If you were just starting out in reloading....

[liveround]

If you were just starting out in reloading, what equipment would you buy? Not just the "essentials" but the little odds and ends that make reloading easier/accurate. If you could list a couple of items for each function, that would be even better (such as Lee and RCBS press). I was going to start out with a turret press but if that's not the best choice, let me know. I plan to reload 9mm, .45 ACP, .44 magnum, .223, 7.62X.39, and 7mm Rem Mag. The .223 and 7mm would be for accuracy first and foremost. I don't shoot a lot but will probably do more once I start reloading. My eventual long-term goal is to get involved in F-Class with the 7mm, but that's down the road.

I'd like to say that money is no issue, but I'd be lying I am willing to spend some money though, I just can't go crazy.....

Thanks alot!!!

 

[nosualc]

Do you tend to be a dabbler, or a jump in the deep end of the pool kind of guy?

-nosualc

 

[OIF/OEF]

I have bought more crap over the years.... if I would have been on here and just listen to the seasoned Vets I would have saved a ton of money, have less clutter and ended up with far better equipment. Buy once cry once applies to a lot of things. Good luck in your quest and don't be afraid to spend the extra 30.00 or 40.00 for the better gear.


Very Respectfully

 

[jonbearman]

I have bought more crap over the years.... if I would have been on here and just listen to the seasoned Vets I would have saved a ton of money, have less clutter and ended up with far better equipment. Buy once cry once applies to a lot of things. Good luck in your quest and don't be afraid to spend the extra 30.00 or 40.00 for the better gear.


Very Respectfully +1 on that. I have bought and sold enough stuff over the years to set up at least5 guys. LOL Much wiser now.

 

[jonbearman]

If you don't have a press the rockchucker or rockchucker supreme is a good place to start especially the older ones which seem to be more accurate. You will need a powder measure of decent quality, a good beam type or electronic scale that can get very pricey. The chargemaster from rcbs is an auto dispenser and scale combo and works good, get a deburr tool and get the Sinclair adaptor to put it in a drill. Next is a case trimmer. My all time favorite and very accurate is the Wilson trimmer with the adaptor for a cordless drill. It uses collets which are cheap for each cartridge,get the sized case collets. Primer pocket cleaner tool, primer pocket uniformer. Next is good dies from redding,rcbs etc. Get an inline seater to help avoid crooked bullet seating. Forster is a great company and there inline seater along with full length sizing dies is a good idea from the get go. Buy reloading books like hornadys, sierra, berger, and lymans latest #49 reloading book and it is great for begginers. Priming tool or it can be done on the press at first. This is just a start. Lastly keep asking questions.

 

[M14AMU]

I'd go find a mentor that had been reloading for about 30-50 years and get first-hand knowledge!!

 

[ShootDots]

I'd go find a mentor that had been reloading for about 30-50 years and get first-hand knowledge!!

I would second that with one addition>>> The mentor needs to either shoot or has shot competitively! That would really make things easier.

 

[watercam]

Well, there's a Redding T7 Turret press for sale right now on this site. I would grab that. I started with a Redding BR3 powder measure and still use it continuously. Have an electronic dispenser that I do not trust enough not to weigh the charges and since it does NOT save me any time, I load my long range match loads with the Redding. Find an Ohaus-built scale and get a trickler. Dispense a little low and trickle in the rest for match loads. Many good dies out there but I have not gone wrong with Redding Type S bushing sizing dies, Redding or Forster Micrometer seating dies. There are others such as Whidden and Warner but to get started I like the Reddings. Find a used concentricity gauge to check case neck run-out as well as loaded rounds. Any decent manual outside neck turner that uses a mandrel. I have used RCBS hand priming tools for decades with zero problems and good feel. Case gauges or comparators to check correct sized case head space (bump shoulders about 0.001"). Never felt that primer pockets needed uniforming because every time I try and do it they all seem fine. Use good brass - Lapua, Norma. Go to a pawn shop and find a quality Starrett, Brown & Sharp, etc. calipers - I tried the cheap Chinese ones and regretted it. More than once unfortunately.
Get a Sinclair International catalog and drool over it and try not to over-buy in the beginning.
Last but not least, BUY A LOAD MANUAL. Perhaps several. The Lyman one is especially good for me as is the Nosler. The technical aspects of hand loading are valuable and the load data is invaluable. Obtaining 'the best load for XXX cartridge' off the internet will not teach you how to work up a load and adjust seating depth FOR YOUR RIFLE/HANDGUN. Every single gun likes something different regardless of make, model, factory or custom barrel, etc.. Just the wonder of firearms.
Good luck, have fun. Start low and work up every time for the first couple of years.

