New to Reloading-What to Get?

[MrLogan]

I want to start loading my own ammo, but honestly have no idea where to begin.

I have no experience loading, and pretty much know very little about it. What equipment would I need to get to start up? What exactly would I need to get, period. lol Any help would be greatly appreciated. Estimated start up cost?

[C.G.]

It would help to know what you will be re-loading. This forum generally likes blue or red (Dillon or Lee), whereas I like green (RCBS) which I bought here (good people and fast shipping):

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357

It has almost all that you will need and I have yet to find a cheaper price for it anywhere. It is a single stage press which I think is great for starters unless you will be doing pistol rounds in which case you might think about turret or progressive press. You will need your caliber specific shell holders, dies and at some point trimmer and a tumbler or ultra-sonic cleaner.

P. S. You should do some reading here, many of your questions have been already answered in previous threads.

[MrLogan]

Oh, of course. I'd be reloading .223/5.56. Mostly loading stuff to M193/M855 and MK 262 spec.

[C.G.]

Oh, of course. I'd be reloading .223/5.56. Mostly loading stuff to M193/M855 and MK 262 spec.

Then I think the RCBS Rockchucker is a good choice. Learn on that one and then you can maybe start thinking about a progressive press. You will always find a use for the Rockchucker.

[MrLogan]

Wow, thanks for the quick answer. Much appreciated. What's the progressive for??

[C.G.]

Wow, thanks for the quick answer. Much appreciated. What's the progressive for??

It is faster, because there are several stages on it, but it is also more expensive, for example:

http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.650.html

[Matt-man]

Check out this post at THR.

[C.G.]

Check out this post at THR.

Good general article. I personally don't care for Lee dies nowadays and I think RCBS has a better warranty than Lee, which to me makes it a better value, but still it is a good article.

[C.G.]

And I fogot an important thing, Mr. Logan, which is a good reloading manual. You should have more than one, but the one I prefer is Lyman's manual, but there may be better ones out there.

[MrLogan]

Ahh, good advice. Thank you. I think I'll pick up the RCBS. Other than the kit that you linked to, what else will I have to have in addition to the kit to get started? Thanks so much.

[ibanezfoo]

Oh, of course. I'd be reloading .223/5.56. Mostly loading stuff to M193/M855 and MK 262 spec.

I was in the same boat as you a couple months ago and got the Lee anniversary kit. Buy a book or two on reloading, I got The ABC's of Reloading and it helped a lot. I load .223 also. I did not like the powder dispenser and wound up just using a dipper. The rest of the stuff worked great and I've loaded 500 rounds so far. Actually on Friday I got a tumbler and a set of dies for 9mm because I was so successful with the .223.

-Bryan

[proraptor]

I picked up a Lee classic cast press after all the good reviews I read about it...

[Wulf]

Here's a good reloading catch'all faq.

http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=491879

[MrLogan]

Wow, that's a lot of good information. Can't wait to get started.

[mike100]

I spent a little more than a $1000, but that got me up and running in a weeks time with a couple of calibers on a used dillon 650 with a pile of new and used accessories.

This route wasn't economical, but then again, it was the most economical way to go, buying used and a top range machine that I won't have to upgrade.