Reloading newbie

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Knock

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Hi everyone.

I’m new to the site and looking to get into reloading.

Looking for some good beginner books as well as options for equipment. I’ve been looking at the RCBS kit from Cabela’s as it seems to have pretty much everything I need to start reloading.

Thanks
 
Many here are not fans of the kits, arguing that there will be several items you never use, or replace quickly. If you just buy the stuff you'll actually use, they argue, you won't spend any more.

They may be right, though I tend to think it's a wash. Where the real savings is in used equipment. My guess is close to half of all people who take up reloading give it up having loaded little or no ammo. The tools sit in their basement until they sell the house, or have a flood, or the wife gets tired of it, then they offload the whole of it for cheap.

Regardless of how you source the stuff, if you want good advice, you are going to have to tell us what your goals are with reloading:

Rifle, pistol, or shotgun ammo?
Better accuracy, better availability, or lower cost?
What kind of volume of ammunition do you think?
 
I bought the Lee kit several years ago and am quite happy with the quality and everything it came with. I reload pistol and rifle in a few calibers of each.
 
Welcome here!
A local experienced reloader who can show you reloading hands on would be very helpful.
Tell us where you are located and someone might offer some help.

Start with a good single stage press and an rcbs/ohaus/lyman magnetically dampened balance beam scale.
I started right away with a Hornady progressive and managed fine with it but I would a single stage instead as it is much easier to start with.
 
I think it really depends on the reloading kit itself if you’re going to get a value packed kit, I’ve bought a hornady single stage kit and a Lee turret press kit and I use everything that came with both with the exception of the Lee beam scale.

I have also bought a bunch of extra single pieces of equipment, both used and new. Nothing wrong with the right kit, read a manual and watch some YouTube videos. Once you know what it is you need to reload to whatever your level of need it you’ll know which kit is best for you, once I was set on one I priced out buying equivalent new gear separately and the kit was better value. I didn’t want to wait for specific things to pop up on the used market, so the hornady kit got me running the quickest.
 
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Started with an RCBS single stage kit plus a set of the little powder measure scoops and the sliding cardboard scale thing that goes with them. Since then I've added a Frankford Arsenal powered case prep center (it was a gift but man I wish I'd invested in that sooner), tumbler, RCBS priming tool, and of course a bullet pulling hammer.
If you're going super tight budget get the scoops and the puller in addition to the kit and you should be set.
 
I also bought the Lee kit a few years ago. Single stage press still fits my needs but I’m not a high volume shooter. A single stage press and beam scale is a good place to start. I didn’t use the beam scale at first but I went back to it when I wanted to start chasing accuracy, don’t really trust the electronic ones as much. If you like the kit, buy the kit. You’re the only person who can decide what you do and don’t want. If the kit you’re buying doesn’t come with a media or wet tumbler YOU WILL need one of those to do it at home. :)
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. I’ll keep an eye out for some used gear but my patience sometimes doesn’t hold up when it comes to shiny new toys.
 
bertn said:
Welcome here!
A local experienced reloader who can show you reloading hands on would be very helpful.
Tell us where you are located and someone might offer some help.

Start with a good single stage press and an rcbs/ohaus/lyman magnetically dampened balance beam scale.
I started right away with a Hornady progressive and managed fine with it but I would a single stage instead as it is much easier to start with.
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According to his welcome post he is it NS.
KNOCK if your interested in help with getting into reloading I am available to help.
Kits have most of what you need. If your going to try finding used I have a couple press I will be selling.
 
Snider shooter said:
According to his welcome post he is it NS.
KNOCK if your interested in help with getting into reloading I am available to help.
Kits have most of what you need. If your going to try finding used I have a couple press I will be selling.
Click to expand...
Snider Shooter,

Let me know what you are going to be selling.
 
Knock said:
Thanks everyone for the replies. I’ll keep an eye out for some used gear but my patience sometimes doesn’t hold up when it comes to shiny new toys.
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First, buy a relaoding manual , Lyman is a good one
something to study while you wait tio make purchases
besides the 'how to' it hs the 'why' also
 
First, hard stop, don't buy anything until you do some reading.

Second, send me your email and I will share couple of gigs of manuals, vidoes, etc. that will help you get started.

Cheers,
 
I started out with an RCBS Rockchucker kit which was on sale at Bass Pro. I bought other stuff that I needed over time. I loaded pistol calibres to start as that was what I needed. The single stage forced me to understand the process. After a few years I bought a progressive press to speed things up. The RCBS is my rifle reloading press and it has more than earned it's keep over the years! The RCBS reloading manual that comes with the kit is a great resource for starting out, refining your processes and getting caliber recipes!
 
Knock said:
Hi everyone.

I’m new to the site and looking to get into reloading.

Looking for some good beginner books as well as options for equipment. I’ve been looking at the RCBS kit from Cabela’s as it seems to have pretty much everything I need to start reloading.

Thanks
Click to expand...
That RCBS kit should do you fine. For a first book, I'd recommend the Lee manual. I'm not a huge fan of Lee's tools and equipment, but the Lee book is great. It has lots of good info in the first 100 pages or so, and though the recipes in there are a bit on the tame side, they give you a really good selection of bullet weights and powders - it's basically a collection of load recipes taken from across the various powder and bullet manufacturers. I think it's a perfect book for someone starting out.
 
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