What does it take to load on the go?

[Dimner]

A couple ways to haul crap back and forth , the wagon is my go to in the gravel
View attachment 1521804View attachment 1521805

How do you like those craftsman roll boxes? I had been looking at some, and other brands too, but I worry they will fall apart after a few years. Also, nice drum throne

 

[bozo699]

My loading room sits on my range so I rarely need to go mobile but when I do this works for me.
Wayne

 

[JFrank]

How do you like those craftsman roll boxes? I had been looking at some, and other brands too, but I worry they will fall apart after a few years. Also, nice drum throne

The set on the left I like and use for my tools and such, but the larger set not so much, that’s why my range stuff rides in the cooler while traveling then transfers to the wagon once I get there.

Also to the OP a guy can use 1 dram vials preloaded and not carry a scale around just a seater. Some guys carry a huge box of vials, I have a few of these.

 

[Dimner]

The set on the left I like and use for my tools and such, but the larger set not so much, that’s why my range stuff rides in the cooler while traveling then transfers to the wagon once I get there.

Also to the OP a guy can use 1 dram vials preloaded and not carry a scale around just a seater. Some guys carry a huge box of vials, I have a few of these.

Those vials are a great idea.

Can you double check the size? Google is telling me that 1 dram converts to 3.69MLs, but your vial seems like a 10 or 20ml?

 

[JFrank]

Those vials are a great idea.

Can you double check the size? Google is telling me that 1 dram converts to 3.69MLs, but your vial seems like a 10 or 20ml?

There about this size..just right to fit in a 20 gage cartridge carrier.
I don’t recall the exact number

 

[Paul's Black Rifles]

My loading room sits on my range so I rarely need to go mobile but when I do this works for me.
Wayne

I load in my shop. If it is just a function check I'll step outside and shoot at one hill or the other. If I'm testing accuracy I'll hop in the side by side or the pickup and head to which ever direction the wind favors.
Paul

 

[newbieshooter]

Those vials are a great idea.

Can you double check the size? Google is telling me that 1 dram converts to 3.69MLs, but your vial seems like a 10 or 20ml?

There about this size..just right to fit in a 20 gage cartridge carrier.
I don’t recall the exact number

Those are 1dram vials...

What is your setup for Reloading at the Range??

I'm curious to see what everyone is using for their portable range set up..... What press and dies? what type of scale, and how bout powder dispenser and primer tool?? Do you just C clamp everything to the bench? or do you have a range box with everything set up ready to go. Pictures...

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[waverly]

I load test tubes kept in a 100 round ammo box. Pre sized and primed case, a straight line seater. All you need, nothing else. I use to drag all the stuff, got old.

I also use glass test tubes. I have a couple of thousand. I pre measure and use fully primed and sized brass. I have a trailer hitch-mount for a Rockchucker or use a Harrels clamp on to seat. It’s too easy to forget something if I have to gather all of that stuff.

I just reweighed tubes of Varget that had been in test tubes for 7 years to shoot a 600 match last Sat. and Sunday. I haven’t shot benchrest match since 2017. I used for sighters stuff that had been loaded for 7 years as well. I did bump the bullets.010. They sounded like a cap pistol when they were cracked. They actually worked pretty good as sighters.When re-weighed the charge was never more than a couple of thousands off. Yeah I know old powder but I did ok. Who throws away Varget these days? It’s still fun and I did ok. I definitely was out of practice.

Waverly

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

I really like the setup. Multiple levels is a great idea. Smaller footprint. Also it can be used indoors or outdoors.


Two things, although I am sure others have mentioned it.

1) some clamps to keep it secure to the table.
2) If possible, some sort of clamshell to protect it in travel, or a way to quick release the press and powder thrower for travel. The cam lever clamps come to mind for the powder thrower as a clamping system you could incorporate.

View attachment 1521872View attachment 1521878

There are quite a few variations of these clamps with different orientations, and some that work with t-track and such. I think something like the black one would work for you.

You are the second to suggest a quick release method. That works. Press and powder thrower are bolted at this point. I may want to just clamp the powder thrower.

 

[ebb]

JFrank I like Ole Smokey also but FireFly will get-r-done also. I have trouble finding it now but Firefly peach trips my trigger. The peach is clear as water and my daughters don't suspect and think I am drinking water. The apple pie is good.

 

[Fire Dog]

You are the second to suggest a quick release method. That works. Press and powder thrower are bolted at this point. I may want to just clamp the powder thrower.

I just have a Co-Ax mounted on 5/16" bit of steel plate that is mounted on {with screws for both} a piece of 1" thick plywood. That allows me to just clamp it down to any table with a 6" C/G clamp...
If you are loading for .308 or shorter cartridges than a Harrell's Combo Compact press is ideal as it features a side piece that lets you use a Wilson seating die, meaning you do not have to carry a separate bit of gear{arbor press}.
They are a favorite piece of equipment with the 6PPC crowd that load at the range between @ event.
If you get a chance to attend one of these specialized shoots it will be interesting for you to see all the portable setups that they carry. The Harrell presses come with their own clamps as they are specifically directed to be portable and used on any bench that is 4" or less thick.
Most portable arrangements are looking a bit like the picture of the setup with the powder thrower powered up with a battery and just the Harrell press and of course dies and projectiles... Some that I know even make their own bullets...! Seriously deep end...

Gear Review: Compact Combo Press from the Harrell Brothers « Daily Bulletin

If you're looking for a solid, beautifully fabricated loading press that can do double-duty at home AND at the range, consider the Combo Press from Harrell's Precision, run by brothers Lynwood and Walter Harrell.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

You will need to find one used now as Harrell has stopped making them and only make the compact press though it is available in two sizes and the larger one will load cases up to 36-06 length.

