot on a regular basis.
I'm not concerned with drilling more holes, but like the convenience the square deal has to offer at this point in my reloading career. I probably won't be heading to the range as often so the space on the bench and in the cabinets could lighten getting rid of extra dies and being able to reorganize for the toolheads I would need.
Would any of you think of going this route? Would I need anything else to make this transition smoother that I haven't thought of? What would make you keep it the way I have it?
I currently have mounted from left to right an ohaus powder measure, a lee single stage, a rcbs reloader special 5, a dillon 450 set up for 357, a square deal set up in 45, and a lee loadmaster set up for 9mm. I have them all evenly spaced so I can insert brass and bullets but getting into the cabinets is a bit of a challenge. I also have a good 8 in of space between the presses and cabinets.
I've been thinking since we had our son in March of selling off the loadmaster and lee single stage and buying conversion kits for 38spl, 9 and 357. I love the way the square deal operates and would more than likely use the 450 as my dedicated 223 press. I would use the rcbs for my odd ball calibers in which I only have a gun or 2 and dont shoot on a regular basis.
I'm not concerned with drilling more holes, but like the convenience the square deal has to offer at this point in my reloading career. I probably won't be heading to the range as often so the space on the bench and in the cabinets could lighten getting rid of extra dies and being able to reorganize for the toolheads I would need.
Would any of you think of going this route? Would I need anything else to make this transition smoother that I haven't thought of? What would make you keep it the way I have it?