*Reloading Bench Plans - Shotgun Sports Magazine

1 Are you looking for a way to helpstreamline your reloading ? Here isan easy-to-follow set of Plans forbuilding a sturdy, practical and simplebench for reloading rifle,handgun or shot-gun Bench is designed tobe extremely sturdy to withstand the pres-sures of reloading presses and tools. It hasplenty of room to mount presses and otherequipment and storage areas for acces-sories and components, with a specialdrop-down shelf for your powder Bench was designed to be as ver-satile as possible to meet the needs ofmost reloaders. However, the Plans canalso be considered a starting place for theimaginative builder who wants to cus-tomize the Bench to meet his own specificneeds. For instance, it can be made largeror smaller to meet space requirements orquantities of equipment and it is currently designed, the work areais about waist-high for a 6'2" person.

2 Thiscan be adjusted to fit your height simplyby making the legs longer or Plans include drawings and photos withconstruction details, a materials list and a guide forcutting the pieces from ordinary plywood. If youdo not have a table saw, you might want to have acabinet shop accurately cut the compo-nents for you. A precise fit will not onlymake your Bench better looking but willalso make using it more entire Bench is assembled withbolts and screws for strength. Afterconstruction is completed, you maywish to paint or stain your Plans allow you to separate thethree major reloading processes, keep-ing the necessary accessories and com-ponents separate and ready for compartments are for resizing,removing spent primers and primingthe hull or shell. The middle compart-ments can contain your powder scale,powder-measuring devices and right-hand compartmentsare for bullets, shot, wads and othercomponents for the completed shells,as well as accessories.

3 There is also agenerous lower shelf for storing largerquantities of SportsReloading Bench PlansPlans courtesy of the National reloading Manufacturers AssociationBefore you start, study the list of materials andthe drawing in Figure 1to identify all the com-ponents and their locations on the and cabinet sections should be builtseparately then joined after completion. Thisis a very large Bench which may not cleardoorways when assembled, so plan ahead. Aswith any project,it is best to assemble all com-ponents, hardware and tools before you 1 MATERIALS LIST(NOTE: Materials are listed separately for the lower Bench section and upper cabinet section.) Bench LUMBER# OFLOCATIONITEMSIZE PIECES LENGTH ON DRAWINGTop frame2x6 169"ABottom frame 2x4 266"BTop frame2x4 172"CBottom frame 2x4 222"DTop frame2x6 172"ETop frame2x6 2301/2"FLegs4x4 442"GSuggestion:Two 8-foot 2x4s and one 6-foot 6-foot 8-foot PLYWOOD# OFLOCATIONITEMSIZE PIECES DIMENSIONS ON DRAWINGTop3/4"134"x 72"HLower shelf3/4"1251/2"x 69"IBack panel3/4"118"x 69"JEnd panels3/4"218"x 293/4"KSuggestion:Three 4'x8' sheets of 3/4" plywood forthe above pieces, plus the 3/4" piecesfor the cabinet.

4 See cutting HARDWARE12 3/8"x 6" carriage bolts, nuts & washers25 1/4"x 3" flat-head woodscrews9 dozen 3/16"x13/4" flat-head woodscrewsCABINET PLYWOOD# OFLOCATIONITEMSIZE PIECES DIMENSIONS ON DRAWINGTop & bottom3/4"212"x701/2"AAEnds3/4"212"x 24"BBCenter shelves3/4"212"x 23"CCCenter uprights3/4"212"x221/2"DDShelf dividers3/4"2103/4"x221/2"EECenter door3/4"1 63/4"x 23"FFShelves3/4"4*103/4"x105/8"GGCabinet back1/4"124"x 72"HHSliding doors1/4"4221/4"x12"IISliding doors1/4"4 63/4"x12"JJ*One for each compartment. Additional shelves can be added as HARDWARE4 sets double track for sliding doors, each 23" long32' adjustable shelf track with sufficient brackets (4 per shelf) and 1/2" flat-head nails3 dozen 3/16"x13/4" flat-head woodscrews2 dozen 1" woodscrews for cabinet back1 piano hinge 23" long, with mounting screws1 length of chain, 10" long, plus 2 screw eyes for shelf support8 finger grips for sliding doors1 door pull for shelf door1 latch for shelf doorShotgun 'x 8'x3/4" plywood4'x 8'x3/4" plywood4'x 8'x3/4" plywood4'x 8'x1/4" plywoodGUIDE TO PLYWOOD CUTTINGBENCH CONSTRUCTIONSTEP ONESaw all lumber and plywood for the Bench .

