I think I've got everything to start

[pennstater]

You will probably up grade to a better beam type scale. Maybe a RCBS 505 or something similar.

[newbie1234]

- https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-d...sugg_q=tumbler
I clean the brass without steel media, it comes out OK.

- something liked this : https://www.amazon.com/TBBSC-Precisi...%2C264&sr=8-12

- https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lemi-Shin...-12oz/15724190

- Any dishwasher.

Just in case : https://www.amazon.com/Redneck-Conve...1341549&sr=8-2

[Beelzy]

Before I got a tumbler, I used steel wool....back in the Dino days. Lol

[ar15barrels]

I think this is all I need to get started. I know with this gear, it won't be quick and fun, but it seems like a good setup for a beginner.

Lee Challenger Kit 121744 $149
Press
Auto Primer
Cutter
Perfect Powder Measure
Chamfer tool
Primer pocket cleaner
Beam scale
Funnel
Lube

50 rd reloading tray (2) $10
Lee Precision 6.5X55 Pacesetter Die set $34
Lee Precision 6.5x55 Swedish Case Trim Gauge 90126 $6
L.E. Wilson Case Length Headspace Gauge $29
Anytime Tools Premium Dial Caliper 0-6"/0.001" $36

And the Lymans 50th edition is in the mail already.

Is anything missing?

This should get you started.
Steel wool will clean cases just fine.

[ysr_racer]

OP, I've been reloading since the mid 80's, and never heard about the 27 step wet tumbling process until I read about it here.

I foolishly used the 3 step dry tumbling process all this time

[JackEllis]

I dry tumbled a few cases thinking my hands would stay cleaner. They didn't so I quit.

Washing cases in hot water and a bit of dish soap should be more than adequate. If you want to brighten them up a bit, add a pinch (and I mean a small pinch) of Lemishine or some other cleaner with a bit of acid in it, then rinse.

[Donny1]

3 parts water, 1 part regular white vinegar and a couple drops of dish soap. In a closed container and shake every few minutes. Only takes about 30 minutes. Longer starts to turn the color. Dry them and they are clean enough to load and not get gunk in the dies.

I do this and then dry tumble 1-2 hours and they look like new.

[five.five-six]

I think I could handle the few-minute drive

For now, I'll skip tumbling and wash my brass by hand, a big reason is I just don't have room in my small place for another thing like that. I am not even sure where to set up the reloading stuff. Thank you for that, if I start reloading more then I will see if you still have it, for now I will try by hand... let's see how long it takes me to get tired of doing it that way.

[newbie1234]

OP, I've been reloading since the mid 80's, and never heard about the 27 step wet tumbling process until I read about it here.

Here 27 steps wet tumbling.
(1)- Put Brass, Warm water (run the water from coffee maker if you lazy), dish washer, pinch of Lime Shine,(No steel media) into the wet tumbler.
(2) - Run for 30 min to one hour, then rinse the brass with water.
(3) - Dry the brass under the sun or just leave it there.
(4)- Wait until the brass dry.
(5)- Wait until the brass dry.
.....
(27) Wait until the brass dry.

[five.five-six]

I still use a harbor freight digital calipers. I have an analog RCBS to check it against and they are right on but eventually I’ll buy a better one.

[SmokeTheClay]

From Pittsburgh Harbor Freight to:

https://www.msi-viking.com/Calipers

Mitutoyo 500-196-30 AOS

Save so much time not having to quadruple check everything

[SanDiego619]

I tried to multi-quote, not sure if it will work.

First, will a rotary tumbler work with dry media? It seems like everyone uses steel pins for rotary, and walnut or something for vibratory.

Second, I was looking at those inexpensive digital scales on amazon and wondered if they were accurate. I guess if I get the Lee press kit I can double check on the beam.

Third, I was planning to bolt my press to a board like five.five-six and clamp that to a table also, so I can move it around easily. Seems like a good plan.

I considered ordering the Lee press alone ($77) and then the other things I need, but it ends up costing a lot more than the press kit. The auto primer, cutter, and chamfer tool, and funnel are $84 alone so that already costs more than the kit.

It would be cheaper to order the kit and a digital scale.

These calipers are only $10 compared to the $36 dial calipers I found. https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Calip.../dp/B07DFFYCXS would it be unwise to rely on that alone?

Thanks for all your input.

One other thing - I started pricing out total cost per round (for materials only) and came out to about 55 cents for 6.5x55 and 51 cents for .308 Win. I chose bullets that I think are pretty good, around 30 cents in either case. I found primers for 4.1 cents per primer (excluding hazmat shipping). Is ~33 cents typical for 140 grain 6.5, and 29 cents for 165 grain .308? Are my total costs per rounds typical for high quality rounds?

Thank you again.

Edit: Multi-quote didn't work, oh well, I think it doesn't matter too much.

[ar15barrels]

First, will a rotary tumbler work with dry media? It seems like everyone uses steel pins for rotary, and walnut or something for vibratory.

Second, I was looking at those inexpensive digital scales on amazon and wondered if they were accurate. I guess if I get the Lee press kit I can double check on the beam.

These calipers are only $10 compared to the $36 dial calipers I found. https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Calip.../dp/B07DFFYCXS would it be unwise to rely on that alone?

Thanks for all your input.

A rotary tumbler works with dry media.
You need to get the balance of brass and media right though.
The weight of the brass combined with the media in between the brass is what's doing the work.
Rotary tumblers tend to be much smaller in volume than vibratory tumblers for the amount of money spent.
Put another way, you get a much larger vibratory tumbler for the price than you get in a rotary.

Analog beam scale is more accurate than a cheap digital scale.

Go with Analog calipers.
They are more accurate than the low cost digital and don't need batteries.
The cheap digital calipers suck up batteries and always seem to be dead when you need them.
At $35, you can pick up a nice used set of Mitutoyo calipers on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-MITUTOYO-Dial-Caliper-001-505-637-50-/143657693277

[kcheung2]

X number of firings you anticipate the brass will last.

btw, after you start loading .308, you'll soon discover that it's not much more of a step to get into 30-06. Projectiles, powder, and primers are the same. You just need the die set ($50 one time purchase) and the brass. Then you start window shopping for Garands & 1903s. Then you realize 7.5 Swiss is just as easy. Then you start window shopping for K-31s. Then you start looking into all the other 6.5mm cartridges, and start window shopping...(repeat ad infinitum)

[SmokeTheClay]

X number of firings you anticipate the brass will last.

btw, after you start loading .308, you'll soon discover that it's not much more of a step to get into 30-06. Projectiles, powder, and primers are the same. You just need the die set ($50 one time purchase) and the brass. Then you start window shopping for Garands & 1903s. Then you realize 7.5 Swiss is just as easy. Then you start window shopping for K-31s. Then you start looking into all the other 6.5mm cartridges, and start window shopping...(repeat ad infinitum)

...and then you start realizing you want even smaller holes...