range box...

[LongRange]

not sure if this is the right place if not Mods feel free to move it...

so ive been wanting to build a loading/range box for a few years but just never got around to doing it. it snowed most of the weekend so i worked on a range box...i wanted something that i could basically just throw a lb or two of powder,a box or two of bullets,a few primed and unprimed cases in and head out and not worry about forgetting something so that way after shooting an OCW test i could just fine tune a load and verify right there and be done or start over if needed.

i was going to build one from scratch but after making a material list and adding things up at lowes i decided to take a look at some kitchen cabinets and found one that worked out well and it saved me about $50-$75 bucks and a lot of time.

the cabinet is 30" tall 15" wide and 12" deep so when laid on its side it 30" wide 15" tall and 12" deep...total for this was $100 bucks and could of been $75 bucks but i had planed on doing a few other things inside but ran outta room and ended up with some extra wood...the only things i really needed to buy was a trickler,funnel,a #26 insert and body to make this box a grab and go kit i had the other tools...im going to buy a lee hand press just so i can use my dies if needed.

heres a couple of pics....

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/LTT-/Mobile%20Uploads/1454365553.jpg (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/LTT-/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1454365553.jpg.html)

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/LTT-/Mobile%20Uploads/1454365565.jpg (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/LTT-/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1454365565.jpg.html)

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/LTT-/Mobile%20Uploads/1454365561.jpg (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/LTT-/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1454365561.jpg.html)

[Russmerle]

Cool!!! Load development at the range!

[XL105]

Yobuck is a f in idiot

[WinnieTheBoom]

How heavy is it? And what are you using as far as press goes?

[yobuck]

Mill's pride at her best lol. Good luck with that, as a rule those stapled particle board sides arent the strongest.

[LongRange]

How heavy is it? And what are you using as far as press goes?

about 40lbs loaded...if you note there is an arbor press and a wilson hand die in the box...i only load for 260 and 260AI...the hand die is for the 260 and im going to buy a lee hand held press to use standard dies for the AI....im not sure im going to stick with the 260AI yet or not.


Mill's pride at her best lol. Good luck with that, as a rule those stapled particle board sides arent the strongest.

most of the joints are notched,glued and stapled...i agree not as strong as wood but keep in mind this isnt something that is going to be used ALL the time or abused so im pretty sure it will hold up just fine for several years...if not ill just build one from scratch from 1/2" kiln dried wood.

[yobuck]

When and if you do, just build a solid box 4 sides.
Then run it through a table saw to seperate the lid section. (Think ahead as for screw placment)
Easier than trying to build it in 2 peices and the fit will be better between the 2.
Just cut the hinge side first leaving the other 3 solid and install the hinges before
cutting the other 3 sides. 3/4x 12 pine sides and 1/2" plywood for the top and bottom would work fine.
What you have now is a standard 12" deep wall cabinet.
You could build youself a nice gunbox using the same approach.
Consider folding handles on the ends rather than a single on top.
Or no handles and just a full width piece of 3/4x 2 fastened on both ends.
My late wife would ask, so whats your plan for today, build another box? lol

[LongRange]

sounds like you have built a few cabinets in your life buck...and if i do build one outta wood thats exactly how ill do it that way every thing comes out square.
and your right its just a wall cabinet but it was only $62 bucks...i priced out wood to build this and it was just over a $100 bucks...its the wide 12" and 16" pieces that start getting spendy...plus this was a cheap way to see how its going to work out and if improvements can or need to be made.

[yobuck]

Some guys build guns and some guys just build boxes that hold guns. lol

[m12lrs]

about 40lbs loaded...if you note there is an arbor press and a wilson hand die in the box...i only load for 260 and 260AI...the hand die is for the 260 and im going to buy a lee hand held press to use standard dies for the AI....im not sure im going to stick with the 260AI yet or not.



most of the joints are notched,glued and stapled...i agree not as strong as wood but keep in mind this isnt something that is going to be used ALL the time or abused so im pretty sure it will hold up just fine for several years...if not ill just build one from scratch from 1/2" kiln dried wood.

You could get one of the.little rcbs partner press. Lots of range loaders use them. In my range kit I have a Harrell combo press. It has both threaded and arbor press in one. Only weighs 6#. Love the Wilson seater. I am about half and half on neck sizing and full length sizing.

That is a nice kit. Gives you a sheltered place for weighing powder too!