Where can I get a beginner's kit for reloading?

[rconnely]

I want to ask for help in finding a reloaders kit for a beginner. I currently shoot a .9mm for work and also a .30-.06 and 300wsm. I want to get started and need a good economical beginners kit. I am not wanting the supreme top of the line kit , but want something that will allow me to make very good loads.  Also an estimate on $$ would be helpful.

[Jack Crevalle]

There are starter kits sold by most manufacturers of reloading gear, RCBS, Lee to name a couple. RCBS sells a kit with most of what you'll need as far as hardware for about $250 new with all mechanical components. It sells one with digital powder measure and scale for ~$350. You can get a Lee setup for a little over $100. You can find them cheaper at auction. If you get RCBS they have a lifetime warranty that doesn't require you be the original owner.

To this you'll have to add a die set for each caliber you want to load. The die sets run between $12 and $25 depending again on who makes them and what they are.

You'll also need powder, primers and bullets. Powder is around $18 per pound, primers around the same for 1000 and bullets  about the same for a box of 100 in .30 . All this can vary widely since you can get match bullets, magnum primers etc. Powder and primers also have a hazmat charge if you order them sent to you. You will also need brass if you haven't collected fired stuff; let's say between $5 and $20 for 50 depending on what and who's it is. Again, this can vary widely.

You will probably find that you need one or two other tools that these kits don't supply eventually for ~$20 each.

You will also probably find that, even though these kits come with a reloading manual, you'll probably want at least another one.

All these are very rough numbers to give you what you asked for. Probably others will come along and post 'Hell, I buy milsurp powder for $18 per 100 pounds' or some such.  All I can say is, if you are a beginner stick to conservative, published loads.

[Dave in WV]

Go to Midwayusa online and check under reloading. You can compare prices and what you're getting for the price. I started with a Lee Challanger press. It broke after about 14 years of use. I did mostly pistol rounds with it and I was resizing 30-06 brass when it broke. I got a Lyman press to replace it. I suggest getting a good press to start with as you won't have to replace it and the press is the heart of reloading.

[bigdaddytacp]

I want to ask for help in finding a reloaders kit for a beginner. I currently shoot a .9mm for work and also a .30-.06 and 300wsm. I want to get started and need a good economical beginners kit. I am not wanting the supreme top of the line kit , but want something that will allow me to make very good loads.  Also an estimate on $$ would be helpful.

.......Check with midwayUSA and www.grafs.com....as the other post state the RCBS is great equipment and they are good people.....get any kit that uses the ROCKCHUCKER press and they offer a couple of different levels of equipment according to your budget.......get a carbide die for the 9mm loading and standard dies for the rifle loadings..the carbide is more expensive but well worth it loading pistol rounds........read the manual and get downloads from the powder companies and bullet sites for additional loading data on your cartridges........enjoy the new hobby and good luck and good shooting-loading!!!

[pete50]

You should shop around a good bit. I bought a RCBS Rockchucker Master Reloading Kit when I started. Costs about 250.00. Midwayusa.com and Midsouthshooters.com are two plOverall, I spent about 330.00 to start loading for 7mm and 30.06. RCBS products have shown to be very good. Lyman, Lee and several others are also good. I bought a bench at sears for 100.00 later on. Overall, I saved nothing compared to buying premade Ammo, but I enjoy the scientific process at creation/experimentation of loading my own ammo. Good Luck. Pete

[Hcliff]

I will agree with the RCBS Rockchucker.  I go the kit ad still use it today 11 years later.  It is a good choice.

Hcliff

[gasr55]

I bought a lee anniversary kit for about 65.00 it came with everything needed to start reloading right away minus the dies they are another 20.00 dollars apiece for carbide.
  I have been very satisfied with this kit everything seems to be made fairly well.
  I load .38/.357 cartridges with it and these loads do not seem to put much stress on the press so i really expect it to last forever.
  I bought it because i read dave from wv post about how his lasted 14 yrs. and figured that was good enough for entry level because you just never know you might spend a lot of money for top of the line equiptment and then decide that reloading is not for you!
  Anyway it has been very satisfactory for my needs and has loaded hundreds of rounds of quality ammunition.

[Dave in WV]

gasr55, I can honestly say full length resizing bottleneck cases takes less effort with my Lyman press. For the small price I paid for the Lee press I sure got my money's worth.  :wink:  One thing to keep in mind is with Lee products you save money but you give something up too. An example is their dies. They cost less but don't have a good lock ring. Lee dies use an O ring to lock the die and it doesn't work very well. After replacing the Lee lock rings I have spent about the same as I would with a RCBS or other brand of die set.

[Donna]

Hello rconnely,

You can find some good deals in the Midway or Cabela's catalog.

I would suggest staying with the single stage presses, especially for new comers. I been reloading now for 30 years, started with a single stage press went to a (semi) progressive press and I’m now back to a single stage press. When you’re new to reloading there are to many thing to do, remember, and keep straight, you need to work on one thing at a time for a while until you get everything down right. You don’t need the complexity of a progressive press messing you up. Safety is paramount, reloading is potentially fatal at worse and fun at best and it is the best that you want, also the worse does not always happen to you, it can be the person next to you or even someone 15 feet behind you, like a loved one. So I’ll say it again Safety Is Paramount. A single stage press starting out will give you that extra edge of safety. You will want a good strong press I would go with the RCBS Rockchucker. You can buy them alone or as part of a reloading kit. But you’ll soon find out that those kits don’t give you everything you need, so expect to pay twice what the kit says, you know for all the extras you always need. Stay away from the turret presses, yes there are some good ones out there, but they will never be as good as a good non-turret press. I’ve seen more turret presses on the reloading floor gathering dust than on the bench.

I don’t know were this reloading is going to take you and you probably don’t know either, but hopefully it is upwards and on to better reloading. So I personally would suggest that you save your money and buy the best and everything separately and just what you need. Yes, I know you don’t know exactly what you need and I and the rest of us old-timer reloaders can help you. I would recommend the Foster’s/Bonanza Co-Ax reloading press for a lifetime of satisfaction.

Donna :wink: