What do I need to get started?

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I am looking to load primarily for my 308, but may do some 9mm or others down the road. I am a little bewildered at all the different products out there and don't know where to start. I don't want to get a cheap setup and have to upgrade in a year. I would rather buy a quality setup once. Sorry if this has been addressed recently in other threads. see questions below:

- Are any of the reloading kits worthwhile for precision 308 loads? If so, what is your favorite/recommended kit?
- Are the rotary presses good for precision loads? Are they worthwhile for casual shooters?
- What should my budget be to get started with quality equipment?
 
The first question you might ask you self is this. Are you the type of person who prefers top of the line equipment no matter what the cost? Also how much time do you have to load ammo and how many rounds do you shoot in a year? For every reloader you will have a different set of ideas about what equipment or how much equipment you need.

I shoot weekly in the summer and at least every couple weeks in he winter so my loading needs are greater then say someone who only shoots 100 rounds per year.

I started with a Lee turret press kit and that Lee press is still bolted to my bench to this day. I've probably loaded 12,000 rifle rounds on it without a single issue.

My brother on the other hand started with the lee aniversary kit that cost him about 1/3 of the cost of my fancy turret press kit. His ammo shot every bit as well as mine but I could load more ammo quicker. So I paid more for my set up BUT I can load a little faster having a turret press.

We've both upgraded over the years with me adding a Lee pro 1000 progressive press (for quick loading of 9mm) and a Lyman T MAG turret press (holds 5 dies instead of my LEE'S 4 die turret) to my bench. He upgraded to an RCBS rock chucker because he's been loading large center fire rifle rounds which require more leverage which the RCBS press has making it easier to resize the brass. Also he wanted a press that takes large dies like 577 snider and his old lee only takes standard 7/8" dies.

I will suggest the lee classic turret press kit. I strated with that several years ago and I've loaded 20 or 30 different calibers with zero issues.

Nice part is with the Lee turret is you can either run it without the indexing rod installed which essentially makes it a single stage press and great for rifle rounds or you can run it with the indexing rod in and load calibers like 9mm very quickly. With the I dexing rod in it turns the turret with every pull of the lever so yu don't need to set up a new die with every stage. Only issue with starting on a turret press is there's a lot more going for a new reloader which can often make it confusing.

If you are only comfy with a single stage to start off with an rcbs rock chucker can be had very reasonably used and you'd be very hard pressed to wear one out in your lifetime. Single stage presses are sturdy, and simple to use making them a great choice for the beginner or the seasoned veteran.

If you don't want a kit and money really isn't an issue here's what my wish would be.

PRESS: Rock chucker or a Lyman t mag or redding T-7 or LEE classic cast turret press.
SCALE: RCBS 10-10 or 505
POWDER MEASURE: RCBS UNIFLOW
TUMBLER: Any will do, but the Lyman is my favorite
DIES: I like Lee dies but redding, Lyman, Hornaday and RCBS are nice to.
 
Like it has been mentioned it al depends on how much you want to shoot. I started with an old single stage rcbs rockchucker and still use it for making precision ammo for target and hunting. I now have a Dillon xl650 and can produce ammo way faster, 9mm up to 1000 an hr, rifle around 800 an hr. It will depend on how much you want to spend and how much time you will have to reload.


It is a hard decision, but it will always be a good decision to reload
 
Tinman204 said:
The first question you might ask you self is this. Are you the type of person who prefers top of the line equipment no matter what the cost? Also how much time do you have to load ammo and how many rounds do you shoot in a year? For every reloader you will have a different set of ideas about what equipment or how much equipment you need.

I shoot weekly in the summer and at least every couple weeks in he winter so my loading needs are greater then say someone who only shoots 100 rounds per year.

I started with a Lee turret press kit and that Lee press is still bolted to my bench to this day. I've probably loaded 12,000 rifle rounds on it without a single issue.

My brother on the other hand started with the lee aniversary kit that cost him about 1/3 of the cost of my fancy turret press kit. His ammo shot every bit as well as mine but I could load more ammo quicker. So I paid more for my set up BUT I can load a little faster having a turret press.

