reloading equipment for the range

[Willoughby]

what reload equipment works best for the range ?
I think all I would need is a way to seat the bullets
I could have the cases pre-sized at at home
my existing scale is portable enough
wouldnt be loading enough to need a dropper -? or would I ?
just doing a few to follow up if needed after a ladder test -
which would allready be loaded up at home
I allways end up wishing I had a few more rounds
of a certian charge weight -
sure would be nice to make up a few more right there
what all do I need ?

 

[Trickymissfit]

what reload equipment works best for the range ?
I think all I would need is a way to seat the bullets
I could have the cases pre-sized at at home
my existing scale is portable enough
wouldnt be loading enough to need a dropper -? or would I ?
just doing a few to follow up if needed after a ladder test -
which would allready be loaded up at home
I allways end up wishing I had a few more rounds
of a certian charge weight -
sure would be nice to make up a few more right there
what all do I need ?

here's my setup:

1. a K&M arbor press

2. Wilson inline dies with two to four bushings for each die

3. I use a 4" Mitutoyo dial caliper with bushings to measure over

4. K&M priming tool

5. kinda alternate between a Lyman #55 with the Sinclair bottle adapter & drop tubes and a Harrell. I measure loads with a Pact BBK (always carry an extra battery.

6. I do use a Forster case trimmer (actually two) that I have modded to do several chores in case prep. I also have a Wilson trimmer mounted on this same bracket, but rarely need to use it.

7. when throwing long grained powders I also use a generic trickler (probably an RCBS) and a home brew tool to deburr the case I.D.

I can put all this in a 16"x14" x 10" cigar box that I have made brackets to hold everything in place. I have another box I carry powder, bullets, etc in. Will make a third one to put my spotting scope in with the mount as well as the Chronograph & tripod. Onething that has sorta perplexed me is a really good way to carry cleaning rods and cleaning equipment. At the point now that I need to pick up a good range cart.
gary

 

[czsharpshooter]

Wilson seating dies work very well. for just seating, you may be able to just do it by hand and not even need a press of any sort.

you will definitely need a scale of some sort and a funnel. whether you need, or want a powder measure depends on how many rounds at a time you are planning on loading, if you are only planning on loading a few at a time the LEE powder dippers may be a good solution. I would definitely have a powder trickler and I would highly recomend the Redding one.

At the range that is the minimum that you would need.

For carrying Cleaning rods get some PVC pipe 1/2 of the length of the rod, an adapter to 2" and enough for the length of the handle, and a couple of end caps. Glue together everything except the large end cap and it will protect your rods very well.

 

[TOM H]

what reload equipment works best for the range ?
I think all I would need is a way to seat the bullets
I could have the cases pre-sized at at home
my existing scale is portable enough
wouldnt be loading enough to need a dropper -? or would I ?
just doing a few to follow up if needed after a ladder test -
which would allready be loaded up at home
I allways end up wishing I had a few more rounds
of a certian charge weight -
sure would be nice to make up a few more right there
what all do I need ?

I have set up like this

The Rifleman's Journal: Reloading: Range Reloading

 

[FEENIX]

I don't reload at the range but I am set up for mobile reloading >>> http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/newbies-reloading-bench-41916/

 

[Trickymissfit]

Wilson seating dies work very well. for just seating, you may be able to just do it by hand and not even need a press of any sort.

you will definitely need a scale of some sort and a funnel. whether you need, or want a powder measure depends on how many rounds at a time you are planning on loading, if you are only planning on loading a few at a time the LEE powder dippers may be a good solution. I would definitely have a powder trickler and I would highly recomend the Redding one.

At the range that is the minimum that you would need.

For carrying Cleaning rods get some PVC pipe 1/2 of the length of the rod, an adapter to 2" and enough for the length of the handle, and a couple of end caps. Glue together everything except the large end cap and it will protect your rods very well.

if you load mostly ball powders at the range the Lyman will throw them +/- 1/10th of a grain all day long. Sinclair sells drop tubes tat have a counter bore inside them to fit case necks as well as a generic (fits most all) vee shaped I.D. The bottle adapter is something I couldn't live without after getting one!! What I wish somebody would do is build something like a Black & Decker Workmate out of aluminum with a 24" square top!
gary

 

[Trickymissfit]

I have set up like this

The Rifleman's Journal: Reloading: Range Reloading

wonder where he got the name plate from??? I met the "old man" once at the Nationals.

The table is nice, but not very portable. A B&D work mate with a 3/4" thick piece of plywood ontop (about 24" x 36") would give me enough room to reload and clean rifle barrels (I could get by with 24" square in a pinch). The area I consume for reloading at the range is about the same size as his tool box. I did see a setup once that C-clamped to the shooting bench and sorta hung off to one side about 20". Guy said the plate was from an old photo enlarger base. Had two home made clamps under it, and was rock solid. A lot of places I shoot at makes me have to walk close to a city block to get to the range. That would get old fast.
gary

 

[TOM H]

wonder where he got the name plate from??? I met the "old man" once at the Nationals.

