Quote:
Originally Posted by dijit
It depends on what level you want to reload. I would suggest to start with a single stage press. Much slower reload speed but makes you follow the basics before you advance to a turret press. You will need a powder scale, I would recommend a powder drop too (makes measuring the load easier). A micrometer, a brass trimmer a primer pit tool and primer seat tool should round out your tools. You will need separate dies for each caliber you are going to reload. Your initial investment should be around $300 to $350 depending on the press and the dies you choose to start. I would also advise getting a reloaders manual from speer or hornaday.
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I started with the lee 4 turret press. As long as you take it slow, take your time, its fine for a beginner. Just do A LOT of research about your loads, setting up your press and then do some more research. Every time I sit down I still check my die's to make sure they are at the right levels/specs for my load. I'll run the powder drop a until I feel confident about the weight its dropping (I'll load powder, measure, dump powder back rinse and repeat 5-10 times before I actually start loading). Then I'll check my powder weight every 10 rounds.
I would recommend getting multiple loading manuals. I have a Horandy, Lee and another big book (don't remember the name of it). One book might not have a certain powder that the other book will or they might have different specs for each round. I started off (powder weight wise) at the lowest between what all 3 of my books said and worked my way up from there.
1) Press
2) some sort of digital scale or a powder drop
3) micrometer
4) Manuals
5) Primers/powder/bullets/brass
6) Bullet puller
7) Some sort of brass tumbler and media
If you are doing rifle then you will also need
7) Case trimmer
8) Case lube
9) Depending on the round a primer swagging tool (5.56 can sometimes have a crimped primer which you need a special tool to deprime)
edit: If you get a turret press it will come with a deprimer (for non crimped primers) and a priming tool already built into the press