 

[K22]

1. Wilson Case Trimmer with Sinclair upgrades - best I ever used.

2. Sinclair Priming Tool - indestructible - precise - easy to use

3. Learn how to size rifle cases properly - lot a misinformation out there when I started reloading in 1970.

4. Imperial Sizing Wax - recent convert (2 years also) - can't believe it took me so long to convert - great stuff - last forever almost

5. Neck Sizing Dies - in reverse - which I never brought them - I'm full size shoulder bump disciple now

6. Mentor - wish I had found one early - someone who really knew what they were doing - no web sites when I started - taught myself and made a lot of mistakes and poor equipment purchases - all is well now thanks to web sites like this

7. Lyman Reloading Handbook - a must read for all beginners

 

[liveround]

nosualc - I like the deep end of the pool myself......

OIF/OEF - I have a bad habit of that myself....trying to avoid that this time.....

jonbearman thanks for the details

RMulhern, ShootDots - I've been trying to find someone to go watch reload, haven't found one yet.....still working on it.

MTM, K22 - thanks for the info

 

[Ghengisahn175]

Rcbs rock chucker supreme kit is a great starter.
I replaced (traded) the powder dispenser from that with a Lyman 55.
I still use the 5-0-5 scale. Learn how to keep the zero by balancing it properly, don't lift or slam the plate hard, and check zero every 10-20 rounds.

Starting in chronological order (fired brass).

Figure out your method of cleaning. Research the pros and cons (more like desire and how much work you want to put in).
There's sonic cleaning, dry media and stainless steel tumbling.

I'll give you my example (SS wet tumbling). So I have to deprime my cases first so I can benefit from clean primer pockets from the SS pins.
*i use a universal deprimer. A sizing die will also have a depriming pin but I don't size dirty cases.

After cleaning you'll need to figure out how much to size. Tools needed at a minimum: case bump gauge. Hornady makes a great tool here.
There are other things you can measure on cases like concentriciry or what not but I'll let someone else dabble on that.
Lube / size cases and clean again or wipe off lube.

Next tool purchase would be case prep (trim, chamfer, deburr, primer pocket cleaning, etc).
I use a frankford arsenal case prep center to trim chamfer and deburr and a power drill with an rcbs primer pocket uniformer . There are many tool options here and how you want to do it. The rcbs kit has a hand tool (good luck with that).

Priming tool: still use the rcbs kit one. Works well. Other options out there too.

Tool: hornady OAL gauge or something similar. Gonna need a method to find the lands and what your barrels max OAL is so you don't blindly seat too long and blow your face in.

Then throw powder, seat bullet.

Last tool: hornady bullet comparator or something similar. You use this tool with the oal gauge to check max length of bullet allowed in your barrel conversely how long you seat your bullets to.

Get used to generic reloading first before you dabble into other tool purchases. That way you will have a reason for your purchases instead of someone with experience telling you to buy this tool when it doesn't suit your agenda. 1000 ways to reload correctly. Don't let someone tell you it HAS to be this way unless
It's safety related.

 

[PDS]

You might want to add a kinetic (hammer type) bullet puller to your list. I've made the occasional mistake reloading and you probably will too.

 

[Ghengisahn175]

You might want to add a kinetic (hammer type) bullet puller to your list. I've made the occasional mistake reloading and you probably will too.