The table is nice, but not very portable. A B&D work mate with a 3/4" thick piece of plywood ontop (about 24" x 36") would give me enough room to reload and clean rifle barrels (I could get by with 24" square in a pinch). The area I consume for reloading at the range is about the same size as his tool box. I did see a setup once that C-clamped to the shooting bench and sorta hung off to one side about 20". Guy said the plate was from an old photo enlarger base. Had two home made clamps under it, and was rock solid. A lot of places I shoot at makes me have to walk close to a city block to get to the range. That would get old fast.
gary

Bench I shoot off is set up also for left/right handed shooter and I set tool box on left hand side so enough room for me to load and shoot with out having to get up. I'll have to get picture and post it. I can load right on tail gate of my pick-up use the tool box lid for arbor press and dies etc.

 

[Trickymissfit]

Bench I shoot off is set up also for left/right handed shooter and I set tool box on left hand side so enough room for me to load and shoot with out having to get up. I'll have to get picture and post it. I can load right on tail gate of my pick-up use the tool box lid for arbor press and dies etc.

One thing I've learned over the years is that we all tend to over complicate the job. I almost bought a Hood press when they first hit the market years ago, and that would have been the one press that could have done it all at the range for me. But the press have never been a serious issue for me anyway, yet the Hood allows me to use the inline dies as well as the threaded dies. I did build a Forster clone that was a little smaller and made of a Magnesium / aluminum alloy that I found in a junk pile. Gave it away in a trade and have cussed myself many times over doing that. Was still too big for my needs anyway. Still worked as well as the Forster in 90% of the uses. I also have a small RCBS Partner but never took it to the range. It'd probably work OK for threaded dies and small cases. Plus I tend to reload the same five cases over and over at the range. I like the Harrell measurer even though the bottles are much smaller than OEM bottles. It also fits in the cigar box better. I used to take a tool box with me to the range, but also found that I rarely opened it, so I started leaving it home and never missed it.

I've been kinda thinking about building my own range car that will have a shelf built ontop it that I can reload or clean rifles off of, but have not gone to far with the ideas yet. You get too much stuff and your right back to square one again. Plus they attract attention at the range.
gary

 

[TOM H]

One thing I've learned over the years is that we all tend to over complicate the job. I almost bought a Hood press when they first hit the market years ago, and that would have been the one press that could have done it all at the range for me. But the press have never been a serious issue for me anyway, yet the Hood allows me to use the inline dies as well as the threaded dies. I did build a Forster clone that was a little smaller and made of a Magnesium / aluminum alloy that I found in a junk pile. Gave it away in a trade and have cussed myself many times over doing that. Was still too big for my needs anyway. Still worked as well as the Forster in 90% of the uses. I also have a small RCBS Partner but never took it to the range. It'd probably work OK for threaded dies and small cases. Plus I tend to reload the same five cases over and over at the range. I like the Harrell measurer even though the bottles are much smaller than OEM bottles. It also fits in the cigar box better. I used to take a tool box with me to the range, but also found that I rarely opened it, so I started leaving it home and never missed it.

I've been kinda thinking about building my own range car that will have a shelf built ontop it that I can reload or clean rifles off of, but have not gone to far with the ideas yet. You get too much stuff and your right back to square one again. Plus they attract attention at the range.
gary

I got into BR before the Hood press and I could put just about everything needed for a match in the tool box and most ranges that I shot at had loading area.. Some used standard press and clamp to table and one big improvement was the clamp on press Harrell for the 6ppc.

When I moved to back Co and shot HBR at Ault, Co seen few that had cargo type trailer set up for reloading.

It was lot easier in the BR days as I just loaded one case but having expanded that over the years to my hunting/varmint rifles I did have to expand. I take another carry type box about 1/2 size of the tool box I'll keep powder and cases and extra dies depending on how many rifles I take. I learned over the years only thing I put out on the lid to load is rifle I'm loading for.

During the week is when I do most of my shooting took me few years answering questions so now get more time to shoot. It's little harder on weekend but being a membership only gun club it's not as bad as shooting public range.

I keep everything pretty simple as I can only neck size with arbor press it's lot easier packing extra cases vs press,lube etc.

Well good luck to you

 

[Trickymissfit]

I got into BR before the Hood press and I could put just about everything needed for a match in the tool box and most ranges that I shot at had loading area.. Some used standard press and clamp to table and one big improvement was the clamp on press Harrell for the 6ppc.

When I moved to back Co and shot HBR at Ault, Co seen few that had cargo type trailer set up for reloading.

It was lot easier in the BR days as I just loaded one case but having expanded that over the years to my hunting/varmint rifles I did have to expand. I take another carry type box about 1/2 size of the tool box I'll keep powder and cases and extra dies depending on how many rifles I take. I learned over the years only thing I put out on the lid to load is rifle I'm loading for.

During the week is when I do most of my shooting took me few years answering questions so now get more time to shoot. It's little harder on weekend but being a membership only gun club it's not as bad as shooting public range.

I keep everything pretty simple as I can only neck size with arbor press it's lot easier packing extra cases vs press,lube etc.

