Comprehensive budget minded reloading equipment list

[trailblazer75]

Over the last few months I've gradually built a nice archery shop in my garage and can now officially do anything I need to except for building stings and cables. And I got to thinking I'd like to reload. I'm CLUELESS. But I've got a very good couple of buddies who are both experienced reloaders. So I thought to come here and ask, if you were going to build a relatively compact and inexpensive reloading bench, what exactly would you buy and why?

I've already got a bench, grain scale lots of once fired brass (5.56, 260 rem and .243). I've got bullets for the .243 as well.

So if you were just gonna setup for the 260 and the 243, what are you buying? What sort of budget is reasonable?
I'm not looking to start an armory here, just looking to be able to load enough to be happy with what I'm shooting, conduct a reasonable amount of practice between my son and I and to have ammo on hand to avoid having to go looking for it.

Hope this makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Mag_7s]

Couple different schools of thought here. You can start with a kit, like an rcbs rock chucker supreme and have pretty much everything you need tool wise to get started and produce quality ammunition. Or, you can source different tools here and there as you see fit. It really all depends on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go. In my opinion, I would start with choosing a solid press, RCBS Rock Chucker, Forster CoAx for example. If you do go with a kit like the Rock Chucker, you still have a solid press and the choice to upgrade different tools as you want or need. I hope this helps.

 

[Rob5589]

I'd also recommend a kit to get started. You'll have everything you need and later you can decide whether or not you need to make changes/upgrade. Definitely lean on your buds to see what they use, like, and dislike.

 

[Long Cut]

I picked up Lee’s Ultimate Reloader kit and it’s been plenty for me personally.

I mainly load .223 & 6.5 CM

 

[sdupontjr]

I have the hornady lock n load set. Some of the items in it I don't even use. So If I did all seperate,

-Single stage press
-Dies for your caliber (I use RCBS FL dies for my 308, 7mm rem mag and 223)
-Scale ( I have a beam scale and a digital scale to double check)
-Power thrower (my kit had one it it but i prefer using the Lee dipper cups because I 'd rather take my time then load bulk)
-Lee hand held case trimmer, the wooden ball then just buy the pin gauges for selected caliber
-Deburring / chamfering tool
-case cleaner (i use corn media tumbler)
- Primer tool or just use the press itself

When I bought my kit, it was the only thing i could find at the time. So it came with other things as well. What I have found is you don't need all the bells and whistles to load accurate ammo. It just need to be well thoughout and you can purchase it seperately on the cheap.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I would get a good used press off ebay, yardsale ect...rcbs jr, rock chucker, ect. I would get a hand held depriming tool, hand held priming tool. As far a brass prep, just go stainless steel pins and a tumbler, you probably never used dry media so you might as well learn wet tumbling with pins as it produces the best finished product. I like a case prep station so you trim, chamfer, and debur all in on place. As far as a poweder thrower I use a Chargmaster but it really doesn't matter...they all pretty consistent unless you using stick like powders.
Good Luck!

 

[cjcavinaw]

I went the kit route when I first started and will say it was very handy when you don't know what you're doing or looking for yet...that being said now that I've been doing it for a few years there's is a lot of stuff in the kit that I don't use or instantly upgraded and would almost suggest building your own.

I built a kit on midway usa of if I were to do it all over today knowing what I know now what I would want, and it comes out at a little under double the price of buying a kit but on the other hand, there is stuff that comes with a kit you will never use and stuff that you will want to upgrade instantly, and there's other stuff that most kits don't come with that you would need to buy anyways.

Build your own kit:
RCBS Rock Chucker $170
RCBS Chargemaster Link $250
Frankford Arsenal Tumbler master kit $83
Frankford Arsenal Digital Calipers $28
Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tray $9
Frankford Arsenal Case Prep and Trim center $160
RCBS Priming tool $50

Optional: Forster Datum Dial $130

Total: $880


this definitely has some nicer stuff in it than what you need to start reloading but a lot of it will make your time reloading that much more enjoyable and get you that much better results. I will say if you do go with a kit which is also a great route, spend the money for a good power trimmer, it is the most time consuming and tedious task known to man and spending the money for a good one gives you more time to spend with the family instead of pounding your head against the wall.

 

[Wrench]

I'd buy a forester for sure. Add a rcbs rockchucker kit and sell the press.

 

[Axlrod]

Natchez has a 2 day sale on all RCBS kits. from $290 to $420. Unless you are dropping your fired cases in mud, you can very easily live without a case cleaning machine. I just wipe the resize lube off with a micro fiber cloth.

 

[Mark at EXO]

I wrote an article about this very topic some time ago: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/reloading-gear-for-precision-hunting

Kits can be a great place to start, but as in many areas, if you stick with the hobby/pursuit, you'll find yourself wanting to upgrade aspects of your gear over time. My goal in that article was to suggest some options are are still relatively budget-friendly, but also have more long-term value than the truly "basic" necessities you would have a likelihood of discarding eventually.

 

[Chad E]

I'll second the suggestion of looking at the current Natchez sale. Some great deals on presses.