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So, if you were starting reloading from scratch, what kit would you buy?

I'm a complete noob and I'm thinking about a turret press.

Im looking for a decent quality kit but funds are not limitless and I have to buy everything.

Fwiw, I'll be starting with .308 and .44mag, maybe progressing to other rifle calibres.

I've read the sticky at the top of the subsection and its confused me even more :)

I've bought the ABCs of reloading book and I'm wading through it...

Cheers

A reloading manual. Lee or Lyman that is not bullet specific.

A single stage press.

Dies

Hand primer

A media tumbler

A Lee case trimmer for .308

The Lee Cast Classic press and Lee dies are a good start, Forster rifle dies are superb and cheaper than Redding. Add an RCBS beam scale, second hand is fine if it comes from a good source. You can always add a Target Master along the way to speed accurate powder throwing up.

A primer tool is handy to take the process away from the press and invest in a digital vernier calliper to accurately measure the overall length of the ammunition you load. I would add some means of cleaning the primer pockets, in fact PM me and I will send you a spare I have. You will need a means of cleaning cases fairly soon, a media tumbler such as a Lyman is fine. Make yourself a tray to store the cases as you work with them and make sure you have quiet well lit place to work.

EDIT - I should have some spare load trays as well for the .308 you are welcome to as well.

RCBS DVD on reloading

Countryman wrote:A reloading manual. Lee or Lyman that is not bullet specific.

A single stage press.

Dies

Hand primer

A media tumbler

A Lee case trimmer for .308

With all due respect ...get a reloading manual that IS bullet specific.......all bullets even of same weight are very much NOT equal re pressures that they create.

I would recommend the lyman reloading manual for a beginner read it then re read it before you even think about buying any thing else.

As you're loading a pistol calibre, buy a Turret and use it as a single stage initially, then progress to using it "properly" to up your speed for pistol calibre loading.

I was lucky when I started 5 years ago, lot's of friendly club members offered to take me through it and even lent me a turret press which is what I use to this day but I bought my own, but I use it like a single stage and do each stage one at a time, too much to go into but the main thing for me was checking the powder, making sure that you also have some in the case and learning from your mistakes. I now load for approx 10 different calibres, I have never bought a reloading book and get most of my info from the web.

DaveT wrote:

Countryman wrote:A reloading manual. Lee or Lyman that is not bullet specific.

A single stage press.

Dies

Hand primer

A media tumbler

A Lee case trimmer for .308

With all due respect ...get a reloading manual that IS bullet specific.......all bullets even of same weight are very much NOT equal re pressures that they create.

This is because they cover a wider range of manufacturers bullets rather than a manufacturers manual that will only cover their bullets and "bullets even of the same weight are very much not equal"

Beam scale! Yes this is an essential. Probably a set of callipers too.