Crashman

Hey guys, I'm new to the reloading game and would appreciate any help you may have to offer. I haven't bought any equipment yet and quite frankly I don't know where to start. I will be reloading for 308 win right away, and possibly a 7mm mag in the near future. Please advise on any and all equipment I may need. Thanks!!

NE Hunter

The place to start is with a good loading manual like Lyman. read all the steps and geet an understandind of what you are doing. They even have a video out now on getting started, but I haven't veiwed it.

Then get a kit RCBS or Lyman ( I like the Lee chalanger press but not their scales) You'll need to add the dies for your calibers and a set of calipers to measure case length ( the brass dose stretch and will need to be trimmed) maybe a case trimmer if not included in the kit.

good luck ask a lot of questions lots of good knowledgeable people here.

MOTurkeyTamer

Crash, here's what I use:
RCBS Rockchucker Press
RCBS Powder Measure
RCBS Case Trimmer
RCBS press mounted APS priming system
RCBS Calipers
PACT digital powder scale
Midway brass tumbler
Redding dies
RCBS powder trickler, neck brushes, deburring tool and asst. other gadgets.

I reload for 5 different calibers at present with this setup and have never had a problem with any of it. Wouldn't change a thing. Good luck!

PaJack

One bit of advice,&quot;BUY QUALITY&quot;! I like RCBS also...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hunt Safe!

Jack

Bloodnativ

Buy a manual. Lee and Lyman both have good ones. Once you read those you will have a pretty good idea of what you need to get. You don't need a whole lot of equipment. Press, dies, powder scales, case length gage and trimmer, chamfer/deburring tool, primer pocket cleaner, and calipers. That's really all you need to get started. You will want to add many things to that as you progress. That is all I started with several years ago and have added very little to it. A tumbler is recommended but you can clean cases with a solution on 2qt water(hot), 1cup distilled white vinegar, 1oz. dish detergent. Let them soak for 20-30 min stirring ocassionally. This will clean the dirt and grit but will not leave them all shiny and pretty. Like I said, read the manuals and you will know what you need. Good luck.

handloader1

I would go with the RCBS RC Supreme Master Reloading Kit. Good luck.

oldrgr

Evening. I was in your shoes in 1998. I ended up getting the RCBS Master Reloading Kit. Midway sells it and so does Cabelas as well as probably most reloading/shooting vendors.
It contains the basic equipment with a couple exceptions.
Contents. Reloading press, powder scales, case trimmer, powder measure, shell loading tray, case lube pad and lubricant, deburing tool, wire brushes and the Speer reloading manual.
Recommended additions: Obviously the dies for your specific caliber,powder and shell holders for those calibers.
Bullet puller (you will invariably need to undo some mistakes), powder trickler, calipers, plastic ammo boxes, and possibly a primer pocket cleaner.
I learned a lot initially talking to a friend that had been reloading for many years.
What I like about the RCBS kit is that it contained the basics minus the additions recommended.
Regards.

bigcountry

If I was starting from scratch, here is what I would do. I got the rockchucker kit. And its done good. But I think I would buy things separately. I would buy a Lee Challenger press. Buy Lee dies due to the no expander ball thing. And I would take the extra money and buy a nice RCBS electronic scale. Powder thrower is another item I would try to buy the best. Not sure what that is. But I am not happy with my RCBS or the LEE job. Trimmer, I would get any of them. But would invest in a case prep electronic job. They are nice. Also, get ya a powder trickler.

recoiljunky

Midway is selling the Lee Aniversery Kit for $67 right now. Looks like a great deal to me. Eventually you'd want to upgrade the scale and the powder trickler, but to start with it's great. I like Lee dies also. They come with all the extras (the ones I forget to order from the other manufacturers). If you don't like reloading you'll have less than $100 in it. If you do like it, you'll have good equipment with the opportunity to upgrade later.

propmahn

i vote for the lee anniversey kit if you dont want to drop too much money on it to begin with. if it turns out you dont like realoding then all you have in it is $70. but the rcbs stuff is expensive. i have the anniversery kit and i tell you when it breaks, 3000 rounds or so and counting.

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass