Budget reloading

[hamster]

I want to get into reloading. I was at a used bookstore and found some reloading books real cheap and I bought them all costing me $5 total! I can't recall all of them off the top of my head but one was the ABCs of reloading, a speer book, and a two others. I skimmed through the book and the prices are outdated for the equipment. So what I'm trying to figure out is what would my start up cost be if I were to buy today.

The caliber I'm most interested in is 308win. I only go to the range about once a month, and I probably only shoot 40-60 rounds while I'm there. So that said, the volume I want to reload is not something I'm concerned with. I just want a simple setup where I can experiment to get my perfect load.

[cleanguy46]

I cant speak from a ton of experience because I am new to reloading, but when I started i purchased the RCBS supreme master reloading kit for about $260 and the outfit threw in the .223 FL dies to boot. ( kit includes Press, powder dispenser, scale, reloading manual and assorted tools like funnel, deburring tool, primer pocket cleaner, hand primer, case tray,lube pad and bottle of case lube ) The other things I added was a RCBS vibratory cleaner for $60, Lyman universal case trimmer fo $60 and assorted tools like a set of electronic calipers for measuring case length at Harbor Freight tools for $16, bullet puller for about $20 and RCBS military crimp remover for about $15 and you will need an appropriate case holder for the press which is about $15. If you get cleaning media get it at Petco and get it. They sell large bags of crushed walnut for $12. This will save you a few bucks! Hope this helps.

[mif_slim]

Or Corn Cob at Walmart for 7 bucks, which also, comes in a huge bag.

[4literranger485]

definitely buy a kit! cabelas has a couple of Lee Precision and RCBS kits with almost everything you need!

[Chaingun]

Golden West Brass for .308 bullets. They produce a mil bullet with cannelure. They are located in El Monte to reduce shipping costs and hear they give cash discounts.

[hamster]

So I'm looking around $450 for all the equipment I'll need? Plus the cost of powder, primers, and bullets. (I have lots of saved up brass). That's not bad considering I spent $300 for 500 rounds. I think I'm going to take the plunge and buy me a kit!

[ChrisXD45T]

For press kits go with brands like RCBS, Hornady, or Redding. It's not that everything from Lee is cheap crap, but the presses aren't really made to last.
Something else to consider is a good digital scale, it gets frustrating and tiring using a beam scale and if you want to work on precision loads you'll end up weighing every charge; also a powder trickler . Definitely get yourself a hand priming tool, seating primers by feel helps prevent differences in primer height. You can feel the primer bottom out against the primer pocket with each case, and any part of the process that can be done on the couch away from the press is good ( I recommend the RCBS universal hand priming tool). If you're loading for a bolt gun and are truly interested in loading for accuracy you might want to add a bushing neck die and micrometer seater die along with a full length sizing die.

[Fjold]

Read all the books, twice. Then go to Hodgdons.com to get updated load recipes.

Buy a single stage press, a set of dies a scale, a powder trickler, a plastic funnel, a loading block and a cheap micrometer to check case and over all lengths and you have enough to start with. (about $250)

Later as funds become available buy a powder measure, a case tumbler/vibratory cleaner and a hand priming tool. (~$200)

Then even later add another single stage press so you don't have to keep constantly changing dies, a case trimmer, etc.

[cmath0100]

Check out the Lee breech lock challenger kit at cabelas. Less than $100 for everything except dies and trimmer. I have one and run about 1000 rounds of .223 through it almost every weekend. Works great for what I use it for

[gunboat]

Buy a used press, dies, shellholder, balance scale, lube, chamfer tool, primer pocket reamer, inexpensive verniers, pound of powder, box of primers, some bullets and you are in business -- Add what you want later to make the job easier, faster, or more fun to you -- Spend $100-150 or $1000, but you don't have to spend the max to make good reloads ---- my ha-penny

[The SoCal Gunner]

I'm about to buy a press as well and think I'll invest in a kit. I was thinking about the Lee Load Master but the Hornady Lock N Load AP with the rebate for 1000 bullets seems like a good value for a press with lifetime warranty.

I figure do it right the first time.