Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
The most recent post (and several others...) reflect(s) my own views very accurately.
No matter how you say it, a quality press is a "do it right or don't do it at all" imperative. IMHO, The Dillon RL550B is my choice and my recommendation. Nossir, not cheap; but skimping money on the press is fool's economy.
"You can update later", true about all but the press. I occasionally buy an additonal set of dies to set up in another toolhead for another rifle. Dies are relatively affordable and it pays not not have to reset them back and forth for different firearms. This is my version of "update later".
I use basic two-die sets, usually RCBS. They do all I need a set of dies to do. The accuracy is in the manner of employment.
After several decades, I still us the Dillon powder measure. I will either run it progressively for semi's, or drop charges and check-weigh each one for bolt gun match applications.
If you like doing extra steps, do your load developement using them. I don't, and I don't. If a load can't tolerate a very basic approach, it's too finicky for my purposes.
For example, I usually develop my loads using standard primers, then try match primers as a last step. Often, there's not enough improvement to justify match primers.
There's more than just economy at work here. It's also about forcing charge selection/refinement so it's less sensitive to primer selection.
Yes, read and think, etc., etc. in the beginning; but also stop periodically afterward and weigh effort vs benefit for each thing you do, and each tool you add to the mix.
If you are like me, you'll eventually start to simplify, simplify, stop sweating the small stuff; and put your primary attention into doing it simplest, with first care to doing those fewer things with greater diligence.
Learn what counts and what doesn't, like recognizing that concentricity has to get fairly significantly "off" before it even begins to affect accuracy with the basic, more forgiving SAAMI chamber spec.
Things like that.
IMHO, yes, simplicity allows for some inaccuracy; but it's small, and not the horror some think..., in the longer run.
Greg