I've had an urge to reload at the range for load development. I'm sure some of you do it. What kind of set-up do you drag to the range that is not bolted to the bench....press...dies...tools? How do you portage it....wheels...case? What would you do different if you had it to do over again?

I've had an urge to reload at the range for load development. I'm sure some of you do it. What kind of set-up do you drag to the range that is not bolted to the bench....press...dies...tools? How do you portage it....wheels...case? What would you do different if you had it to do over again?

If your range will allow it (and some ranges will not), it can help. Powder is the problem...no good way to run a scale unless protected from the wind....a clear plastic shoe box helps.

Use a Lyman 310 (tong tool) for some calibers. Even with the dies and presses at home, by choice will load most of my black powder rounds with the tong tool. Neck sizing is not a problem. For other rounds, the simple Lee hand press.

HAve sat at the range with 5 cases, the tong tool, and a good .308 rifle...just dipping charges and using the same 5 cases over and over, got average 10-round groups of .812"...with the ammo loaded at home, using competitoin dies and every other trick, the rifle averages .765" (again...10-round groups). So evidently there is about .05" of difference ..that's kind of a cheat, as the cases were preped and matched at the bench, and that's a good bit of the battle.

So that's it...tong tool, dies, scale, dippers (to get the powder charge close), powder trickler (to get it exact), powder, primers, bullets, cases. It will all fit in the plastic shoe box that doubles as a wind screen for the scale.

I kind of cheat here as I have my own private 200 mtr Range with my bench .Set up right by my Back Door! So when it comes to load development I just load in my Reloading Room/Office step out the back and let fly !When working out bush I have the Tray of my 4x4 is set up to bolt Press & powder thrower on incase I run short (No it's never a case of oh heck I've shot that many Roos I need to reload ! It's normaly a case of I've missed so many I need to reload ! I've always found ,the lee hand loading kits handy for loading at ranges (with a hand Priming tool .I've never got used to the concept of seating a Primer with a mallet )

Bang! Bang! Did it twice before I got a hand priming tool myself.

Easy to do. Got the Lee Handpress Kit, which has the handpress, the powder dispenser, etc. I bring brass primed and ready for powder and bullets. Use the old manual scale, throw your powder, seat your bullets...you need your dies, don't forget the die cartridge holder!, your calipers to ensure the right depth, and that's about it. The only way to fly.

I'm a luckly one too! Range with reloading room next door! I have used a Lee Classic Loader before but that was mainly to despell myths about it not performing.

I also stalked a deer... stopped and loaded two cases with the Loader and then shot the deer. That was making a point also. I've done some "tailgate" reloading for ranchers that have been kind enough to let me hunt on their places.

I've watched a benchrest shooter reload his cases on the range - he had a wilson die for bullet seating and a different die for sizing/depriming. Priming was with a lee hand primer and his powder measure had a long drop tube, with a baffle inside the barrel , so that he had consistant volumes of powder dropping into the case.
He did not have a scale, he knew the vmd of the powder and adjusted on the micrometer setting on his powder measure for variables such as temp. and wind etc.
The powder measure was clamped to the table, the rest were free standing.
His groupings were amazing! (6mm ppc with stolle panda action, hart bbl, jewel trigger and a macmillan br stock), so I guess a scale is not always a prerequisite, since they ( the br shooters) are more concerned with volume of powder than weight

That works for when you arelady know what shoots well...don't need a scale as you won't be playing arround looking for the sweet spot. But to develope loads, will need the scale...and will need to have that scale level and protected from the wind if you hope to get repeatable accurate readings. INSIDE a camper shell will work...but out in the open, scales move with every little breeze.

Once I have a load that works, the Lyman 310 works fine...dipepr will work to within a few 1/10ths once you've poracticed with one...Tong Tool proably ahs the best priming system of all, not only a positive stop, good "feel", but a visual check as it seats as well.

But 310 tools aren't that cheap (unless you pick them up used) and do not full length resize....but they sure are compact little devils.