Reloading kits - Newbie Questions

[nomad 68]

Having spent a lot of money getting into it, I always tell those who ask about getting into reloading, to look at the used market. There are good deals on the tools , if you look for them.

 

[IvoB]

Having spent a lot of money getting into it, I always tell those who ask about getting into reloading, to look at the used market. There are good deals on the tools , if you look for them.

exactly what he said - look for used go to gun shows there will be always someone selling reloading equipment. i am not sure if i saved any money reloading come to think of it but then i enjoy the reloading process find it a little less expensive than therapy

 

[horseman2]

I started reloading on a friend's turret press.
When I bought my first 44 magnum is came with a Pacific "C" press.
It served me well for 20 years when I upgraded to RCBS Rock chucker and selling the "C" to a new reloader.
The "C" press was used for everything I had between .222 and .338 Win Mag.
Finding a mentor might solve some of your dilemma and questions. Watching someone and discussing his likes and dislikes tends to eliminate some issues you will encounter.
Two ads at my Club were for a complete line of reloading components based on Rock Chucker components. Both sellers admitted they were inundated with requests for parts of the package and both were acquired for $200. I now have two Rock Chucker presses and my son has one. I parted out the first one and made money on the deal. Keep checking the EE!
One of my presses is portable and I mentor shooters wanting a demonstration at the Club.

 

[manicmechanic]

So I am looking to buy a reloading kit to reload my 6.5x55 ammo but I dont know where to start. There are kits from 250 to over 1000$ and I dont really know the difference between them. I am on a budget and the goal in reloading is simply to save money and shoot more rather than for more precise shooting. I just like to go to the range and have some fun.

So what im looking for is advice on which is the cheapest kit i can buy that is decent quality. I dont want to buy a 250$ kit just to have to turn around and rebuy another kit a year later.

Thanks

LOL - you sound like me about twenty years ago when I finally scratched the itch to reload by picking up a used RCBS press at a local gunsmiths for $40 - so cheap because the previous owner had painted over the green hammertone paint with fugly baby blue....

Most of my reloading gear I've picked up "previously enjoyed" and other than one set of 22-250 dies all worked as good as new at a fraction of the cost.

For the money Lee makes some excellent case prep / priming / powder handling tools that I still use today. I have their a case length gauge and cutter on each caliber just so I don't have to switch the cutter each time and have an old auto prime tool that (for me anyway ) works really well. They are inexpensive but well made IMHO plus the case prep can be done on my drill press or cordless drill. I also have used their powder measure dips for charging cases before I had a scale - and still use them to charge the scale and then trickle powder up to the desired weight.

I bought an ancient Lyman scale and used for several years until it wouldn't keep zero - believe it or not after contacting Lyman and explaining I picked it up used and was just wondering about sending it in for repairs, they told me to sent it in to be REPLACED AT NO COST - on the return invoice said "scale 20+years old - replaced under warranty"

If you have the patience and a bit of luck you can get most items 50-70% list price - dies and reloading manuals seem to be the exception.

Speaking of dies - the majority are and I prefer RCBS or Hornady, but recently bought a set of Redding competition dies for my 260. Never been fussy on Lee dies but also picked up a lee 4 die set for my brothers 223 cause I wanted to give them another chance.

Don't get hung up too much on the brand name - most reloading equipment manufacturers are still operating because they are putting out quality products. I would recommend a cast iron press over an alloy one - just because I always grab the biggest hammer for the job. The quality stuff will last a lifetime.

As others have stated "saving money" is the primary goal in the beginning. Soon just going bang and duplicating factory ammo accuracy won't be enough.

Equipment someone else likes will maybe not be your cup of tea - if you buy a cheap set up you will almost certainly regret it - buy once, cry once but you don't need the benchrest stuff. Be forewarned it becomes an addictive but very enjoyable hobby.

Ask at your local gunsmith, gun club, or some shooting buddies about reloading and ask if someone would be willing to show you their setup and let you "roll your own" on their set up just to get a feel for it - that's what I did (was no google or you tube back then)

Most reloaders are more than happy to bring over another to the dark side....

Best of luck

Tom