basic reloading equipment

soldier506

soldier506

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Ok, I know nothing about reloading and I bet there are others here in the same boat. So, what is required for equipement for a basic starter? What would an estiment in price be for basic reloading equipent? Can many of the items be used for more than one calibre for center fire rifle?

I know things needed are like brass, lead[bullet], powder,primers but what about other items?I am sure a book or two would be needed also.
 
I got a Lee anniversary kit for like $125. It has almost everything you need to get started (besides dies, bullets, powder, primers) and works fine. You should also have a micrometer to check lengths.
Other makers (Lyman, RCBS,etc) have starter kits which I am sure are great but they are twice to three times the price of the Lee kit.
 
You could buy the Lee Anniversary Kit and all you'd need is a case length guage (for resizing your brass) and dies for each caliber you want to load.

You may also want to get a vibratory case cleaner and a digital scale (one that measures in grains, accurate to tenths of a grain). There are other things that are probably nice to have, but that'd do it for starters.

Lots of folks get down on Lee as garbage, but it's sufficient and the price is right. You can always change your press later if you grow out of it and not feel bad about the paltry sum invested to get started.
 
Would this kit be the 35 anniversary reloading kit ? I see that a manual can come as an extra. Would this kit be of for calibres such as 45/70, 30-06, .30 carbine?
 
Last edited:
soldier506 said:
Would this kit be the 35 anniversary reloading kit ? I see that a manual can come as an extra. Would this kit be of for calibres such as 45/70, 30-06, .30 carbine?
Click to expand...

This is the kit:
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The press in that kit should accomodate everything except .50 BMG. You'll need dies for each of those calibres, and a case length gauge for each calibre for resizing your brass with the cutter that's in the kit.

There are two versions of the kit, one with and one without the "Modern Reloading" book. It's up to you if you want to get the book or buy the version without and get your own book(s) separately.
 
I started out with the lee kit, its a great starter kit, and if you decide reloading is not for you, than your not out much. The whole kit costs less than allot of other presses. Get a caliper, and the dies you want, some reading material and your set.

I upgraded my scale, and press though, bought a hornady scale(allot better scale IMHO) and a used lyman press. Im in the market for a progressive though too.
 
I did the same as JD, but got a Lee Classic press and a 5-0-5 scale later.To get the Lee scale to be absolutely accurate ,it's needs to be an a level surface.I used a machinist's level ! The scale is more sensistive than the common 5-0-5 and easier to check charge wieghts.I only used the 5-0-5 to check case wieghts until I redid my reloading bench.The manual is worth while, it has lot's powder companies' data.

The Ohaus 5-0-5 is available in different paint colours,like RCBS green.
 
remember as a beginer, you want allot more than just data, that you can find on the internet. You need the basic theory, and how to that most manuals, like the lee, explain in detail.

My hornady scale is allot easyer/quicker to use than the lee(the beam settles much much quicker), but the lee did the job untill I broke the beam in half(don't ask how).
 
"untill I broke the beam in half(don't ask how)." I just gotta ask:confused:

Another very good beginner manual is the Lymans #48. Between Lee #2 and it ,they balance out.
 
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