Minimum equipment needed to get started?

[bebop4212000]

After reading many threads, comparisons on line and talking to some people I have decided to go with the Hornady LnL AP because I am going to start with 9mm, but I will later reload for my 30-30 and 303. I know what I get with the press, but I don't know what else I need. I need a scale, which one? Digital or not. I need dies, calipers, tumbler, cartridge boxes, powder, primers, brass, etc. I want to have everything I need to unpack, set up and begin reloading safely without discovering I still need several items I don't have. Your help and advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nelson133]

A tumbler and media separator are essential. Midway sells a combo for reasonable price. Lizard bedding from a pet store is the cheap way to go for media.
Brass, bullets. primers and powder are obvious, there's lots to choose from. read a manual or two and decide what load you want to use.
Lee dies are good quality and the most reasonable price.
Stay away from the Lee scale, it is a pos, electronic and not necessary, a regular balance beam scale will work fine. scales are okay but expensive, a regular balance beam will work fine.

 

[Shoney]

bebop4212000
To give you a quick answer to your question, read this tread.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214
It is at the top of the Handloading and Reloading Page and should answer most of your questions.

I use the Hornady LNL Auto Progressive, and also use the 550. The Hornady is a wonderful press, and you will not be unhappy with it. I highly recommend it over the 550. However, after reading your posts, I am not convinced that the LNL Auto is really the press you should get.

How many cartridges do you shoot per day/week/month/year. This should be a determining factor in your choice of presses. I loaded on a single stage press alone for over 30 years of my 47 years of reloading. It was only after getting into competitive pistol shooting, and needing 500-2000 cartridges per month EACH MONTH, that the progressive became handy. Once you begin loading, however, BEWARE THE DISEASE!!! You will be shooting a lot more than you did in the past. And that's not a bad thing.

Soooooooo!!! What are the numbers you currently shoot and plan to shoot in the future?????

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

Minimum equipment needed to get started?

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1200480447.5899=/html/catalog/anivers.html

This link is provided for reference only. You can get better prices via third party dealers than from the factory (www.fmreloading.com sells this kit for $79.99). This kit includes everything you must have to begin loading, other than consumables, and is IMHO the best way to get your feet wet. Note that this contains a single stage press. It's best to learn this way, and then graduate up to a semi-progressive or progressive later for pistol calibers. You will probably always use a single stage for rifle calibers anyway, so this definitely won't be a waste of money.

If you want to get "minimalistic" try: http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1200480447.5899=/html/catalog/cleeloader.html
However, this will not at all be a good choice for a first timer or any kind of even low volume production; it's really designed for at-range test loading. However, it is the cheapest and smallest.

I also recommend a few shell holder blocks that keep the cartridges standing up between reloading procedures. They don't come with this kit, but can be added for a few extra bucks at most dealers.

Edit: Shoney makes good points. Your equipment really depends on volume. That said, you will learn better safe reloading practices if you start out on a single-stage press and don't have to drop $$$ to get started. It would be easy to drop an initial investment of $1000 into reloading, but that's not really the best way to start. Additionally, progressive presses can be tricky setup-wise, and without some hard experience, you can end up loading many defective or unsafe rounds quickly.

Individual component wise, reloading equipment is cheap, and you can always upgrade when you decide you need something better. Like I said before, you will always find use for the equipment that you have relegated to second line status after upgrade.

 

[ranger335v]

A powder scale is mostly used to (surprise!) weigh powder. In that mode, expensive digital scales offer NO advantage over beam scales and they have several serious disadvantages. So, IF you plan to load sufficent quanities (thousands of rounds per year) a digital dispensing system would be worth having but a stand alone digital scale is not much good for the average reloader.

My beam scale has sat on my bench since 1966, it's as good today as it was when I pulled it out of the box. I feel safe in saying no digital will last that long nor be as consistanly accurate as it. My scale is an old Ohaus/Lyman M5 but there is no magic in it, others work just as well.

 

[jenrob]

If you don't have a single stage press look at the Hornady LNL classic kit The only thing that you would need over that is the mic and dies. I'm not saying don't get the prog. press but you will find that a single stage really compliments a prog. press. You also get 500 rounds of bullets with it as well as the 1000 rnds you get with the prog. Single stages are graet for load developement, swaging, better for rifle reloading and if you have small lots of pistol, and just setting back and take'n it slow and easy.

You are going to need the Shell plates for the cals. you are going to reload, a micrometer. You will need lub for the rifle rounds, need a trimmer for the rifle rounds. Also the more manuals that you have the better off that you will be. If one doesn't show load data for the bullets you have look in another. another thing to look at might be a powder measure stand and a dispense handle. The dispenser that comes with the press doesn't have a handle. You can make one pretty easy or get one through Hornady. This setup would let you single stage and have a powder dispenser on your bench then you could swap it back to you prog. press.
get a couple of spare case retainer springs to have on hand (couple bucks a piece). Get a can of Hornady one shot gun cleaner and lube. You will need it to clean the preserve oil off and out of the powder dispenser and the drop tubes. You are going to need 5/16 inch bolts 2 of them along with 2 nuts and 2-4 washers to mount the press. what ever you are going to mount it to you need to add about 1/2-3/4 for the thickness of the press.
I use a digital scale but would also recommend a beam type scale. my digital is as accurate but it is still electonic and can go out the next time you push the on botton.

 

[bebop4212000]

Thanks for your responses so far. My wife and I shoot about 200 rds./mth.
We both want to shoot a lot more. We are interested in practicing so we can start shooting IDPA matches. I also want to get handguns in .40 S&W and 45 ACP. I also want to get an M1 Carbine, AR-15 and an AK. We will shoot a lot more pistols than rifles.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Bebop,

For the quantity you're shooting and to provide enough production, were I you, I would look real strongly at the Lee Classic Turret press. I think it'll do you a real nice job and be economical when it comes time to add additional calibers.

Regards,

Dave

P.S. Just so you know, I own a Hornady LnL and a Lee Classic Turret press. I've owned a Dillon 550 in the past.