Ermahgerd tell me about it..... Bullet puller hammer thingy for the win

 

[savagedasher]

For a beginner Lee classic cast press . Lee dies Size lube, Balance beam scale, Powder Funnel , Lee powder dispenser, Harbor Freight calipers. chafer tool, Case trim tool , Hornady shell vibrator corn cob and walnut shell media. I use a drywall screw to clean my primer pockets.
On my bench I still have the Lee cast press and several dry wall screws 2 Hornady vibrator's Several lee dies.
Hand gun shell are a pain to load with a single stage press to star with what I have recommended is a great way to start.
You can do all the research on how to load on the computer. All the powder company's have a recommended load'.
Start low and work your powder up. Find a mentor who is willing to teach.
Don't be afraid to ask on here before you do something. Reloading is never a race.
Never take a load that someone recommend with out checking it for pressure.
Larry

 

[ericbc7]

First thing is decent calipers (I use Mitutoyu)
2nd is a single stage press like the Lee classic cast (because of the primer handleing).
3rd is a decent hand primer like the Lee but I prefere the 21 century unit.

Get a decent scale.

With all these you are set up for decent if not the best ammo production.

Read these forums and buy what you need.

 

[savagedasher]

First thing is decent calipers (I use Mitutoyu)
2nd is a single stage press like the Lee classic cast (because of the primer handleing).
3rd is a decent hand primer like the Lee but I prefere the 21 century unit.

Get a decent scale.

With all these you are set up for decent if not the best ammo production.

Read these forums and buy what you need.

He is just starting why spend $150.00 on caliper. The cast has a good primer with it. Nothing the matter with a beam scale. He can take the money to get components. ;D not that what your suggested isn't good. Larry

 

[Sniper338]

READ READ READ the reloading threads about equiptment... but tje good stuff the first time around!!! Ask questions before you buy something!!!!!

 

[tdogg]

Given your list of calibers, I'd suggest the Lee Classic cast turret. It gives you the flexibility to learn the reloading process but will reduce the pistol reloading time. I haven't attempted to load 7 mag on it but I think there is enough clearance (just have to disable the auto indexing). It's inexpensive so when your ready to upgrade you can just keep it for load development/small volume pistol loading needs.

Pistol and rifle have different needs/requirements. Rifle is mostly about accuracy. Pistol is usually about efficiency and time.

The Hornady "Stoney Point" tool is a must for rifle OAL
The Hornady bullet comparator and headspace gauges are a must for rifle
I'm have found that the Redding Type S full length bushing dies work well for rifle
I use Lee dies for pistol
Micrometer seaters are a nice to have for rifle
A good powder drop and trickler is a must
A good scale is a must
Case prep is important, primer pockets uniformers, flash hole uniformers, and case mouth tools are useful for rifle

If possible get your components locally in small quantities until you find the bullet/powder/primer combo that works. Then you can purchase bulk. Get a couple of load data books for reference and use them.

Cheers,
Toby

 

[CooperNV]

I dont understand why there is a distinction as "for a beginner". I was a beginner once, 8 years ago, and started with the equipment I have now. A fellow shooter helped me decide as well as the salesman at Sinclair, before the Brownells take over.
I currently load for: 17FB,20VT,22BR,223,243,260,6BR,270WSM,338RUM
Start with the best equipment you can afford and feel the pain once.

The equipment I started with:
Co-Ax press
Wilson Trimmer
Harrells powder measure
Hornady trickler
Hornady beam scale
Hornady hand primer
RCBS case prep center
Hornady Comparator
RCBS dies
KM neck turning tools
Kinetic hammer
I already had good calipers and mics.

I added later:
Redding S type Dies for Varmint rounds
Hornady dies for hunting rounds
RCBS bullet puller collet for 20cal. the hammer didn't work very good with light bullets.. stuff happens
Sinclair seating depth tool
RCBS chargemaster
Hornady headspace case gauge
Forester seating dies
RCBS hand primer, as to have one for LR & SR

I should have done a little more research on dies. Bullet seating can be a pain with 17 & 20 cals.
I drop powder for the high volume varmint rounds and chargemaster for the bigger stuff.
I know I dont have the best equipment but it was the best I could afford and I'm happy with the results. I have seen no need to upgrade any equipment but dies.
Study the reloading books and articles.
Good Luck in your adventure in reloading.

 

['Freak]

Start with this article but be sure to follow the links to other articles containing still more links, read ‘em all.
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.ca/2010/12/basics-new-brass-preparation.html