Reloading – something that is worth the time..!

By Ron “Gunner”

In the “fall” time of year more people break out their guns for hunting, trap shooting and just plain old target practice.  With all 3 of these ammo will cost you money, and today it is getting more and more expensive with new taxes and just general inflation.

That is where reloading will save you money first of all but more important gives you a hobby and skill that will also improve your shooting. You can get better groups with your own hand loads over off the shelf ammo. But that comes in time with experience and through trail and tweaking. 

For me I can and have spent hours at the reloading bench and load hundreds of shotshells in one sitting.  Now at the new shop it was fun for me to design and get ready to build a reloading bench / area.  Mine has to be multi-functional as a reloading station, sinker making area and reel repair bench. So it had to be long, in fact it will be 10 feet long. And before I get hundreds of e-mails asking and or warning, the lead melting pot and the reloader are NOT next to each other!

It also will have three shelves against the wall in the back of it. The bench top itself will be 30 inches deep and the shelves will be 10 inches deep. It will be bolted to the block wall along the back and have 3 legs in the front with a Craftsman bottom tool cabinet built in under it on the right hand side.  

There will the sinker making area on the left side with the Lee melting pot bolted to the bench top. The storage area on the shelves behind the melting pot will hold the sinker molds on the top and the sinkers will be divided by their size and in containers on the other 2 shelves. The lead for melting will be stored in a airtight sealed containers in ½ pound pieces. In a rack that will be built under the bench on the sinker side.

 In the middle section of the bench is where the reel repair work will be done. Storage of my parts racks will be on the shelves in the middle. The movable magnifier light will be there and the rubber work mat.  This will be a nice open area to do work on the reels.

On the right side of the bench will be the reloading area. The shot and wads will be in place on the shelves along with the empty shell boxes. All reloader accessories, charge bars, shot cups etc will be nicely placed where they are visible and out of the way. The shot will be on the bench under the first shelf. This is a item that is too heavy to be stored on the shelf directly since most are 25 pound bags.  I also plan to display our powder sponsor “Hodgdon Powders” logo on this side of the bench.

The different wad sizes and styles will be in place and in reach. All the tools needed will have a place either on the bench or in the bottom tool chest that will be built in under the bench.

Also the backsplash of the bench will be aluminum, the shelves may be wood or if I can find a heavy plastic that would work, they may then be plastic. Also the bench will be wired with 3 outlets in the front and maybe 2 in the top of the bench.  For the bench top it may also be covered with aluminum or some form of Formica type top.

Now don’t worry this will be also be a “how to” article with photos from start to finish for the site. If you wish you will be able to copy this bench for your own shop. I want this to be a multi-task work area that has all the room you need, set up with the tools and power you need to do whatever work you have in front of you!

This bench will only have these three types of work done on it. There are other benches for motor and carb work. I do not want to have grease and oil stains all over my reloading area. That is another reason for the easy clean-up stain resistant top.  The other shop had wood tops, and they are nice for a while until something leaks overnight. Then it is there forever!

Anyhow, this is just one more winter project you can look for here on Reel Fishing with Gunner…

Hope to see you out there on the water or at the range!

Ron