I am new to reloading. In fact I have never reloaded anything yet. I am trying to get info on what types of equipment is deamed necessary and what manufacturers are recomended and which to stay away from. I will mainly be reloading 30-06 for deer and 25-06 for coyote. Just curious what you guys recommend. I know alot of this info in opinion but that is what I am looking for.

RCBS-Dillon-Redding-Forester all make quality components.
As a "newb" I would suggest getting the RCBS starting kit. Has everything you need to get started with the exception of the dies. Proceed with caution and have a good time. You will either love it or despise it.--Mike

It will be a great advantage to you to locate someone in your area that is experienced to guide you through it. If you follow all directions in reloading manuals you should be okay but you can screw up easily.
Watching an experienced loader can save you a lot of headache.
Have fun and good luck.

Good advice from Boomer & Dwight. Get a couple of good reloading manuals, I also like the ABCs of reloading. Talk to as many guys that reload as you can, then decide on what you need. The RCBS RC kit is a good one. If you buy quality gear it will last longer than you will. Here is a start:
http://www.rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=5

Newby,

If you post a general location in you bio you might get some hands on help from someone local.

Newby, welcome to reloading. When I first started, I had a wide variety of firearms. With that in mind, I knew I would be loading both pistol and Rifle. After reading quite a bit about the reloading process and available equipment, I purchased a Dillon 550B and I've been very pleased with it. It has produced some very accurate and consistent rifle ammo and heaps of handgun rounds in short order.

Just take your time when you start. It takes a little nerve to press out those first rounds and even a little more nerve to fire them off!

Good luck, your bank account will need it. After all, reloading is one of the most expensive money saving endeavors ever invented.

BASIC RELOADER RULES & REQUIREMENTS

1. Do you have the patience to do detailed work away from distractions, (TV, Children, guests)?
2. Do you have a secure area that can be dedicated strictly to a loading bench?
3. Do you thoroughly understand what goes on inside a cartridge when you pull the trigger?
4. Are you mechanically inclined? In other words can you understand and follow instructions exactly, to make needed adjustments to equipment? Do know how to use measurement tools such as calipers and micrometers?
5. Read the front sections of several reloading manuals. I suggest one manual, printed by a company that sells reloading equipment AND bullets. The other one should be by a company that sells only powder. Case in point Hornady then Hodgdon. After reading and understanding the “HOW TO†section in those manuals, find someone who already loads to show you how and talk you through a box of shells. Better yet find a NRA Metallic/Shotshell Reloading instructor and take a basic reloading class. See links below for locating an instructor.
6. Never be in a hurry. If you are pressed for time, this is when a mistake will be made.
7. Do not under any circumstances smoke, eat or drink, especially alcoholic beverages. The reasons are obvious, but I’ll state them anyway. Smokeless powder burns at a very high temperature; it makes a dandy accelerant to start a fire. Drinking causes loss of motor skills and judgment.
8. Wash hands thoroughly when you are through. You are dealing with lead in many forms when handling bullets and primers.
9. Walk before you run. Buy a single stage press to start out with. The progressives are neat and useful when doing large quantities of ammo. You will always have uses for the single stage loader for special loads later.
10. Stay with the basics at first. The tools for neck turning, flash hole uniforming, primer pocket uniforming and checking concentricity will be useful after you get some experience.
11. To start with, stay in the mid-range of the suggested loads for medium power levels. Save the maximum loads for when you have more experience.
12. Buy the best equipment you can afford. It will last a lifetime; the cheap stuff will wear out and need replacing.
13. Have ONLY the bullets, powder, primers and empties on the table that you are loading at that time. Put everything away as soon as you are done, in a separate place.
14. The only stupid question is one that doesn’t get asked. If you’re not sure, ask somebody. Use common sense, logic is a great tool for a Reloader.
15. Maintain a log of all loads developed with the test results. Label all boxes with the load data and date of the load.
16. Every Step is an inspection point.
17. The last thing you do before the bullet goes in " Look in every case to verify the powder charge".
18. There are no shortcuts! What we mean is; there is no "one load" that works best in any one individual rifle. Load development is an experimental process with the components you choose. By working carefully and keeping good written records you will develop the needed experience that will be useful to your future efforts.

