Do you reload? Do you intend to Bug Out? What to do?

[indyjohn]

So, I have a few wooden military ammo crates, the smaller type. I had some leftover pine from a honey-do project so I thought it would be fun to build one of my own based on a copy of one I bought.

Well, after finishing the crate it occurred to me that I had the solution to something that I had been trying to figure out for some time. A box for my Lock n Load press!

Inside this box:

Complete LnL press

RCBS 5-0-5 scale
RCBS Dial Caliper
Forester 3 Die set in .223
RCBS Precision Mic in .223

And I have enough room for another Die set and Precision Mic.

Primers, powder, cases, & projectiles are already stored in similar boxes.

 

[SSGSAD]

I LIKE that !!!!!

 

[indyjohn]

I bet I could make one for a Dillon. But it would be A LOT bigger..

 

[chezuki]

I like the crate, but why would you need a box for your press? Do you dig it out, bolt it down, and re-set it up every time you want to load?

 

[ruger1800]

The lee hand press would work.

 

[indyjohn]

I like the crate, but why would you need a box for your press? Do you dig it out, bolt it down, and re-set it up every time you want to load?

Thanks. I leave it up, ready to load most of the time. But here's the idea:

I live in house A in a suburb of city X. Caca hits the fan and civil unrest befalls city X on Saturday. By Sunday civil unrest is spreading to the suburbs near my house A. The smart one of the family and I decide it is time to retreat to house B, which is many miles from house A. And time is short. I only have time to grab "essential" items to bug out, things I can easily grab and toss in the vehicle. 3 crates give me the ability to manufacture 80% of the ammo I need for the firearms I am taking with us. The other 20% (rimfire, btw) is in another crate.

Just my hobby...

 

[spencer rifle]

I already have spare Lee Classic Turrets stashed in several likely BOLs. Takes up less room and not as finicky in setup. Components are another matter.

 

[Leadeye]

Nice workmanship.

 

[Birds Away]

That's a beauty. I bet it was fun.

 

[indyjohn]

I already have spare Lee Classic Turrets stashed in several likely BOLs. Takes up less room and not as finicky in setup. Components are another matter.

This is one of the reasons I chose the LnL, much less finicky than the Blue One in setup. I literally took the press out of the box after this pic, bolted it back on the bench, clicked in the dies and ran a few rounds through it. The powder dispenser was < .5 gr off of what I wanted (which could be accounted for by change in temp or humidity) and the OAL was spot on!

 

[indyjohn]

That's a beauty. I bet it was fun.

Never been much of a carpenter; very gratifying seeing the end result work out so well (really just lucky).

 

[chezuki]

This is one of the reasons I chose the LnL, much less finicky than the Blue One in setup.

Is this line provided in the Hornady owners manual? I swear I've heard it from every LnL owner I met, even the ones who now bleed blue.

 

[indyjohn]

Is this line provided in the Hornady owners manual? I swear I've heard it from every LnL owner I met, even the ones who now bleed blue.

Well, having a background in engineering helps one understand how it works.

 

[ar15_dude]

.....time is short. I only have time to grab "essential" items to bug out, things I can easily grab and toss in the vehicle....

Nice workmanship.

I have to take exception to your plan. Reloading is for the Preparation Phase. You need loaded ammo, not tools and components, for the Evacuation Phase. Loaded ammo is smaller and lighter than components plus loading tools. Invest the time and energy loading ammo while things are peaceful and comfortable, not after SHTF.

I find it ironic that you would not put loaded ammo in the ammo crate. Better than reloaded ammo is factory loaded ammo, especially when things get real.

 

[Zoub]

Well, having a background in engineering helps one understand how it works.

That is exactly how I got into reloading. Back in 97 I gave my younger brother, the engineer, a full blown Dillon as a special wedding gift just from me to him. All those duck commander boys in LA think you are cool too when you do that,but I was really doing it for me. Then my set up just mirrors his. My newest victory was getting him to go .300 Black. I am looking forward to what "we" come up with for our SBR's.

 

[churchmouse]

Nice work John.

 

[indyjohn]

Nice workmanship.

I have to take exception to your plan. Reloading is for the Preparation Phase. You need loaded ammo, not tools and components, for the Evacuation Phase. Loaded ammo is smaller and lighter than components plus loading tools. Invest the time and energy loading ammo while things are peaceful and comfortable, not after SHTF.

I find it ironic that you would not put loaded ammo in the ammo crate. Better than reloaded ammo is factory loaded ammo, especially when things get real.

Well, yes. But then what?

Yes sir, build all you can before the fact. But if your squad is only six and it takes them six trips to carry what you've built out to the trailer, I think you've done your job! The expectation is to leave and never come back, I want to take my reloading capability with me, "so I can reload another day".

That is exactly how I got into reloading. Back in 97 I gave my younger brother, the engineer, a full blown Dillon as a special wedding gift just from me to him. All those duck commander boys in LA think you are cool too when you do that,but I was really doing it for me. Then my set up just mirrors his. My newest victory was getting him to go .300 Black. I am looking forward to what "we" come up with for our SBR's.

Good plan sir!

Nice work John.

Meh.

 

[chezuki]

Better than reloaded ammo is factory loaded ammo, especially when things get real.

How do you figure? Even just loading 9mm I can tell a marked improvement in accuracy and consistency with my own loads over factory loads. These improvements become exponentially more apparent in the kind of HP shooting that IJ does.

 

[indyjohn]

How do you figure? Even just loading 9mm I can tell a marked improvement in accuracy and consistency with my own loads over factory loads. These improvements become exponentially more apparent in the kind of HP shooting that IJ does.

If he spent a day reloading match loads with me, I think he'd see the difference.. Just sayin'

 

[natdscott]

Bingo. At least I KNOW my loads are built properly.

A person can't always say that for box ammo.

In a bad situation, the fewer variables you have, the better. Yet another hot-charged XM193 round could be the end of your rifle, and THAT could be the end of your life in the type situation of which Mr. John speaks. You cannot be losing tools, least of all your fingers and eyes.

-Nate