Setup for reloading again after 30 years of reloading - From minimalist set up with unlimited budget

RashQuestion said:

Sorry not really on topic but just felt the need to share my thoughts on that!!!

Thanks for understanding!

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No problem.

With thread OP premise being reloading setup after 30 years (Thirty years already? How fast time flies!), I figured there would be a lot of fond memory recall and discourse of "life".

RashQuestion said:

Series great but what really happened was incredible!!! They were just "kids"!!! My father was there and they called him an "old man" at just 24. It still amazes me when I think of it!

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I went through Army boot camp at 19 after a year of college to be trained as medic and thought those in their 20s were already "old". By the time I was discharged, I felt like an "old man".

When I returned back to "civilian life" and continued attending college (I ironed my shirt collars and creased pant legs for class, just like in the Army), having experienced disciplined military life and harshness of reality, it was a life changing experience compared to other students who up to that point led very "sheltered" life complaining about mundane things. When I told them of sleeping on dirt just few hours a day in full uniform having to jump to shooting position at a moment's notice and literally holding someone's life in your hands ... what they complained about soft "civilian life" vaporized into thin air. When they complained about "terrible" college cafeteria food, I told them about first generation MREs that tasted worse than cardboard and anything hot was better. When my wife in her 20s was learning to cook (She essentially only knew how to make mac & cheese from box when we met) and apologized for her bad food (One dish she cooked was so bad she dumped the entire batch into the trash can), I told her I ate Army food and survived so I can eat anything ... (When you are scarfing food down, you don't have time to taste food ).

Can't imagine how those returning soldiers readjusted to civilian life after seeing horrors of war without much transitional debriefing process. Watching someone die before your eyes changes you and shifts your life's focus for certain. And yes, they were just kids drafted into war and expected to "act normal" afterwards ... Wow!

When I make mistakes and piss off my wife of 29 years, I tell her "You know, all the brain damage from Army ". This is my sleepy wife during breakfast amused but not convinced I am brain damaged and planning next "honey do" project for me (I KNEW she was thinking about rescuing guinea pigs again)



Yup, she did and already started laying out 3 story guinea pig mansion in the corner of the living room with 14" C&C modules for me to build base frame/tables for. See why I can't seem to get my reloading/shooting projects pursued? Good thing I am retired with "all the time in the world" ... to shop, cook, bake, clean and pursue projects for wife.

irishlad said:

I'm jealous every time I see your 10/22 #3

Wish I would’ve bought one

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Entire 10/22 Collector #3 including CPC reworked "Collector Series" engraved bolt/new extractor minus receiver and Redfield 4-12x40 scope for late Christmas present going out to @irishlad today.

RashQuestion said:

God Bless You for all you do!!! I'm sure that the guinea pigs will enjoy their new mansion!!! Thanks Again!!!

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Thank you. Reflecting back on almost 58 years, I realized life indeed is short and now is the time to live life, not tomorrow.

LiveLife said:

benvigil said:

Do they sell the case gate separately? I'd love to replace my rubberbanded contraption without having to buy the entire case feeder.

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forwarded your question to Calvin, my contact at Lee Precision. I will post back when I get a response.

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This is the email reply I got from Calvin:

benvigil said:

LiveLife said:

This is the email reply I got from Calvin ...

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Hey, thanks for going to bat on this. I appreciate it.

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You are welcome.

Update - Inspirational reminders: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-unlimited-budget.912629/page-3#post-12798528

LiveLife said:

Entire 10/22 Collector #3 including CPC reworked "Collector Series" engraved bolt/new extractor minus receiver and Redfield 4-12x40 scope for late Christmas present going out to @irishlad today.

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@irishlad confirmed receiving 10/22 Collector #3 package and Redfield 4-12x40mm scope as late Christmas present. I am glad to see them go to a good home to be appreciated and enjoyed. So the "Man's Best Friend" sign will now grace @irishlad bench and I will look for other "inspirational reminders" for reloading.

With rainy season in full swing, my portable range/field reloading setup for 55/62/69/75 gr .223 load development in 0.1 gr increment with newly built 18"/20" .223 Wylde 1:8 uppers is on hold along with 47 brands/weights/lots testing of 22LR at 50/100 yards (I may continue 22LR comparison testing with 17" factory T/CR22 barrel while I contemplate Feddersen/KIDD/Shaw/GM barrel for 10/22 receiver) until I complete wife's latest "honey do" project of building 3 story guinea pig mansion (Here's first section of 3 section base) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-unlimited-budget.912629/page-3#post-12796272

Update - Secondary component storage/press mount - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-unlimited-budget.912629/page-3#post-12796394

I have had a chance to use the "secondary" component storage/press mount for some time and it would make a low cost $39 reloading bench option for those with limited space using just four 3" screws to solidly mount to wall studs (BTW, brown thing below the bench is doggy napping bed for reloading QC puppies) - https://www.walmart.com/ip/BestOffi...000-lbs-Capacity-Black/222918738?athbdg=L1600

"Houston, we have a problem" ... This thread is fast becoming a "real world" thread.

I thought placing the Bench Plate closer to the edge of wire shelving unit would optimize rigidity but during "Priming tools / Military crimp swage tools" when I mounted the Auto Bench Prime to the bench block, I realized there was not enough room for handle movement. Also, while Six Pack Pro/Pro 6000 with ball handle worked fine, when I replaced the ball handle with roller handle, roller hit the wire shelving frame.

So moving the Bench Plate was necessary and I referenced the hole on the left front to drill new holes (This also allowed the rear bolt hole to be reused). So with Auto Bench Prime mounted, no handle clearance issue.