Well good luck to you

I honestly think the secret to loading at the range with accuracey is in keeping it simple. I'll take about a dozen cases of whatever I'm going to shoot, and these cases will be as close to identical as I can make them. That way if I loose a case, I have another similar case. The press issue has never completely satisfied me, and probably never will. Arbor presses don't bump shoulders well, and presses that do bump shoulders well are just too big and heavy to lug around.

At one time I had a friend that had the perfect range. It was a 50 thru 400 yard range, complete with a barbeque grill! Could have shot 1000 yards, but that would really be pushing it. In the ground next to a table setup for cleaning rifles was a piece of steel I-beam that had a plate welded to the top of it. He would mount his press on it for load development. Plus he had a vise setup for tweaking his Colt SA's. It also had a roof over it (shooting area). All his backstops were built to be .375 H&H proof (probably 20mm canon proof). I loved shooting there as nobody came around except for Dude and maybe one of his boys. (Plus his wife made one heck of a peach cobbler). He'd always drag out a couple of his many Mod 70's or 43's. We lost him about ten years ago.

I have a really nice multi million dollar range to shoot at near me, but there are just too many people. Used to be free, but now we have to pay a fee (I don't mind that as it goes towards the upkeep). Just a little too short for my likening. So we head about thrity miles south to the farm and setup there. I can load at either place, but hate people looking over my shoulder.
gary

 

[TOM H]

I honestly think the secret to loading at the range with accuracey is in keeping it simple. I'll take about a dozen cases of whatever I'm going to shoot, and these cases will be as close to identical as I can make them. That way if I loose a case, I have another similar case. The press issue has never completely satisfied me, and probably never will. Arbor presses don't bump shoulders well, and presses that do bump shoulders well are just too big and heavy to lug around.

At one time I had a friend that had the perfect range. It was a 50 thru 400 yard range, complete with a barbeque grill! Could have shot 1000 yards, but that would really be pushing it. In the ground next to a table setup for cleaning rifles was a piece of steel I-beam that had a plate welded to the top of it. He would mount his press on it for load development. Plus he had a vise setup for tweaking his Colt SA's. It also had a roof over it (shooting area). All his backstops were built to be .375 H&H proof (probably 20mm canon proof). I loved shooting there as nobody came around except for Dude and maybe one of his boys. (Plus his wife made one heck of a peach cobbler). He'd always drag out a couple of his many Mod 70's or 43's. We lost him about ten years ago.

I have a really nice multi million dollar range to shoot at near me, but there are just too many people. Used to be free, but now we have to pay a fee (I don't mind that as it goes towards the upkeep). Just a little too short for my likening. So we head about thrity miles south to the farm and setup there. I can load at either place, but hate people looking over my shoulder.
gary

Wilson use to make FL sizer for the arbor press and Jones makes arbor shoulder bumping dies.

B-Square Super MagArbor Twin Post Arbor Press

I still have some Wilson FL sizers and the above press does help.

One club I belong too I can shoot 200/300yd from same bench and we have another range south same club were build 1000yd range and it's slow going like everything "Money" and it's membership funds so be done couple more years. Another club I belong too just complete 600yds range got loading shed and it set up for bench/prone.

My gunsmith has range out to 600yds from same bench and that's pretty handy he's about 10 miles north of me but it does get windy.

 

[Sargesniper]

here's my setup:

1. a K&M arbor press

2. Wilson inline dies with two to four bushings for each die

3. I use a 4" Mitutoyo dial caliper with bushings to measure over

4. K&M priming tool

5. kinda alternate between a Lyman #55 with the Sinclair bottle adapter & drop tubes and a Harrell. I measure loads with a Pact BBK (always carry an extra battery.

6. I do use a Forster case trimmer (actually two) that I have modded to do several chores in case prep. I also have a Wilson trimmer mounted on this same bracket, but rarely need to use it.

7. when throwing long grained powders I also use a generic trickler (probably an RCBS) and a home brew tool to deburr the case I.D.

I can put all this in a 16"x14" x 10" cigar box that I have made brackets to hold everything in place. I have another box I carry powder, bullets, etc in. Will make a third one to put my spotting scope in with the mount as well as the Chronograph & tripod. Onething that has sorta perplexed me is a really good way to carry cleaning rods and cleaning equipment. At the point now that I need to pick up a good range cart.
gary

I'm late to get in on this but i'll say it in case you happen to re-read. I carry cleaning rods and cleaning gear in an old hard rifle case. .........SEMPER FI!

 

[Clark]

I get to my hunting area a week ahead and work up loads and practice shooting long range.
I pound stakes on a hill and fasten giant pieces of cardboard to the stakes.
I mark 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards from the target with surveyor's tape.

I can reload in my vehicle, It is nice and cozy in there sitting on a little kid's chair.
But do not leave rifles on the ground on their bipods during a dust storm.
Also, park where it is level, and leveling the powder scale will be easier.
Don't drive around without taking the powder scale apart.
Tape the powder measure so it does not dispense powder when going over bumps.