Traveling and reloading?

[Rlbol]

Does anyone travel a lot and reload while traveling? If so can help out with equipment, how do pack stuff etc...

Obviously I am referring to traveling by car.

Calibers are 6.5 crm, 308, 300wm and 338lm.

At home I run either lee turret press or redding big boss 2 . I had thought about taking a 2x2 or so piece of heavy wood. Bolting the press to it then clamping it to a table when in use. But haven't tried yet.

If I went arbor press can it handle the larger calibers?

 

[JoshcBoucher]

Functionally, it's easy, The "wood" you need, would be about 2 in, wider than your press, 1 to 1 1/2 in thick, and about 2 ft long. Oak, or maple is best. Pine won't last. You can leave the press bolted to the board. or remove one bolt, loosen the other, and the press slides out. The 2 ft length, is for leverage. Hang the press over the edge of your table, so the bolts don't scratch it. I used 2 clamps. One at the end of the board opposite the press, for the leverage, and one close to the press, to stop pivoting on the first clamp. I used that set up, for years. My only concern, for you, is traveling with powder. I don't know what those Hazmat rules are.

 

[rdinak]

Reloading Benches - Page 2 - Saubier.com

check this out

 

[flashhole]

I built this as a portable setup, works great. I used Dillon Strong Mounts as the vertical uprights and made the top and bottom plates from 5/16 steel. I carry all the other dodads for case prep, priming, dies etc. in a 24" long tool box. I have a hole drilled in the bottom plate and drilled holes in the benches at the range so I can lock it down. A C-clamp works great too. Keeping the scale out of the wind during load development can be tricky. A cardboard box laid on its side works well as a wind block if you need it. Always draws a crowd when I haul it to the range.

 

[flashhole]

Here's another pic during the build process. There is a rubber pad on the bottom that can't be seen. It keeps it from skidding around on hard surfaces. I have since added (and removed) side plates (shelves) but found them to be too unstable in the open air. A good reloading tray goes a long way to keep things organized.

 

[SpeedyR]

I've always seen this but thought that putting the press on a wood "plate" and clamping that would be better...

Frankford Arsenal Portable Reloading Stand

get two of the c-clamps or Irwin quick grips and they hold just about anything down. I have something similar with m bench at the house, I have trimmer and some other 'accessories' on wood plates and swap them out depending upon what I am doing...

Irwin Quick-Grip Clamp Set (8-Piece)-4935502 at The Home Depot

 

[HodgdonExtreme]

I just clamp my my press straight to whatever table/bench my destination has on hand, though I do only bring prepped brass with me. Thus I don't need to resize brass with the setup.

I've loaded on:

Kitchen tables, shooting benches, coffee tables, hotel room desks, etc etc...

 

[Rlbol]

Thanks guys those are some good ideas

 

[Rlbol]

I built this as a portable setup, works great. I used Dillon Stron Mounts as the vertical uprights and made the top and bottom plates from 5/16 steel. I carry all the other dodads for case prep, priming, dies etc. in a tool 24" long tool box. I have a hole drilled in the bottom plate and drilled holes in the benches at the range so I can lock it down. A C-clamp works great too. Keeping the scale out of the wind during load development can be tricky. A cardboard box laid on its side works well as a wind block if you need it. Always draws a crowd when I haul it to the range.

That is awesome!!

 

[gunsnjeeps]

I made the box shown in post 23 on page two and mounted a Redding big boss to it. Works great in a hotel.

 

[kmose73]

I work out of town and often reload. I just got a piece of microlam and bolted the press to it (rock chucker). The I clamp that to a table with bar clamps. Bam!

 

[Victor N TN]

For years I didn't have a dedicated bench for everything. So I used a piece of 2 X 6 X about 2 feet long. I fastened the press with carriage bolts with the rounded head on the bottom. Then torque them heavy enough to pull the heads BELOW flush so they won't mess up the wood underneath. Take 2, 4" C clamps and 2 large C clamp Vise Grips (deep throated kind) with you and a small thin terry cloth hand towel. When you get where you are going put down the hand towel on the corner of what ever table you have available. Put the 2 C clamps nearer the edge and tighten and the 2 deep throated vise grip pliers as deep as possible.

I did this for probably 8 or 10 years on our dining room table without leaving a mark of any kind. And believe me my wife did a close order inspection almost every time. I did 30-06 with no problem if I did a good lube job and used my left hand to hold back on the top of the press. I have never had a 338LM. You're on your own for that one.

Good luck and be careful.
Victor

 

[GrantA]

If you can find an old C-H H-type press like this one, it fits nicely in a 20mm ammo can along with some powder, scale, trickler, bullets, brass, etc. As long as the brass is already sized clamping isn't even necessary, it'll sit right on a table.
I snagged this press for $40 in rough shape, took it apart, painted and oiled everything, she's running great now

 

[Rlbol]

I have never seen a press like that. I will have to looking for one. Looks like it is pretty self contained!