Hi I want to get into reloading but I dont have any reloading equipment. Aan I also do not know any thing about reloading. I was just wondering if it is worth the time (is it cheaper? are handloads more accurate?). And how much do you think this will cost me. I dont need the best of the best but I also dont want a cheap one that might break or not produce good handloads. And what reloading books or manual are good or what did you start with.


Thanks-Bobby

Lymans, Speer, there is alot of good books out there.

First off. Sure, you can load ammo to be more economical. I save up to 60% on 44 Mag. The best part is I can custom load the 44mag, for no recoil plinking or full house 1500fps 240gr hunting loads.

Yes, handloads are usually more accurate. But there is alot of learn, before you might see a big accuracy difference. So you can't expect it overnight. Once you got some time under you belt, you can really expect subMOA groups with modern decent rifles.

Don't count on it being cheaper. Let me put it this way. When I first started reloading, I told my, now Ex Wife, that it was going to be a 200 dollar investment. Now I have every penny of 1500 dollar setup. If you keep it in mind to match factory ammo, this is easy with 200 dollars of equipment.

You need a press, scale, powder thrower, trickler, calibers, trimmer, deburrer, lube pad, dies, and shell holder. I suggest the RCBS Rock Chucker kit. But you can go as cheap as the Lee Anniversary kit for $70 dollars. Or a rock chucker sepreme for 270. All you need to do is buy a trimmer.

When it comes to manuals I like Hodgdon's hard cover book the best. Speer, Hornady, Sierra and Lyman also produce excellent manuals.

For a press I strongly recommend the RCBS starter kit except that I'd prefer the Wilson case trimmer over anyone's.

A quality scale is a must and most of them are made by Ohaus.....most company's scale is made by Ohaus.....specifically RCBS and Dillon...others too, except Hornady's is unique and also a fine scale.

Generally speaking however to make things simple to get started I'd buy from RCBS except for the case trimmer which I recommend Wilson or Forester.

Dies from RCBS or Redding will work fine and if you want a powder measure ( not required to start loading) you can again look to RCBS or Redding.

Now if you wish to load shotshells you'll need totally different advise!!!!

I would buy a lyman manual to start with, they can be found just about anywhere, and are pretty cheap at around $20. Read the reloading section 3 or 4 times. Save up and buy a RCBS reloading kit (I think it still comes with a Speer reloading manual). Case trimmer- get the lee case trimmers- they are very cheap at about $4 per caliber versus $75 or so just to get a RCBS or better case turner, and they will work just as well and are much easier to use unless you are planning on making wildcat cartridges or doing neck turning.
RCBS dies- I never had a problem with these, I also use Lee dies- they are a bit more of a hassle to use but for the most part work well but there isn't much point in buying them as they raised their prices and are only a few $'s cheaper than RCBS right now.

Ask others what they do. This is especially important when choosing bullets and powder- choosing the wrong stuff will just cost you alot of money if you don't get satisfactory results with them- I still have a couple of cans of powder around that don't get used that I bought when I started because I didn't ask until later if there were better components to use.

The RCBS RockChucker Kit is a great choice and worth the money. Has all you need to get started. The thing that helped me the most when I started was I read every piece of literature that came with the equipment. The front of the loading manual included in the kit is very helpful also.