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9/7/2013 8:23:33 PM EDT
I am building a room in my basement as a gun/reloading room. What is a good size? 12x12 is that too small.
9/7/2013 8:50:07 PM EDT
[#1]
that's a nice size, but you don't need a room that big.  hell, there have been guys here that posted pics of converting a closet into a reloading area.
9/7/2013 9:42:39 PM EDT
[#2]
Plan your room as large as practical.



If you put up walls, that's the size you are stuck with.




You will need plenty of storage room.
9/8/2013 3:30:19 AM EDT
[#3]
Like garages, it is not physically possible to have TOO large of a reloading room.
9/8/2013 4:56:16 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Quoted:
Plan your room as large as practical.

If you put up walls, that's the size you are stuck with.

You will need plenty of storage room.
View Quote



+1

storage hmm did we say storage..
9/8/2013 5:08:22 AM EDT
[#5]
Depends on your setup and if you think you might expand.  

I would say 12x12 is pretty generous and should work even with lots of presses, single stage, progressive and shotshell.  If I was doing a shotshell loading room setup there would be no carpet, just lino or concrete.

Just think about what you will have mounted or if you can make a setup to pull one and swap it for another and store the xtra presses.  

For me having room for a dillon progressive and a single stage is important.  My shotshell presses are used less frequently and are mounted on bases i can set on the bench and C clamp down.   Envision the room you'll want around the press for bins, and case blocks, etc.

Storage is imporatant too.  I have under the bench storage (craftsman toolbox type machinists bench), a wall locker type cabinet, and some gorilla rack shelving.  In a perfect world i would want most of the stuff in kitchen type cabinets just to keep it dust free and it's less unsightly when you walk into a room.   Of course that's just cosmetics, I just prefer not to look at clutter, and lots of boxes of casings, and infrequently used bench top tools is a bit cluttery to me.

I have a small bedroomn for a reloading room/office/outdoor junk repository currently.


I would say most guys whose houses/ reloading areas I've seen are less than 12x12 and more like 6x6 to 8x8 in the basement or a corner of the garage.  I know one guy that bought an amish 10x12 building for his reloading and casting set up.  He was adament he wanted the casting out of the house which is a smart and cautious move in my opinion.    No phone, no TV, just a radio for background noise.
9/8/2013 5:32:55 AM EDT
[#6]
It's all about what you can work with.  

We've converted a small corner of the living room/dining room into our reloading area.  Our press is mounted on a heavy board,  and we vice grip it to the counter when we are loading.  When we aren't,  it gets clamped to a shelf mounted on the wall.  We have a shelf overhead for the dies, projectiles,  scales, and a portion of our tools,  and a multi drawer bin mounted to the wall for caliber conversion kits.  

We keep the powder on top of our shot glass cabinet,  as well as the primers.  

Overhead,  we have a track light with LED bulbs in it.  In the summer,  they don't generate excessive heat,  and run super low watts.  

The brass is the tricky deal.  I keep a few buckets of it next to my bed,  some in a closet...  It's all over the place.  We just have too much of it to keep in one single location.  There is a handful of it on my computer desk,  some next to my alarm clock,  a pile out on the back patio table (Though that's the dirty stuff I picked up last weekend).  

So,  the general idea is...  More room is not bad.
9/8/2013 5:34:25 AM EDT
[#7]
12x12 is a good size room. Plenty of room.

I use the same size room. I have my 8'x27'' reloading bench along one wall with kitchen cabinets above, storage room under the bench and the closet full of gun-related stuff.
My computor desk is against the opposite wall and still have plenty of room between.

12x12 is NOT too small...unless you have enough equipment to outfit a small army.
9/8/2013 6:39:59 AM EDT
[#8]
Also, if you're just starting out, check out the reloading bench thread here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/262015_Official_Reloading_Bench_Picture_Thread___Now_with_100__more_Pictures_.html

Lots of good ideas in there.
9/8/2013 6:58:09 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:
Like garages, it is not physically possible to have TOO large of a reloading room.
View Quote