We've both upgraded over the years with me adding a Lee pro 1000 progressive press (for quick loading of 9mm) and a Lyman T MAG turret press (holds 5 dies instead of my LEE'S 4 die turret) to my bench. He upgraded to an RCBS rock chucker because he's been loading large center fire rifle rounds which require more leverage which the RCBS press has making it easier to resize the brass. Also he wanted a press that takes large dies like 577 snider and his old lee only takes standard 7/8" dies.

I will suggest the lee classic turret press kit. I strated with that several years ago and I've loaded 20 or 30 different calibers with zero issues.

Nice part is with the Lee turret is you can either run it without the indexing rod installed which essentially makes it a single stage press and great for rifle rounds or you can run it with the indexing rod in and load calibers like 9mm very quickly. With the I dexing rod in it turns the turret with every pull of the lever so yu don't need to set up a new die with every stage. Only issue with starting on a turret press is there's a lot more going for a new reloader which can often make it confusing.

If you are only comfy with a single stage to start off with an rcbs rock chucker can be had very reasonably used and you'd be very hard pressed to wear one out in your lifetime. Single stage presses are sturdy, and simple to use making them a great choice for the beginner or the seasoned veteran.

If you don't want a kit and money really isn't an issue here's what my wish would be.

PRESS: Rock chucker or a Lyman t mag or redding T-7 or LEE classic cast turret press.
SCALE: RCBS 10-10 or 505
POWDER MEASURE: RCBS UNIFLOW
TUMBLER: Any will do, but the Lyman is my favorite
DIES: I like Lee dies but redding, Lyman, Hornaday and RCBS are nice to.
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KellyP said:
Like it has been mentioned it al depends on how much you want to shoot. I started with an old single stage rcbs rockchucker and still use it for making precision ammo for target and hunting. I now have a Dillon xl650 and can produce ammo way faster, 9mm up to 1000 an hr, rifle around 800 an hr. It will depend on how much you want to spend and how much time you will have to reload.


It is a hard decision, but it will always be a good decision to reload
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestions. I work full time, run a business on the side, and have 3 small children - spare time is scarce! I think I'd prefer something that can load fairly quickly, though a Dillon xl650 is definitely more than I want to spend. I'll take a look at the ones suggested, see what kind of deals I can find. Thanks!
 
What do you need to get started??? A manual like the Lyman reloading manual and then maybe a second one liek the ABC of reloading. With scarce time you an always find the time to read bits here and there. Once you know the processes get on youtube. Every piece of gear has a review or 10 on youtube. There are so many different ways to accomplish reloading that actually seeing it done with the equipment you are considering is priceless. Just remember not all the advice on youtube is 100 % correct so fall back on what you learned in the manuals.
Most on here like one brand over another and is refereed to as the colour of koolaid they drink. You are tipping in the direction of Dilion "Blue" :)
 
For the rifle, decide what level of performance you want this ammo to have. If you want bulk, make some noise ammo, there are tools that will make a bucket load fast.

if you want precision and accuracy, different tools BUT there can be set ups to speed this along. I am a competition shooter, need a lot of top quality ammo but have limited time. My tools take the best from any manf to do a job well, fast, and economically.

some stuff costs alot, some stuff is dirt cheap but all do their job as best as I can find in the industry.

There is no kit you will be happy with if precision loading is the goal. That is why there are so many brands and so many gidgets... someone is always coming up with a better mousetrap.

BUT it doesn't have to cost a fortune either... just depends on where you spend and where you save.

Some are brand adverse and that limits alot of opportunities.. Some believe that there is only one way to do a certain process, so will invest in that tech.

So much depends on you and your goals, needs and bias.

I get to work with pretty much all of the reloading stuff and offer out all the major brands... some must buy a XYZ... some just want to get a job done well. Big difference in end price.

Let me know

Jerry
 
I have more RCBS or Redding than any other brand, but time went by and ended up with a wide variety of brands I actually use based upon my needs and the function of the tool. I now use Forster FL dies, Lee collet neck dies, Redding body dies, and Wilson seaters, unless Wilson doesn't make it in the caliber, then I use a Forster Competition seater. I use a Lee press for decapping with Redding decapping dies, a rock Chucker for threaded dies, or sometimes an old Pacific C press if I am feeling nostalgic.

