Reloading . . . rifle, pistol and shotgun.

My old reloading bench was just a bit cluttered.

This seemed like a good example to show how cluttered a reloading bench can get if you're not careful. My bench was covered with 3 reloading presses, components, a wide variety of reloading equipment and gunsmithing tools. I use an RCBS RockChucker, a Dillon RL550 and a MEC Grabber (Model 76). I could rarely just sit down and start reloading, because the benches usually needed to be cleaned up first.

Reloading is very interesting, and it's a relaxing hobby. It doesn't have to be complicated. You can start out with the basics, and make some fine handloads, or you can explore the subject in great detail. My old gunroom (above) shows my bench after working on several projects - one right after another. This is no way to do reloading. Your bench should be well lighted, clean, and everything should be in its place. You can see that things have gotten out of control. A clean bench makes reloading more enjoyable, and it can help you avoid accidents.

I finally found enough time to organize my new reloading bench.

I moved my shotgun press to another bench, and I found places to store all the other gear. Whenever a new shooter sees a setup like this, it looks a bit intimidating and they assume that reloading must be a very expensive and complicated ordeal. It doesn't have to be. I started reloading in 1968 with a used single stage press, a basic set of dies, a powder measure and a beam scale. That's pretty simple stuff, and anyone can begin making very good ammunition with a small investment. You can add the more expensive widgets later, after you get more involved in reloading.

One common question I get about reloading is; "Does reloading really save much money?" My answer is "Not that much . . . . but it allows you to do a whole lot more shooting, and you'll enjoy shooting even more after you start reloading." You can design your own handloads for your particular weapon, and the improved accuracy can be amazing. It's very rewarding to shoot handloads that will put 5 shots into a 2 or 3 inch group at 600 yards.