Please help a beginner reloader!

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Auburn1992

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Hello, due to rising ammo cost, I have decided to start reloading, mainly just for the 7mm-08 but eventually also a 308.

Aside of the usual components (brass, bullets, powder, etc.), what else would I need besides a press?

I think I've found a good starter kit but I am not really sure.

Can you guys take a look over this product and tell me whether it's good or not?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=305282&t=11082005
 
Off the top of my head, you'll also need a scale, calipers, case gages, case trimmer, deburring tool, bullet puller, reloading trays, case lube, tumbler, media, and storage boxes. For starters.

Oh, and there's a reloading forum down a bit from General Discussions. Lots of good info there. Actually, this question is prolly better asked over there, eh? ;)

Don't have much experience w/ the Lyman press in your link. Do look up the Lee Classic Turret, however, as there are lots of members here that have favorable experiences w/ it. A starter's kit is also available from Kempf's at a very affordable price. I have one, and I love it! Edited to add link: http://www.kempfgunshop.com/kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/leeprecision/kits/KempfKit.html
 
if you havent bought anything yet, most of the major, if not all, have a complete (well pretty much) starter kit just for beginners. you buy most of what you will need all at one time. they discount the price a bit also. now, listen up. getting into this requires a bit of money up front. dont fool yourself. even after you buy the kit, you will still have to buy the actual dies you want, and all the expendables. if you buy in bulk, vs. 100 @ a time, the savings can be substancial. but i suggest you buy 50 or 100 of something and try it out before you buy 1000 of something, then do not like it. once you have all the stuff, then your savings can start. but to make this worthwhile, you NEED to shoot often. if you only shoot 4 or 5 boxes a year, even 10 boxes a year, it is going to take a LONG time for all of this to pay for itself! if thats all you shoot, you should be looking at buying bulk ammo for a price break, and some military surplus ammo cans to keep what you buy fresh for extended periods. there is even a "sealer" you can buy, which seals the primers and bullets for long storage, or you can use a "seal-a-meal". all your looking to do is keep air from getting inside the ammo. good luck on your decision. and as posted earlier, check out the handloading section of this site.
 
a good RCBS kit should have almost everything you need. I would add basic hand tools, and a set of decent calipers.

Buy your powder and primers locally, as there is a $20 Hazmat fee to ship them, on TOP of the already high price.

Get a couple of loading manuals, and look online for advice.

Best of luck
 
I have been researching reloading for several weeks too. I am not the only one with similar questions? Thanks guys for helping me by explaining it all to help me decide. That's why I love THR. :cool:
 
Just a thought.
One thing you might want to buy (and I hope you never need it) is a stuck case remover. Because if you do ever need one, you're not going to like waiting for Midway or someone to ship it.
 
a good RCBS kit should have almost everything you need. I would add basic hand tools, and a set of decent calipers.

Buy your powder and primers locally, as there is a $20 Hazmat fee to ship them, on TOP of the already high price.

Get a couple of loading manuals, and look online for advice.
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exactly what I did. I have found that prices on powder is only a buck or two a pound more than online and primers are virtually the same price, so unless you are gonna buy in large volume and use quickly it's cheaper to buy those local. I've also found that small mom and pop shops that have an older inventory of bullets(they never go bad) have not yet raised the price on them.....I just bought a coupla boxes of .357 158 gold dots for $6 a box less than online and a box each of 240 and 300 XTP mags for my .460 for $5 a box less than online. The boxes were a little dusty, but other than that were the exact same thing that GM had on their shelves for $8 and $7 a box more respectively. I figured this out a few years back before I started reloading that these little mom and pop bait shops buy their inventory, price it and it never changes till they buy more. This spring I registered my turkey at one of these places and they had three old boxes of 50, Remington .357 158 SJSP's marked at $24......:what: needless to say, even tho I didn't need 'em, I bought all three.
 
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