Perfect
9/8/2013 7:05:45 AM EDT
[#10]
Plan for larger than you think you need, space get's eaten up quickly. Ensure you've got lots of storage space, cabinets are the way to go IMO.
9/8/2013 7:13:40 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
I am building a room in my basement as a gun/reloading room. What is a good size? 12x12 is that too small.
View Quote


for what you are doing now it is ok, for what you may want to do in the future it is way too small
9/8/2013 7:39:40 AM EDT
[#12]
Mine is 11x17... just sayin...
9/8/2013 7:56:33 AM EDT
[#13]
I use an 8x10 room that also has my computer table and safe in it.
9/8/2013 5:45:43 PM EDT
[#14]
I have two dillon 650s, large safe, numerous 5 gallon buckets of brass, lots of ammo cans, plate carriers, gear and just other things.
9/8/2013 5:46:19 PM EDT
[#15]
I know bigger is better but can't take up whole basement.
9/8/2013 6:38:47 PM EDT
[#16]
I've been considering reloading in my basement but wondering if i would have problems with moisture. basement is dry but stays a lot cooler than upstairs. anyone have problems with moisture?
9/8/2013 8:26:45 PM EDT
[#17]
The floor plan below was designed for a guy who does reviews for pay and has nearly every press.  Not your needs, but it might give you an idea what you can do in the space you have.  His room was 10'x 16'.





       
 
9/8/2013 9:17:10 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote History
Quoted:
Like garages, it is not physically possible to have TOO large of a reloading room.
View Quote


+1

Your stuff will fill the room eventually, no matter how big you make it.
9/9/2013 5:50:36 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote History
Quoted:


+1

Your stuff will fill the room eventually, no matter how big you make it.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Like garages, it is not physically possible to have TOO large of a reloading room.


+1

Your stuff will fill the room eventually, no matter how big you make it.


Guns/Gear/Reloading stuff abhors a vacuum.  It will eventually expand to completely fill all available space...and more.

ka
9/9/2013 6:32:50 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote History
Quoted:
The floor plan below was designed for a guy who does reviews for pay and has nearly every press.  Not your needs, but it might give you an idea what you can do in the space you have.  His room was 10'x 16'.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad195/gstrad/RELOADINGROOM-Model.jpg
         
View Quote



Posters?
9/9/2013 6:37:21 AM EDT
[#21]
Storage would be a huge plus and allows organization of everything so its within hands reach! Perfect size in my opinion , wish I had a room that size dedicated to reloading!
9/9/2013 10:41:44 AM EDT
[#22]
2400sq. ft. for me.Way too small.
9/9/2013 2:32:40 PM EDT
[#23]
Mine is 7.5 x 12 and after about 18years of reloading and hoarding components I still have room for twice as much stuff.
9/9/2013 2:34:31 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote History
Quoted:



Posters?
View Quote View All Quotes
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Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
The floor plan below was designed for a guy who does reviews for pay and has nearly every press.  Not your needs, but it might give you an idea what you can do in the space you have.  His room was 10'x 16'.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad195/gstrad/RELOADINGROOM-Model.jpg
         



Posters?


Yes, something like this.

9/9/2013 4:38:36 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote History
Quoted:


Yes, something like this.

<a href="http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/fredshort/media/reloadingroomb.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s361/fredshort/reloadingroomb.jpg</a>
View Quote View All Quotes
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Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
The floor plan below was designed for a guy who does reviews for pay and has nearly every press.  Not your needs, but it might give you an idea what you can do in the space you have.  His room was 10'x 16'.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad195/gstrad/RELOADINGROOM-Model.jpg
         



Posters?


Yes, something like this.

<a href="http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/fredshort/media/reloadingroomb.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s361/fredshort/reloadingroomb.jpg</a>


They earn a mention on the blueprint?


9/9/2013 5:31:43 PM EDT
[#26]
The gentleman specified he wanted room for posters in the design since he had no windows and wanted something to liven up things.  If it was my room I might add something like what fredshort has alright.....along with something more colorful and interesting like this one currently my favorite in my cave.





       



 
9/10/2013 10:10:02 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote History
Quoted:


They earn a mention on the blueprint?


View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
The floor plan below was designed for a guy who does reviews for pay and has nearly every press.  Not your needs, but it might give you an idea what you can do in the space you have.  His room was 10'x 16'.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad195/gstrad/RELOADINGROOM-Model.jpg
         



Posters?


Yes, something like this.

<a href="http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/fredshort/media/reloadingroomb.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s361/fredshort/reloadingroomb.jpg</a>


They earn a mention on the blueprint?



HA! posters.

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