5 Doublecheck dimensions and sand any rough sure to drill and countersink all TWOA ssemble the lower shelf frame using two 3"woodscrews at each THREESaw a 31/2"x31/2"notch at both rearcorners of the lower-shelf accommodatethe rear 4x4 FOURA ssemble the topframe. Saw a notch inthe two 2x6 piecesthat form the ends ofthe frame. Eachnotch should be 2"long and 11/2" accommodates the 2x6 front edge supportand allows for the necessary overhang (seephoto). Use two 3" woodscrews at each corner andto fasten the 2x6 front edge FIVESaw a notch into the top of both 4x4 front notch should be cut into the rear legs! Thenotch on the front legs is 11/2" deep from the topof the 4x4 and 2" from the side (see drawing).This will enable the leg to nest under the front2x6 edge support (see photo).STEP SIXTurn the top frame upside-down on workbench orfloor and position all four legs.

6 Using a 3/8" drill bit,drill holes through the frame and legs. Insert bolts,add washers and lightly tighten SEVENWith Bench still upside-down, hold end panelsagainst legs so they are flush against the 2x6 edge of the end panel determinesthe bottom edge of the lower shelf frame. Markthe legs, then drill 3/8" holes for bolts in the legsand lower shelf EIGHTB efore bolting the lower frame to the legs, attachthe plywood shelf to the frame with 13/4" screws,then bolt the frame to the legs. Check to make sureall pieces are properly assembled, then tighten Bench right-side up and attach theplywood top, end panels and back panel with 13/4" Bench is now complete!CABINET CONSTRUCTIONSTEP ONEA ssemble top, bottom and ends of cabinet with13/4" woodscrews. Attach the plywood cabinetback to the outer frame; this will automaticallysquare up the cabinet for subsequent SportsSTEP TWOA ssemble thecenter sectionwith two centeruprights andtwo centershelves.

7 Place amark exactly 7"from the topand bottom ofthe uprights toindicate thelocation of thetop of the top shelf and bottom of the bottomshelf, creating a 7" center section. Measurecarefully, then assemble with 13/4" THREEP lace the center section in the cabinet this section, leaving a 23" opening ateither end. Measure carefully, then assemblewith 13/4" FOURP osition shelf dividers in the end they are precisely centered, therewill be an 111/8" opening on either side of eachdivider. Measure carefully, then assemble with13/4" FIVECut shelf track to size, then nail into brackets for each shelf and place shelvesinto SIXD rill 1/2" holesfor finger gripson the slidingdoors and gluethe finger gripsinto place. Fitthe doubletrack, makingsure the deeptrack is at the top and the shallow track is at thebottom so the doors can be properly or nail the track into place onlyafter makingsure everything fits properly.

8 (You may want todelay permanently attaching the track until afterpainting or staining is done.)STEP SEVENA ttach the powder-scale door with the piano so the door is flush with the cabinetwhen closed. Use the chain with the screw eyes tohold the door in a level position when this shelf is absolutely level to insure thebest operation of your powder thedrawer pull and your choice of catch to hold doorclosed. (Note: Fitting the door may requireadditional sanding, depending on the type of pianohinge you choose.) Your cabinet is now complete!FINAL ASSEMBLYWhen the Bench and cabinet are complete, jointhem with woodscrews to avoid any possibility ofmovement when operating your reloadingpresses. Be sure the Bench rests solidly on thefloor, with the top of the Bench absolutely levelto prevent components from complete, illustrated brochure entitled SetYourself Up To Reload!

9 Containing these Plans andbasic, easy-to-understand reloading information,checklists and a source guide,is $6per brochure to NRMA Booklet, One CenterpointeDr.,Suite 300,Lake Oswego,OR NRMA ssafety folder,The Basic Rules For reloading Safety,is included with each the NRMA web-site at (This Blast From the Past feature last appeared inthe July 2002 issue ofShotgun Sports .) Shotgun