Re: Getting started on reloading need some input
I would not buy a kit, but here is what I ended up with buying item by item:
Lee 4 Hole Turret Press: the turret press can speed things up quite a bit especially on pistol rounds. Another advantage is that the tool heads are only around $12ea so you can purchase multiple tool heads, one for each set of dies, and not have to move dies on and off the press, you just swap the tool head.
Scale: There are many options out there. I went with an RCBS charge master which is a little pricey, but I like it. A suitable scale is a must, but it does not need to be this fancy or expensive.
Calipers: Get a good set, not the cheap $15 on sale digital chinese crap. In my opinion calipers are not optional. You need to be able to accurately measure both case length and OAL of the loaded round.
RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool: The nice thing about this priming tool is that you do not have to install shell holders for different calibers. The only change required is an easy part swap to go from small to large primers. Beats the heck out of priming one at a time on the press.
Case Trimmer: I went with a powered RCBS model, but that was a nice to have, not a necessity. Any case trimmer from a reputable company will work.
Dies: Like others I use Lee dies for the cost savings but again personal preference prevailes. You can spend a lot of money on dies if you choose, but I have not had any complaints about my Lee dies.
Bullet Comparator: This is optional but nice to have. Allows you to measure your OAL from the ogive instead of the tip. Depending on the bullet there can be some variance in tip OAL even when the ogive is consistant. This is caused by variance in the bullet itself.
MTM Universal Reloading tray: These are nice because they work with just about any caliber. I use mine for everything from 223 to 44 mag. These are inexpensive, get several.
Powder Measure: This is another nice to have item. The Lee Perfect Powder measure can be had on sale from Midway for around $20. It gets the job done and for $20 can't really be beat, but there are better (although more expensive) options out there if you have the $$. I am currently looking to upgrade I just can't decide which one I really want. My beef with the Lee is that it leaks powder, especially if I am using ball powder like H335.
There are some other odds and ends I have around, but these are the primary items I use.
Make sure you have a dedicated area for this stuff that the kids can't get to and keep it clean and organized. Reloading is a great hobby, but is also serious business. You can cause yourself a great deal of harm simply by grabbing the wrong bottle of powder.
Good luck.
