what do you need to start reloading

[duckidaho]

Assuming reloading is cheaper, or at least more fun, what do you need and what does it cost to get started in reloading? Just a few calibers. .44 special, 30-06, 30-30. Maybe get into shotgun shells later. Russ

[Bill_in_FL]

Press , dies , powder scale and load book for starters . Then tumbler , case trimmer and powder measure , the more you load for the more you will need . Prices vary with quality . Most of my reloading tools are from the 60's and 70's and still going strong . I prefer to buy used , gunshows , gunbroker.com and ebay have lots of reloading items , if you buy used you get a better price and usually better quality because things aren't made the way they used to be made . Shotgun reloading is a whole different project , you will need a different press for the guage you want to reload for and a load book , then shot and powder bushings for the load you want .

Bill

[blackpowderbill]

I tell customes who ask to figure $500.00 depending on what press manufacture they choose;
included in that figure is powder,primers,brass,bullets.

Box of Hornady 257 dia for the 25/06 just cost my partner $25.00. He's a friend, if it would have been a retail sale that box would have been $30.00+ for 100 bullets.

[kawalekm]

HI ID
Couple of weeks ago I spotted a guy selling all his lifelong accumulated reloading tools on www.craigslist.com. You might want to check there to see if anyone in your area is selling equipment. Another option is to go to your local shooting range or gun club and seek out the reloaders there. Most serious reloaders accumulate a serious amount of equipment over the years, trying new and more advanced tools, so they probably have some beginners hardware that they might part with cheap.

Another option is to buy a kit from a company like midway. Here are some kits that I bookmarked for you. Note that Lee is the price leader in this group. They make good dies (which are cheap), while I have to say the rest of their equipment is just cheap (which means low quality). I have purchased some Lee stuff that I used 4-5 times and then threw out and purchased the same thing from another company.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=423081

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=749997

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=140616

Given a choice of these, I think the best for your money is the RCBS master. A RockChucker press is great for sizing large magnum rifle cartridges, and the kit comes with a powder measure and hand primer. That mostly duplicates what I am using myself now.

Note, that with all these kits, you must buy your dies separately. For any pistol cartridge I would recommend you by carbide dies. Lee here makes good carbide dies that I recommend to anyone. I would buy a die set the reloads both 44 special and 44 magnum. That way you have an excuse to buy a bigger pistol later.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599

Lee also makes steel dies for bottlenecked rifle cartridges, but remember that they need to be lubricated before sizing. Here is the Lee set for .30-30.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=251154

Once you get you kit, the last thing you are going to need is some brass, powder, primers, and bullets. Brass can be saved after shooting, or picked off the ground that other shooters have left. Bullets can be made, or they can be purchased. It's much easier to buy jacketed rifle bullets, so you should pick those up at midway also. Your .44 can shot either cast or jacketed bullets. You can buy powder and primers through the mail, but I never have because the the grossly overpriced hazmat charges. Go to your local sporting shop to buy those. You'll need large pistol primers, and large rifle primers. There are so many choices for powders, which can generate endless debate amongst shooters. Maybe to get yourself started I'd suggest Unique for the .44, and IMR4895 or H4895 for your rifles.

Get started and ask more questions as you go along.
Michael

[duckidaho]

thanks a ton, that's good info to know. I browsed midway the other day and said to myself, "gee the Lee stuff is soooo much cheaper, I wonder what's up with that." I hate buying junk and then having to go back and buy the real deal.

[blackpowderbill]

I have a small Lee press for decapping and a few other Lee trimmers. I've never had a problem with their equipment.
I own a Lyman press,rcbs & Lyman, Lee dies, moulds, all suit my needs.

bpb

[Watonga_Jim]

I got started reloading about 2 years ago using primary Lee equipment. *At that time I had found a dealer that sells Lee stuff online and I got a starter package for about $70. *It included the press, scales, powder measure, priming tool and other small items. *The only thing I added later was a case trimmer. *I found good deals on used die sets for the ammo I wanted to load and someone gave me a couple of reloading manuals. *You can also get loading data free online. *I've now loaded several hundred rounds and the Lee equipment works great. *

Bottom line - I suggest getting started small and cheap and you won't regret it. *Also, read everything you can about reloading and ballistics. *It made me appreciate the science of firearms and added to my shooting enjoyment and in the short (not long) run you will save money and have more options on bullet selection for your guns.

Regards,
Jim

[Iwoots]

Lot of good responses, but I suggest you ask yourself a question: Am I reloading to get precise accuracy, or because I like shooting a whole lot?

I am in the latter category (& the eyes aren't as good as they used to be), so I use Lee scoops instead of the precision powder measures.
I purchased my Lee reloader in 1989 because I bought a Webley and some 45 auto rims. Still works good; have expanded to 45acp (use moon clips), 30-30, etc. Site is leeprecision.com, w/ links to sellers. Years ago, I walked in their front door & bought for the 30-30; don't know if they still do that. Latest purchase was via the link on the site for factory sales (factorysales.com).

I second Watonga Jim: start small & cheap. That way if you decide its easier to stock up on surplus ammo rather than reloading, you won't be the guy listing stuff on Craigslist for 10 or 20 cents on the dollar.

[cmdan]

Here you go! ;0)

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/cleeloader.html

Just get the "correct" powder and primers.

I admit, one of these is the first reloading kit I used...........but then I wanted more....and more.....Single stage RCBS press, dies for all my guns, primers, powders, bullet pullers, books and more books.......... it is addicting so be careful. :O)