Links for Reloading help and instructors

http://www.sierrabullets.com/ Bullet company, very good ballistic support group.
http://www.speer-bullets.com Bullet company
http://www.nosler.com/ Bullet company
http://www.hornady.com/ Bullet company
http://www.barnesbullets.com Bullet company
http://www.hodgdon.com Powder company
http://www.lapua.com VihtaVuori Powders
http://www.bluepress.com Dillon Loaders
http://www.mayvl.com/ Mec loaders
http://ww.sinclairintl.com/ Precision Reloading and Shooting specialist
http://www.lymanproducts.com All Lyman Products.
http://www.shooting-hunting.com Great hunting and shooting site with list of instructors
http://www.mynra.com/ NRA with links to NRA certified instructors

Basic steps to reloading. This is a short edited version from the "NRA GUIDE TO RELOADING".

There are 17 steps of which most are for both rifle and pistol and one for pistol only. This is marked with an * .

* 1. Inspect cases,
* 2. Clean Cases
* 3.Organize cases by batchs
* 4.Select proper shell holder
* 5.Insert and set up sizing die
* 6. Lubricate cases
* 7.Resize and deprime cases
* 8. Measure case length
* 9.Trim cases
* 10 Deburr and Chamfering
* 11.Clean Primer Pocket
* 12.Expand Case mouth (*)
* 13.Prime Cases
* 14.Measure powder chargeand charge cases
* 15.Check powder charge in case
* 16.Seat bullet in case
* 17. Identify the reloaded cartridges (Mark the box etc.)

I would reaffirm what the others have said about getting someone local to give you some hands on experience. I would also recommend checking around to see if anyone offers the NRA reloading course, it is a good one for beginners.

I learned by myself with nothing but manuals. It is acceptable but it is more fun with a friend. The problem is that there seem to be quite a few cranks in the reloading world. There is always the one who wants to start at the maximum load listed and go up from there; they say "Aww, those manuals are loaded down too much."

And there are many other types of cranks that will try to steer you in their direction becausse they seem convinced that they are in posession of the great secrets of reloading. Just go with what the manuals say until you learn how to experiment. Let the voice of caution be your guide.

I would recommend like the others a good manual or two. Speer was my guide in the beginning and I did just fine. The "ABC's of Reloading" is another great primer. Pick one and read it cover to cover.

I would also recommend if you have any handguns to reload for to start with one of them. The straight walled rounds with their small charges are easier, they build confidence and in a way slightly less dangerous.

Anyway, welcome to the addiction

Find someone that reloads and become their friend. I would definatly watch someone else reload first, and then start out on THEIR equip. There is a LOT to know, all of the books mentioned are mandatory reads. There is NO opinion on technical aspects of cartridges. Do plenty of reseach, and use easily verified info.

Newby,
Check your *@fuse.net email.

If there are any experienced reloaders around Fort Lauderdale, I sure would like to learn what I am missing. I am not even up to being classified as new, but I would like to learn. So, if you would not mind, I would like to gain from your experience.

Great post, Grizz--good info for everyone!

Thanks!

friar

hi newby
welcome to reloading!!
i ditto all other posts just have couple other thoughts.
record everything you do.
get some sheets from mtm(called reloader log)
record powder primer bullet etc.
im always looking back when i purchase a gun in a caliber i had before to see what i liked?
another thing is (if you cant find someone in you area)these forums are a good place to ask questions from experienced guys
fog

read the book that Lee has. It is the second edition and it contain alot of good info. Read the other manuals too, all contain lots of good info. talk to reloaders in your area.

you don't "NEED" all that much to start reloading but there are so many neat tools that just beg to be bought. I still use the RCBS RockChucker that I bought new in the mid 70's and it sure is tough to wear out. I like the looks of the new Lee Cast, anyone use one, do you like it?

Welcome.

Yes, first things first.

Don't spend a penny on gear until you read up on what and how to do things. 34 years ago I began handloading my 25-06 Rem with the Lyman book. Their latest edition is still good, but I would now recommend Metallic cartridge Reloading, Third Edition by M L McPherson. Large size softcover and one third of the contents is technical info. Other two thirds is recipes.

This guy offers a goldmine worth of firearms and handloading info. Just don't get scared by his picture. Just kidding, Steve!

http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

Also, Saeed has posted a wealth of info elsewhere on AR. There's more to AR than this forum. Make use of the 'search' function. Most, if not all, questions have already been asked and answered over the years.