What is the one gadget no reloading room should be without?

[TheDomFather]

Compact and powerful flashlight. Nothing like some light on the subject. Perfect for comparing the powder levels in a block of powdered cases and finding that dropped primer.

I would have to agree with this in general, lighting, lighting and more lighting. I am in a new house as of the start of April and when I had it built knowing my reloading bench would be in the garage I had the builder install 6 extra 4' LED lights above my bench and I put under cabinet LED lighting on the bottom of the cabinets and also have a inline Fabrication light on my Hornady LNL press. I had horrific lighting at my last house for my reloading bench and frequently used a flashlight as mentioned above and still do after I charge all of my rifle cases with powder I take the flashlight and look into every case to make sure the amount of powder looks relatively consistent from case to case.

 

[Hondo 60]

My brain; my attention is # 1.

But mechanically?
I added lights to my presses.
Wow - what a difference.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kms2+lights+dillon&ref=nb_sb_noss

It makes it REALLY easy to see in the case.

 

[fotheringill]

Bullet puller.

 

[eschafer]

Digital Case Size Comparator.... by Larry Willis.... often referred to as a "Digital Headspace Gauge", but it's not, it's a comparator..... for a very GREEN reloader like myself who's chronically checking every case after every step, this device makes it incredibly easy to understand how my sizing process is going, exactly... very helpful device...

 

[kmw1954]

Locking door knob on the door. Keeps people out whether I'm in there or not.

 

[.308 Norma]

Bullet puller.

That's what I was going to say. But then I remembered I never make mistakes. So I seldom, if ever, disassemble ammo.

 

[rfwobbly]

A Dillon calendar.

 

[Legionnaire]

Flush mounted InLine Fabrication quick release base plates and plates for my vise and each of my presses. My space is at a premium, and the QR system really helps me make the most of it.

 

[NWGooser]

A lot of good ideas here. Absolutely on board with the lighting.

 

[Whiterook808]

I use cheap paint brushes to keep the presses clean. A clean and properly lubricated press is always a joy to use and gives less trouble. I think quality scales and calipers are important. Also case headspace gauges are something I rely on. If you have the tools to accurately measure COAL and run out you have the means of judging the dimensional quality of your rounds.

 

[Milt1]

A universal de-primer!

 

[H&R Glock]

Refrigerator with beer for when you are done reloading.

 

[Patocazador]

A de-burring/chamfer tool is indispensable for me along with a case trimmer.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

A Press.

You beat me to it.

 

[brutus51]

A couple of very useful items include:
A 0-1 tube micrometer, great for measuring case mouth uniformity.
A 0-1 disc micrometer, much better than a caliper for measuring taper crimps.
A concentricity gage, essential for accurate rifle loads.

Others have mentioned calipers but I think the emphasis should be on a good quality. Cheap calipers wear out quickly, especially in the blade area where crimps are measured. Brown&sharpe, Starret and Mitatoyo are worth the extra price.
Glockateers use cheap ones.

 

[GLShooter]

Quality scales and enough light to light up the moon.

Greg

 

[NWGooser]

Getting lots of good ideas. I should have posted this before Father’s Day. One more item that I use a lot is a small cordless vacuum. I like to keep my bench clean and use it all the time.

 

[Milt1]

Same here on the vacuum cleaner, mine is small and corded!

 

[GW Staar]

When even the best lighting isn't enough, contrast!!....needed more and more as I get older:
Cold blue for small parts then, tho not exactly a gadget, a good ole gooey white paint stick you can wipe on and with mineral spirits wipe off the excess:


For me, the Sharpie Meanstreak Permanent Paint Marker really makes the military reamers above easier to identify.

In the real gadget dept.....here's one I don't have.....but wished I did.....

 

[NWGooser]

When even the best lighting isn't enough, contrast!!....

Great idea. Definitely doing this.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

RADIO.

Each to his own, but I reload in silence so as to avoid distractions. Awfully boring, though.

 

[red rick]

I made a stand for my scale that puts my scale at eye level , that I like a lot .

 

[George P]

RADIO.

No need, I have a full desktop PC so I can play all the you tubes music videos I want while looking up load data

 

[Toprudder]

I have a radio and play it all the time, except when I am doing something really important, like dropping powder.

 

[Slamfire]

A good quality balance beam scale. I use one in conjunction with an electronic just as a double check but rely on the beam for accuracy.

Yupe. Electronic scales are not to be trusted when temperatures drop into the 40's. They are temperature sensitive and even if you consistently verify zero with check weights, as your reloading room (or garage) warms up, outputs from peizo electric sensor will wander. But, gravity seems to be pretty much unaffected by temperature: