I know there are tons of posts on this, and I have read them (I do know how to use the search button, I promise). I am posting this question to see if I can get some advice that fits my specific situation.

I have never reloaded and have been reading this forum and have read the book "ABCs of reloading."

I plan to reload the following 3 rounds (I do not plan to add any new types of rounds anytime in the next 5 years or so - I will eventually expand, but not in the short-term). 9mm, 7.62x39, 7.7x58JAP.

The only dies I can find for 7.7x58 are redding and rcbs, and I plan to go rcbs since I can get them for about half the price of redding's dies. So I need my equipment to be compatible with the rcbs dies.

I am on a limited budget. I cannot drop $400 and buy a rcbs kit with everything I will ever need. I just need to basics to load a limited number of rounds (I do not shoot 1000 rounds a month or anything ... I go to the range once a month or so and shoot under 200 rounds. On a heavy month I might use 400 rounds). I am very interested in getting into making precision rounds and playing with different loads.

What do you guys recommend for the bare minimum for getting started with this. I want to buy equipment I will keep long term, so I don't want to buy some cheap equipment I will have to replace later. I want quality equipment, but I am limited on $$, so I don't have to have the royal royce version of everything. I have heard good things about Lee, but I am very new to this, so advice to the contrary welcome.

(1) What items do you recommend for beginning small scale reloading (brands and equip type)?

(2) what should I eventually add and in what order (order of importance)?

Before I buy anything I plan to make a homemade reloading table and a home-made brass catcher. So I will be covered there.

Thanks for any advice!

I was in your very same boat 20-some years ago. By now, I have a set of tools that I have generated over those years. I suggest the RCBS Rockchucker press. It's big, heavy, operates very smoothly and is very strong. It's the last one you'll ever need to buy.

A set of Lee dies having the carbide insert will do fine for your 9mm reloading.

I suggest you get the Hornady or Sinclair locking rings. They lock the dies into the press and do not allow them to loosen.

I like the Lee case trimmers. They absolutely do not change because they are an interchangeable madrel for each caliber that screws into a cutter handle. An idea is to have about half an inch of the handle turned down to 1/4-inch for use in a powered screwdriver, so that you can cut the cases quickly and save wear and tear on your wrist.

Buy a set of the Lee shellholdrs. It's eleven holders that encompass virtually every case out there. Cost is about twenty bucks. Once you begin to reload, you'll want to expand your horizons and sooner or later, you'll run into a case for which you don't have the shellholder. RCBS dies don't come with the shellholders; Lee includes them in most of their sets.

Buy the Wilson casemouth chamfering tool. Price is about fifteen bucks. After you trim, always chamfer the inside and outside of the casemouth.

I like the RCBS flash hole uniformer. It's just ten bucks for the tool and with just a few twists of the wrist, you can insure a uniform "funnel" or "cone" of flash into your powder for a hot, reliable ignition. You can just break the sharp edge on the inside of the flash hole, or cut a nice, wide, visible chamfer and know you got it.

MTM (not Mary Tyler Moore) CaseGard make nice, red pastic reloadiong blocks that hold 50 rounds of A caliber and another 50 rounds of B caliber on one side, then 50 more rounds of a third caliber on the other side. They are about six bucks. The calibers the blocks will hold are molded into the block, so look for the calibers you will reload to make sure you get the right one.

Lee makes a nice powder funnel, as does RCBS. I like the Lee because it is made from hard, translucent plastic and holds it's edge right where the opening to the case is. The RCBS is made from soft plastic and develops burrs there. The Lee does not fit WSM cases; RCBS offers one that does.

Get the RCBS primer pocket clean-out tool. It's two brushes for large and small primers, and a screw-in handle. Cost is about fiften bucks, which I think is kind of high. The handle also fits the flash hole chamfer tool.

The very best priming tool for folks on a budget is the Lee Auto-prime. It will hold upwards of 100 primers and you can prime as fast as you can put the case into the shellholder and press the lever. I have found that smal primers tend to roll over and/or foul the prime, but the large primers work very well. The Lee priming tool uses its own special shellholders; the ones for use in the press do not work in it. If you break it, you can get separate parts to fix it. I use a paper binder clamp on mine because the clips that are supposed to keep the lid on it are not up to the task. Just put the clamp on the far side from the shellholder and prime to your heart's content.

I use cheap Dollar Store cooking spray for case lube. I lightly spray the cases in the broiling pan of my oven and swish them around to cover them evenly. Cooking spray tends to dry out after a while, so clean them in hot, soapy water as soon as you finish resizing. As for case cleaning, you can go the tumbler route or use Berchwood-Casey case wash. You can use the stuff several times after the first use.

I believe I would first go to a gun show or two and see what you an pick up perhaps used. If you buy from individuals in other states the shipping will eat you alive.

Get to know, if possible, at ranges and such, some of the local reloaders. They can point you in the right direction where equipment
, new and used can be had. Also although a little morbid, what reloaders widow is trying to get rid of reloading stuff. It's all close to you I'm sure. It takes a little roger

If I were in your situation, I'd buy:

Lee Classic Cast Press
Lee Carbide dies for the 9
RCBS dies for the others
RCBS primer pocket tool
Check out ebay for a steal on a RCBS scale
Print out as much data as you could find on the powder manus websites.


That will not run you too much and you'll have quality equipment that will last you a lifetime.

Good Luck

Reloader

The RCBS RockChucker kit is a best buy for what you get in decent equipment: press, 505 scale, powder measure and priming tool. MidSouth has it on sale for $260. A tin of Imperial sizing lube and a cheap dial caliper will put you in business.

You can get by with a little less for the same money. Redding Big Boss press, again the RCBS 505 scale, a Redding trickler and a set of Lee dippers, and the Lee AutoPrime (or two) with a set of the special shell holders; you don't get the Redding 3BR powder measure right away.

I like the Redding equipment a little better overall, but the RCBS kit is a good economic trade-off.

If you ask Sinclair for their catalog, it is educational and will show you a lot of good equipment for when you start adding on.

You will eventually need a case trimmer and will want a few convenience pieces. Redding and Forster make the better dies. Don't have high expectations for the quality of any Lee stuff you get.

For an education in reloading, Glen Zediker's Handloading for Competition is available from Sinclair.
.

You`ve some good advice so far.

I`d add a caliper to keep track of case lenght and help with your cartridges OAL. Harbor freight or Encosell inexpensive ones for ~$25 that will do just fine. Stay with a steel one though and forget the plastic ones.
The primer pocket brush can wait. I used a small screwdriver for years before buying my 1st pocket cleaner (a Lee) it went straight to a shelf in my reloading cabinet, and I used that same screwdriver for another 5 or so years until it was worn to a stub.
Stay with a single stage press for Lyman, RCBS or Redding and you`ll get decent equipment that will last. The Lee cast iron classic has some good reviews.
A scale is also a must, I recommend not skimping if possible and going with a beam instead of digital. You get more for your money with a good beam, and they are more then accurate as you need.
I prefere Forster dies but RCBS, or Redding make excellent ones also. Just about any brand die will fit any modern brand press so you can mix and match, the same with shell holders.

Thanks for the advice guys. I truly appreciate the input.

I plan to build my reloading bench over the next week or two and then I will start buying the equipment.

Thanks again

I'd buy new unless you can find someone locally who's selling out there stuff. Check out MidwayUSA.com for what you need. Sometimes Midsouth Shooters Supply is a little cheaper, but not always.

Midway has a Lyman Crusher II Kit for $162, it will get you most of the way there, but you will have to add dies and some small items.

Also Midway has the RockChucker Master Kit for $269.00 from what I can tell all you'd need to get started is dies, a caliper and a trimer (get the Lee as mentioned above) for $270. (item # 646599) This will be all you ever need for a press and accessories and won't wear out and it not junk.

I know $270 for the kit plus dies and such aint cheap, but neither is factory ammo when you're shooting 200 rounds/month or more. If you got the RCBS kit you can get it all done with one set of dies for less than $350.

As an alternative, you can keep an eye out on ebay for individual pieces used and build your stuff from there. In the long run I think you'll be happier and save money buying the RCBS Master kit.

None of these guys are cheap enough, skip the press and get a Lee hand press. Use it to resize in front of the TV. Priming and loading need to be more serious.

Buy a new scale, Lee trimmers and priming tool. Buy the dies used, ebay or anywhere, people are always selling the stuff. Later buy the press, maybe after you help someone load on theirs, and you will still use the hand press. When you work up loads, put the powder in plastic vials, go to the range and seat the bullets as you work up. I have never pulled bullets yet, and at 50 I don't intend starting.

Stop at any gun shop you see, look on the bottom shelves where nobody else does. Three weeks ago this got me 1000, 215GM primers for less than $30.00 and last week some Nosler 300 grain partions for $39.95 (yep there was dust on the outside, but 50, .375 slugs on the inside of each box).

Arniet

quote:

Originally posted by Arniet:
Stop at any gun shop you see, look on the bottom shelves where nobody else does. Three weeks ago this got me 1000, 215GM primers for less than $30.00 and last week some Nosler 300 grain partions for $39.95 (yep there was dust on the outside, but 50, .375 slugs on the inside of each box).

Arniet

The last time I bought 1000 215GM primers it cost $27 and that wasn't that long ago. I purchased about 500 of 375 cal 300 grain NPT seconds for $20 per 50 from Shooters Pro Shop. Keep an eye open and the deals are there.