Frankford Arsenal Reloading Stand ~ Review, One Reloading Problem Solved

Dr. Clary reviews a new reloading product, the Frankford Arsenal Reloading Stand, for home ammo makers that fixes a common issue.

Frankford Arsenal Reloading Stand
Frankford Arsenal Reloading Stand

U.S.A.-(Ammoland.com)- Over the past sixty years, we have mounted our reloading presses on a variety of tables and benches.

Sometimes they worked and at other times, the repetitive movement of the ram during resizing caused multiple tabletops to rupture, fracture, or just plain disintegrate.

If that sounds familiar, then you now know that you have not been the only one to experience those irritants.

Mary’s father, Larry Eastman, was a skilled mountain man here in the west and reloaded all of his own ammunition for everything from mountain lions to prairie dogs.

He never did anything without thoroughly thinking it through. So, when I spotted his reloading bench, I knew what I had missed all those years…. a 1/8″ metal plate under the presses extending outward away from them to “absorb” the stress and takes almost all of the pressure off the tabletop. With that plate, your reloading bench/table top can even be made of particleboard.

Frankford Arsenal Reloading Stand

Frankford Arsenal Reloading Stand Folded
Frankford Arsenal Reloading Stand Folded

Which brings me to the new Frankford Arsenal reloading stand. If you are one of those fortunate folks who have lots of room in your house or has a shed that is dedicated to your reloading, you don’t really need this stand. However, if you live in an apartment or small house, this stand is just what the doctor ordered.

It is well constructed and heavy enough to withstand the “rigors” of reloading and folds up compactly for storage when not in use. The stand’s frame is made from 1.5″ tubular steel and opens up to 34″ x 21″. When open, the stand is stable and rigid, as one would expect of a stand weighing 30 pounds. The width of the tabletop if adjustable from 13″ x 12″ (with the sides shelves down) to 39″ x 12″ with the sides shelves up. The side shelves provide more than enough space for free-standing case trimmers, powder scales, and extra reloading tools.

The hardwood center measures 13″ x 12″ and has adequate room for mounting a press and powder measure. We have no reason to doubt the strength of the hardwood center as a platform for your press; but, I would recommend picking up a small piece of scrap steel from your local welding shop to go under the press. In this way, you would guarantee that no matter how much or how many years you used the reloading table, the hardwood centerpiece would still be intact. With this stand, we would recommend a piece of steel 1/8″ thick x 6″ wide x 12″ deep. You do not need to cover the entire surface of the hardwood center. The steel plate essentially eliminates the stress on the hardwood.

Besides being a space-saving reloading table, the height is adjustable from 28.5″ to 45″, which allows one to use it while sitting or standing. That is a benefit not often found on fixed reloading benches.

The two side detachable side bins are handy for a variety of purposes … cases, bullets, dies, etc. It would be nice to have a bracket on the underside of each side for storing the side bins when the stand is folded up…that is something for the engineers at Frankford Arsenal to consider.

With an MSRP of $189.99 (less online), the reloading stand isn’t cheap. However, it is sure to stand up to the rigors of daily or weekly reloading and is ideal if you are short on space. With that in mind, we do recommend that anyone with space-limitations consider this piece of equipment to make your job easier.

 


About Jim and Mary Clary:

Jim and Mary Clary have co-authored over three hundred and fifty articles, (and counting) on shooting and hunting. You can read many of them on AmmoLand News.

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Alan

How about the following, which is “adjustable” for operating height, and a lot less costly. 1. four 1.5′ threaded threaded flanges. 2. two lengths of 1.5″ steel pipe, threaded each end, length to suit operating position, siting or standing. 3. one piece of say 1/2″ thick plywood, dimensions determined by you, and your press. 1/4″ thick might serve, drill to fit flange bolt pattern and the reloading press you wish to use. 4. bolts to suit, 4 bolts per flange 5. Another piece of plywood to serve as base, dimensions to suit user. Cost of all materials, don’t know exactly,… Read more »

Alan

By the way, the above described comes apart, without tools, for storage when not in use.

FB

Honestly, I can build something stronger at a fraction of the cost.

Not worth $189.

Wild Bill

@FB can you build it for me for less than $189, and ship it . My wife, the lovely, but azz kicking, bronze star holding, retired PSG, would like me to get my shtuff off of her dining room table before Thanksgiving.

Wild Bill

Those clever guys at Frankford Arsenal! Now, I can get my stuff off of the wife’s dining room table, before Thanksgiving!

Rick

What keeps the front of the bench from lifting up when you seat a primer on a progressive press?

Ranger1

The steel plate and the 30 lb weight of the table.