I hope this may help you that are getting started. A lot of room is not necessary. As Marty showed above, the actual loading work space does not require much room. I have shown my whole room but the storage shelves can be anywhere.
My whole gun room, hide out, & sanctuary from wall to wall is 5'6" X 9'4".
That room is for everything except the resting place for the guns themselves. Contains brass, all loading components, targets, loaded ammo, (in military cans & coffee cans on floor) cleaning supplies, tools, trash box, range bags & more.
My actual space I use for loading is 35" wide. In that space there are 2 single stage RCBS Rockchucker presses, powder despenser, & scales. That is a large enough "BENCH" to do the loading. It is 24" deep & that give plenty of room for dies. My actual loading space is the 35" wide by 24" deep. Everything else can be stored in a storage building, on garage shelves, in a hall closet, or under the bed if necessary & brought out to do when needed.
The wide view. This is actually wall to wall. Components to the left. Much empty space since I just finishe loading 5,000 rds of .45s. You can store a LOT of loading components in a small area. In a box under the bed if you are starting & really dont have much space.
Middle shelf & wall is tumbler & separated brass in plastic coffee cans. A very renewable resourse around my house. But I remember when I started I had to put brass in grocery sacks, shoe boxes, & the only empty metal coffee can I had. Start w/ what you have, learn what you like, & start to save your renewable resourse w/o buying stuff. Very top is old gun boxes, targets, containers,....
Back wall of room is work & cleaning shelf. Plastic tool box to the right is cleaning kit, supplies, & tools. I can grab it as I head to the range. Under shelf is loaded ammo in peanut butter jars. Another VERY renewable resourse at my house.
Some factory ammo on the right.
For new shooters or old timers who must be careful w/ $$$s. Hanging on the left hand wall is a silouette pattern. Walmart meat boxes are excellent stock to "cut your own." The thick ring is cut out so the inside is the 5 & the space between is the 4 on the B27 target you used in you proficiency shooting test on the range at your CHL class & outside that is 3 points. Once you make your pattern & cut the ring out targets are easy & FREE. When I cut targets I do about one a minute. They cost a dollar or more. I figure I am worth $60.00 an hr that way.
Just no real market for the skill.
I cut mine w/ a SHARP pocket knife. Be careful. You may want to get a pair of the real heave duty sissors. Dont cut yourself.
Shelf above is more targets & storage.
For new reloaders. This did not come together in 3 days for me. Yours wont either. I do hope it can help give an idea of how you want to set yours up. When I started loading some 35+ yrs ago all the "storage shelves" were in this closet floor, under the bed, on that top shelf of lennin cabinet because the wife could not reach that high. Where ever I had 2 square feet I could use w/o desturbing the household.
While preparing to take these I uncovered 2 scales I forgot I had. A Redding Master & a RCBS 5-10. They are both set up on the middle shelf of the middle picture. At present they are offered to a new loader that is setting up now. If after a while they are still here, those of you who are starting as I did & getting something here & trading for something there may be interested. They are doing me no good so I will be pretty easy trade with or sell for a good starter price.
Hope this has helped.
Good loading, & stay aware in here too.
LT.
