A re you looking for a way to helpstreamline your reloading? Here isan easy-to-follow set of plans for

building a sturdy, practical and simplebench for reloading rifle,handgun or shot-gun ammunition.The 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 scale.

This 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 components.As it is currently designed, the work areais about waist-high for a 6'2" person. Thiscan be adjusted to fit your height simplyby making the legs longer or shorter.

These 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 a

cabinet shop accurately cut the compo-nents for you. A precise fit will not onlymake your bench better looking but willalso make using it more enjoyable.

The entire bench is assembled withbolts and screws for strength. Afterconstruction is completed, you maywish to paint or stain your bench.

These plans allow you to separate thethree major reloading processes, keep-ing the necessary accessories and com-ponents separate and ready for use.Theleft-hand 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 powdercanisters.The right-hand compartmentsare for bullets, shot, wads and othercomponents for the completed shells,as well as accessories. There is also agenerous lower shelf for storing largerquantities of components.

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Reloading Bench PlansPlans courtesy of the National Reloading Manufacturers Association

Before you start, study the list of materials andthe drawing in Figure 1 to identify all the com-ponents and their locations on the bench.Thebench 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 start.

Figure 1

MATERIALS LIST(NOTE: Materials are listed separately for the lower“bench” section and upper “cabinet” section.)

BENCH LUMBER# OF LOCATION

ITEM SIZE PIECES LENGTH ON DRAWING

Top frame 2x6 1 69" A

Bottom frame 2x4 2 66" B

Top frame 2x4 1 72" C

Bottom frame 2x4 2 22" D

Top frame 2x6 1 72" E

Top frame 2x6 2 301/2" F

Legs 4x4 4 42" G

Suggestion: Two 8-foot 2x4s and one 6-foot 2x4.Three 6-foot 2x6s.Two 8-foot 4x4s.

BENCH PLYWOOD# OF LOCATION

ITEM SIZE PIECES DIMENSIONS ON DRAWING

Top 3/4" 1 34"x 72" H

Lower shelf 3/4" 1 251/2"x 69" I

Back panel 3/4" 1 18"x 69" J

End panels 3/4" 2 18"x 293/4" K

Suggestion: Three 4'x8' sheets of 3/4" plywood forthe above pieces, plus the 3/4" piecesfor the cabinet. See cutting guide.

BENCH HARDWARE12 – 3/8"x 6" carriage bolts, nuts & washers25 – 1/4"x 3" flat-head woodscrews9 dozen – 3/16"x 13/4" flat-head woodscrews

CABINET PLYWOOD# OF LOCATION

ITEM SIZE PIECES DIMENSIONS ON DRAWING

Top & bottom 3/4" 2 12"x 701/2" AA

Ends 3/4" 2 12"x 24" BB

Center shelves 3/4" 2 12"x 23" CC

Center uprights 3/4" 2 12"x 221/2" DD

Shelf dividers 3/4" 2 103/4"x 221/2" EE

Center door 3/4" 1 63/4"x 23" FF

Shelves 3/4" 4* 103/4"x 105/8" GG

Cabinet back 1/4" 1 24"x 72" HH

Sliding doors 1/4" 4 221/4"x12" II

Sliding doors 1/4" 4 63/4"x12" JJ*One for each compartment. Additional shelves can be added as desired.

CABINET 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"x 13/4" 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 door

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4'x 8'x 3/4" plywood 4'x 8'x 3/4" plywood 4'x 8'x 3/4" plywood 4'x 8'x 1/4" plywood

GUIDE TO PLYWOOD CUTTING

BENCH CONSTRUCTIONSTEP ONESaw all lumber and plywood for the bench. Doublecheck dimensions and sand any rough edges.Be sure to drill and countersink all screws.

STEP TWOAssemble the lower shelf frame using two 3"woodscrews at each corner.

STEP THREESaw a 31/2"x 31/2"notch at both rearcorners of the lower-shelf plywood.Thiswill accommodatethe rear 4x4 legs.

STEP FOURAssemble the topframe. Saw a notch inthe two 2x6 piecesthat form the ends ofthe frame. Eachnotch should be 2"long and 11/2" deep.This 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 support.

STEP FIVESaw a notch into the top of both 4x4 front legs.No notch should be cut into the rear legs! The

notch 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. Using a 3/8" drill bit,drill holes through the frame and legs. Insert bolts,add washers and lightly tighten nuts.

STEP SEVENWith bench still upside-down, hold end panelsagainst legs so they are flush against the 2x6 endpieces. The 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 frame.

STEP EIGHTBefore 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 allbolts.Turn bench right-side up and attach theplywood top, end panels and back panel with 13/4"woodscrews.Your bench is now complete!

CABINET CONSTRUCTIONSTEP ONEAssemble 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 steps.

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STEP TWOAssemble thecenter sectionwith two centeruprights andtwo centershelves. 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" woodscrews.

STEP THREEPlace the center section in the cabinet frame.Center this section, leaving a 23" opening ateither end. Measure carefully, then assemblewith 13/4" woodscrews.

STEP FOURPosition shelf dividers in the end compart-ments. When they are precisely centered, therewill be an 111/8" opening on either side of eachdivider. Measure carefully, then assemble with13/4" woodscrews.

STEP FIVECut shelf track to size, then nail into place.Add brackets for each shelf and place shelvesinto position.

STEP SIXDrill 1/2" holesfor finger gripson the slidingdoors and gluethe finger gripsinto place. Fitthe doubletrack, makingsure the deep

track is at the top and the shallow track is at thebottom so the doors can be properly inserted.Glue or nail the track into place only after makingsure everything fits properly. (You may want todelay permanently attaching the track until afterpainting or staining is done.)

STEP SEVENAttach the powder-scale door with the piano hinge.Assemble so the door is flush with the cabinetwhen closed. Use the chain with the screw eyes tohold the door in a level position when open. Makesure this shelf is absolutely level to insure thebest operation of your powder scale. Attach 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 rolling.

A complete, illustrated brochure entitled SetYourself Up To Reload! containing these plans andbasic, easy-to-understand reloading information,checklists and a source guide, is available. Send $6per brochure to NRMA Booklet, One CenterpointeDr.,Suite 300,Lake Oswego,OR 97035.The NRMA’ssafety folder, The Basic Rules For Reloading Safety,is included with each booklet.Visit the NRMA web-site at www.reload-nrma.com.

(This Blast From the Past feature last appeared inthe July 2002 issue of Shotgun Sports.)

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