And no issues for Deluxe APP and since processed brass exits to the right, now there's room for bin.



"Houston, we have another problem" ... This was partly anticipated when I was screwing the wire shelving unit to wall studs. For me and office chair I am using (That provides great back support), 32" bench height is good and when mounting the 54" tall wire shelving unit, I raised it by thickness of 2"x3" lumber block below the feet to allow 22" from top of bench to bottom of wire shelf for use with 2023 Breech Lock head Pro 1000 and factory one pound bottle adapter (BTW, roller handle was lowered 3.5" below the lever clamp for comfortable sit down operation).



Problem is when using case collator, top wire shelf won't allow the collator to move up and simple solution is to remove the collator after filling the tubes with cases.



Removing the collator provides clearance for tubes



Same for Six Pack Pro and removing case collator after filling the tubes will allow case tube clearance with top shelf.



UPDATE: Reloading setup summary (Prices and links updated):

1. Bench - Home Depot Husky portable castered adjustable bench $250
2. Scale - Creedmoor Sports TRX-925 $350
3. Check weight set - Troemner 200 gr to 0.5 gr ASTM Class 6 $31
4. Calipers/Standards - Measuring tools, check weights and pin gages ~$200
5. Scope ring/mount torque wrench - Tekton 10-150 in lb $60
6. Brass tumbler - Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler $159, Branson ultrasonic cleaner $PIF
7. Reloading press - Six Pack Pro/Pro 6000 kit $340 (5 tube case feeder with case gate $39), Dillon 550 $665, 2023 Pro 1000 $235 (5 tube case feeder with case gate $39), Deluxe APP $133
8. Quick change press mount - Bench Plate $28 + Blocks $13
9. Portable press - Hand press $53 (For powder work up at the range using processed and primed brass)
10. Range box - MTM Tactical Range Box $60 (Range reloading/tool/cleaning storage)
11. Powder measure - C-H 502 $141, Deluxe PPM $66
12. Powder measure stand - Lee Precision $40 (Portable/Range reloading)
13. Reloading equipment/tool storage - Husky 36" 12 drawer rollaway $700
14. Reloading component storage - Wire shelving unit 48"x18"x72" $130 (600 lbs per shelf)
15. Mounting Dillon 550 to Lee Bench Plate - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-unlimited-budget.912629/page-3#post-12796272
16. Secondary component storage/press mount - Wire shelving unit 36"x14"x54" $39 (250 lbs per shelf)
17. Priming tools - Auto Prime (Discontinued), Auto Prime XR $23, Auto Bench Prime $32, Deluxe APP $133
18. Military crimp swage tools - C-H swage kit $50, APP Primer Swage kit $32

LiveLife said:

LiveLife said:

Entire 10/22 Collector #3 including CPC reworked "Collector Series" engraved bolt/new extractor minus receiver and Redfield 4-12x40 scope for late Christmas present going out to @irishlad

Click to expand...

@irishlad confirmed receiving 10/22 Collector #3 package and Redfield 4-12x40mm scope as late Christmas present. I am glad to see them go to a good home to be appreciated and enjoyed. So the "Man's Best Friend" sign will now grace @irishlad bench

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And Collector #3 reassembled on @irishlad receiver with Redfield scope for many more years of happy memories with cute puppies.

Adding "Dillon" dial calipers to measuring tools - https://www.dillonprecision.com/13462

It's 6" dial calipers by ABS Import Tools - https://www.absimporttools.com/6-standard-rack-dial-caliper-4100-0202.html

"Dillon" dial calipers verified Vermont Gage ZZ +/- pin gages and feeler gages confirmed by Brown & Sharpe micrometer:

• .451"-" - Read .451"
• .400 "-" - Read .400"
• .355 "+" - Read .355"
• 0.010" - Read .010"
• 0.006" - Read .006"
• 0.002" - Read .002"
• 0.0015" - Read between .002" and .001"

UPDATE: Reloading setup summary:

1. Bench - Home Depot Husky portable castered adjustable bench $250
2. Scale - Creedmoor Sports TRX-925 $350
3. Check weight set - Troemner 200 gr to 0.5 gr ASTM Class 6 $31
4. Calipers/Standards - Dillon calipers $29, Measuring tools, check weights and pin gages ~$200
5. Scope ring/mount torque wrench - Tekton 10-150 in lb $60
6. Brass tumbler - Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler $159, Branson ultrasonic cleaner $PIF
7. Reloading press - Six Pack Pro/Pro 6000 kit $340 (5 tube case feeder with case gate $39), Dillon 550 $665, 2023 Pro 1000 $235 (5 tube case feeder with case gate $39), Deluxe APP $133
8. Quick change press mount - Bench Plate $28 + Blocks $13
9. Portable press - Hand press $53 (For powder work up at the range using processed and primed brass)
10. Range box - MTM Tactical Range Box $60 (Range reloading/tool/cleaning storage)
11. Powder measure - C-H 502 $141, Deluxe PPM $66
12. Powder measure stand - Lee Precision $40 (Portable/Range reloading)
13. Reloading equipment/tool storage - Husky 36" 12 drawer rollaway $700
14. Reloading component storage - Wire shelving unit 48"x18"x72" $130 (600 lbs per shelf)
15. Mounting Dillon 550 to Lee Bench Plate - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-unlimited-budget.912629/page-3#post-12796272
16. Secondary component storage/press mount - Wire shelving unit 36"x14"x54" $39 (250 lbs per shelf)
17. Priming tools - Auto Prime (Discontinued), Auto Prime XR $23, Auto Bench Prime $32, Deluxe APP $133
18. Military crimp swage tools - C-H swage kit $50, APP Primer Swage kit $32