Other brands that get used regularly on my bench are Hornady, Sinclair, Lyman, Herters, CH, Hollywood, Bonanza, 21st Century, etc.... This is for metallic reloading only, for shotshell I have a wide variety as well.


My point is, don't get hung up on a brand or color, decide what you want to accomplish, then find the tool/s that will fit your needs.
 
CostcoSamples said:
Thank you for the suggestions. I work full time, run a business on the side, and have 3 small children - spare time is scarce! I think I'd prefer something that can load fairly quickly, though a Dillon xl650 is definitely more than I want to spend. I'll take a look at the ones suggested, see what kind of deals I can find. Thanks!
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With alot going on in your life already, it is probably best to start slow with a single stage press. I am in your boat and have to make ammo amidst basement recreation time for 3 young kids... One operation at a time is best because I can fit short stints in here and there.

What I just started out with is as follows:

Lee 50th Kit
Dies / shell holder(s) for the ram
Powder trickler
Powder
Primers
Bullets
Brass
And a good solid work surface/area

I have had really good luck cleaning my brass so far with Citric Acid from pouches of dishwasher cleaner called Lemi Shine on the shelf of Cambodian tire, or using acetic acid sold as a sliced fruit preservative in the preserves section of the grocery store. The acetic acid works slower but seems better.
 
Seagull said:
What do you need to get started??? A manual like the Lyman reloading manual and then maybe a second one liek the ABC of reloading. With scarce time you an always find the time to read bits here and there. Once you know the processes get on youtube. Every piece of gear has a review or 10 on youtube. There are so many different ways to accomplish reloading that actually seeing it done with the equipment you are considering is priceless. Just remember not all the advice on youtube is 100 % correct so fall back on what you learned in the manuals.
Most on here like one brand over another and is refereed to as the colour of koolaid they drink. You are tipping in the direction of Dilion "Blue" :)
Click to expand...

+1 buy a manual first and read it. Info in them is great to help you get started. Enjoy the journey it's a fun hobby!
 
Buy any single stage press kit on the market and you'll be happy with it. I have the cheap Lee anniversay set $150 and it works just fine. Reloading on a single stage can definitely take more time but if you find the right methods a few things can help the efficiency.
I do ALL my reloading in single stages, Since it's winter time I take this time of the year to do almost all of the pains takingly long brass prep. I sort out all my brass into manufacturer and then tumble clean all the brass of one chambering. Then I resize and deprime them ALL, this goes quickly. Then I tumble again for a short time to remove lube. After that I take the whole bag of a few hundred sized brass and sit down in front of the TV with a movie on and spend the evening trimming, chamfering, deburring, and cleaning the primer pockets. This is slow but the most efficient method for me is to get the drill mounted trimmers they work great. Then I prime and label the bag and put them in my reloading closet. I do this for ALL my brass at this time of year since I had gotten behind last year. Then whenever I need to load up some rounds it's a matter of filling with powder and seating the bullet. That goes by quite fast.
In terms of things I would upgrade from as soon as you get your kit is a drill mounted trimmer set, either Lee's or Lyman's work well. And get a digital scale and powder trickler!!!! I have a lee powder measure and was using the beam scale provided. I thought that the powder thrower was accurate until I got a fairly inexpensive hornady scale. There is a variance of up to 0.9 grains of powder, and since I load most rounds near max I don't want any variance. So I take time to set my powder thrower up so it fills to approximately 0.5 grains below what I want and then I trickle it to the desired amount right while it's on the digital scale. This is defintely more time consuming but you get good at it and it's very rewarding knowing your powder charges are that accurate. I'm sure there are better scales but mine only cost around $40
 
cdn1canhunt said:
+1 buy a manual first and read it. Info in them is great to help you get started. Enjoy the journey it's a fun hobby!
Click to expand...

After you're done reading that one, buy another one, from a different source. Every reloading manual I have has some tidbit(s) of information that none of the others have. Once you have a better handle on what your priorities are, you can make an informed decision.

My reloading stuff is from a variety of manufacturers, and I can't say I dislike any of them.

Like the sign I saw regarding computers: good, fast or cheap: pick any two. It'll be the same with a press system. In this case good translates to precision / accurate ammo, and the fast refers to production rate.

Your choice.
 
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