02-17-2023, 07:55 PM
JASmith Wrote:As I follow this thread, I begin to see that most of the advice comes from folks who have accumulated equipment and experience over decades and forget tha many of their "must haves" are a result of being truly serious in reloading.
The list of "must haves" becomes bewildering and overwhelming when it results from contributions by folks who have a variety of interests and are OCD with their reloading! (BTW, if you are not already afflicted by habits that look like Obsessive compulsive Disorder, you will be as your reloading skills develop - - -)
Follow the advice of LR1955 and LRRPF52 but get a basic single stage press, dies, powder scale, powder dispenser, and calipers. Load a few rounds, hopefully while consulting with a mentor, and shoot them!
After that, the added equipment will be a natural follow-on to where you want to go with your new hobby.
My own experience with trying to be cheap at the start resulted in abandoning most of my first purchases, so pick equipment from quality sources like RCBS and Redding and Hornady. There are more expensive sources that you will look at as your reloading skills mature but are not what could be considered basic tools.
Some of these folks occasionally offer kits that gets your basic set up with a single purchase.
I have had less than favorable experiences with the low cost varieties of dies and equipment in spite of occasional favorable reports from others.
Well stated Mr. Smith. Start with the basics and get other things to help along over time. A careful reloader can make some great ammo with the basics with a lot of the "extras" being added for speed and convenience.
As one that started loading 46 years ago with a Lee Loader for my 30-30 I know minimalist needs. Over the years I have acquired many other things some I have kept others not so much. back when I started quite a few must haves people talk about as required these days were either non existent or far out of reach for the average reloader. Over the years I have loaded for 45 different cartridges and gauges from 25ACP and 22 Hornet on the small side to 50BMG on the large and can say there is satisfaction in shooting loads you purposefully tailor to your rifle and wants.
If you can find a mentor close by that knows it, that is a great way to get started and is how I got started all those years ago.