BTW: Carrying powder charges already weighed out is a great idea and eliminates one more piece of equipment that needs specialized treatment anyway.. Such as an "Unshakable table and a screen to block any drafts and of course careful handling of sensitive electronic equipment so as not to be damaged in transit...

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

I just have a Co-Ax mounted on 5/16" bit of steel plate that is mounted on {with screws for both} a piece of 1" thick plywood. That allows me to just clamp it down to any table with a 6" C/G clamp...
If you are loading for .308 or shorter cartridges than a Harrell's Combo Compact press is ideal as it features a side piece that lets you use a Wilson seating die, meaning you do not have to carry a separate bit of gear{arbor press}.
They are a favorite piece of equipment with the 6PPC crowd that load at the range between @ event.
If you get a chance to attend one of these specialized shoots it will be interesting for you to see all the portable setups that they carry. The Harrell presses come with their own clamps as they are specifically directed to be portable and used on any bench that is 4" or less thick.
Most portable arrangements are looking a bit like the picture of the setup with the powder thrower powered up with a battery and just the Harrell press and of course dies and projectiles... Some that I know even make their own bullets...! Seriously deep end...

Gear Review: Compact Combo Press from the Harrell Brothers « Daily Bulletin

If you're looking for a solid, beautifully fabricated loading press that can do double-duty at home AND at the range, consider the Combo Press from Harrell's Precision, run by brothers Lynwood and Walter Harrell.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

You will need to find one used now as Harrell has stopped making them and only make the compact press though it is available in two sizes and the larger one will load cases up to 36-06 length.

BTW: Carrying powder charges already weighed out is a great idea and eliminates one more piece of equipment that needs specialized treatment anyway.. Such as an "Unshakable table and a screen to block any drafts and of course careful handling of sensitive electronic equipment so as not to be damaged in transit...

That's cool too

 

[jackieschmidt]

Glass tubes are great for going to a Match, but for testing purposes You have to have some way to load at the range.

I fail to see the difficulties in loading at the range. Everybody I shoot with has been doing it for decades. It is second nature to every Short Range BENCHREST Shooter I know. The advent of electronic powder measures such as the ChargeMaster series has certainly made things simple. Especially the CM Lite, which has an excellent wind guard, much better than the 1500.

 

[SSchnd]

Took a low budget electronic measure along yesterday to speed things up loaded inside clubhouse again. Table wasn’t perfect for powder measure but I found what I was chasing on target

 

[AlNyhus]

Glass tubes are great for going to a Match, but for testing purposes You have to have some way to load at the range.

I fail to see the difficulties in loading at the range. Everybody I shoot with has been doing it for decades. It is second nature to every Short Range BENCHREST Shooter I know. The advent of electronic powder measures such as the ChargeMaster series has certainly made things simple. Especially the CM Lite, which has an excellent wind guard, much better than the 1500.

Jackie, I started out working with my huntin' guns for better accuracy. I got tired real quickly of back and forth to the range stuff (20 minutes one way). I got a little Lee 'C' press to seat bullets ($17.95), clamped it to the bumper of my little Mazda pickup. Came with sized and primed cases and powder in some test tubes that the lab at the hospital I worked at was going throw out.

After the first time doing this, I drove home thinking "Why the (bleep) doesn't everyone do this?"

 

[JEFFPPC]

Glass tubes are great for going to a Match, but for testing purposes You have to have some way to load at the range.

I fail to see the difficulties in loading at the range. Everybody I shoot with has been doing it for decades. It is second nature to every Short Range BENCHREST Shooter I know. The advent of electronic powder measures such as the ChargeMaster series has certainly made things simple. Especially the CM Lite, which has an excellent wind guard, much better than the 1500.

Very simple. A base load then tubes with .1, .2, .3 in. Add as required. I did miss one it in my post earlier....a loading block.

 

[JFrank]

I know a few guys that take preloaded ammo and a multitude of vials and never pack a scale around. They’ve done pretty well for themselves.

 

[OLeveraction]

I see the mid range benchrest guys loading at the range when deciding on seating or powder weight with a arbor press and an auto-scaler.
Not really otherwise.

 

[Dimner]

Glass tubes are great for going to a Match, but for testing purposes You have to have some way to load at the range.

I fail to see the difficulties in loading at the range. Everybody I shoot with has been doing it for decades. It is second nature to every Short Range BENCHREST Shooter I know. The advent of electronic powder measures such as the ChargeMaster series has certainly made things simple. Especially the CM Lite, which has an excellent wind guard, much better than the 1500.

For me. It's the fact that I live in a quad level. Meaning reloading is downstairs, I have to go up 2 flights of stairs and through 2 doors to get.my stuff to the jeep. Then after that it's up another set of stairs and through 2 doors at the range. I live 1.75 miles from the range.

So reloading at home after the range is just easier and going back the next day or the next weekend. And to be honest, I'm not sure I'm a quick enough analyst of results to immediately determine what the next test should be.

This would all be moot if I could afford to have a dual setup. One I can keep static in my reloading room and one in a mobile setup. Some day I'm hoping! Then again. I'm reeeeaaallly bad at selling gear I do not use. If I started purging gear, I bet I could get that 2nd setup.

 

[Jayplace]

I am a total failure at loading at the range. I gathered up some stuff and set out to give it a try, and the little scale I used had an auto off function that was always off when I needed it. I have not tried since but if your scale will stay on long enough to load a round, it looks to me like the only thing you would need is some kind of screen to keep the wind off the scale. but having never been successful at it maybe I am wrong???

The use of an electronic powder measure will resolve most of your problems. The use of a precision powder thrower like a Harrells can work well also. With the Harrells, you just need to use the scales to get started and then trust the thrower to be accurate. Benchrest shooters used this method for years and some still do.