So, with all the expertise here, and listening to the difference hand loading can make and certainly the pride you gentlemen take in a job well done, my curiousity has the best of me.

I've bought factory ammo for everything I've ever fired, put it in my rifles and hit what I shoot at. If, in the long Manitoba or Montana winters, I was sitting around and thought "by golly I'd sure like to try this handloading stuff, and possibly even casting my own, or purchasing from Hornady, Nosler, Sierra etc"......I know there's a whole whack of experts among my friends here...what are the absolute basics to start with for equipment? I know that if I do start it won't be until winter because I'm way too busy from now through the fall hunting season, so where to begin? Bushy? 1895? Vince? Handloader? ElyBoy? Swampfox? Dallan? Anyone else I may have missed.....

All of these good folks are going to give you sound advice. My recommendation would be to get a reloading manual by either Hornady, Lyman, Sierra or Speer and read it cover to cover. Lyman is probably my favorite. All of them contain a wealth of information and will explain the reloading process.

If you plan to load centerfire rifle or handgun cartridges you will need the following:

reloading manual
reloading press
dies for the specific caliber
shell holder for the cartridge
powder scale
trimmer for the cartridge
chamfer and deburring tool
lube pad
lube
primers
priming tool
powder
bullets
brass
calipers
Some gun shops sell used reloading equipment and dies and I have found several real bargains. There are starter kits sold by Cabelas, Midway and others that are well worth it. That is were I would begin. All the best...
Gil

Gil Martin wrote:

Lyman is probably my favorite. All of them contain a wealth of information and will explain the reloading process.

On the advice of the reloading guru @ the local Gander Mtn, I purchased the Lyman manual just today and am very happy with it. My RCBS kit came with the Speer manual (they are owned by the same company), and since I don't use Speer bullets, the actual reloading data was not of much use to me.

Gil Martin wrote:

reloading manual reloading press dies for the specific caliber shell holder for the cartridge powder scale trimmer for the cartridge chamfer and deburring tool lube pad lube primers priming tool powder bullets

I think brass would be helpful, too.

Also are you going to make your own bullets or buy them? Because then you need a whole 'nother set of things for that too.

When I wanted to start reloading I bought "The A B C's of Reloading" by C Rodney James it helped me understand the steps of reloading and what I needed to get started.

I would start with a "Lee Loader".
About $30 bucks or so fro each cal. you intend to load. Every thing need to start is there except:
brass, ( yours)
Powder
Bullets
Primers

This will get you started and then you can decide if you want to go into the bigger presses, scales, dies sets etc.
www.leeprecision.com/c...oader.html

Tracker, I agree with Hunter.
I have loaded with Lyman, RCBS, Redding, all of my life, and snubbed my nose at Lee until the last year, where I had to go with Lee 9mm and 45ACP dies because my gun shop was out of RCBS.
I also had a Lee Classic Loader with all of the trimmings land in my lap for $60.00, which is brand new.
I am now a true believer in Lee products.
Especially with a new reloader like you, you are not spending much money on a good product, and if you don't like what you have, and want to change, you aren't out much money.
I would go with the Lee Classic Loader Kit, which will give you plenty to start with.
For around $125.00 I would buy the Lyman 1000 Digital Scale.
Buy the Lee Dies that you need.
The Lee Powder Measure that comes with the Kit is as good as any measure that I have worked with so you are set on that one.
DON'T get into casting to start with.
Too many irons in the fire at one time.
Get comfortable with reloading for a year or two, and then see if you even want to do casting.
I think that if you have the money, spent $100.00 on the RCBS Trim Mate Case Prep Center.
It will fill your needs much better than getting the hand turning stuff, and won't cost a whole lot more in the long run either.
Feel free to e-mail me and I can give you my private e-mail address and phone number to give you a hand.

Eric

Gil forgot calipers. Dial calipers are prefered...

I would suggest that you read a loading manual then come forth with your questions. In fact I would suggest you read at least two manuals. If you start to reload you'll need at least two load manuals anyway. Might I suggest Lyman's 48th Edition and Sierra"s V Edition second printing...

The reason I pick these two manuals is because Lyman's tends to have lower maximum charge limits and Sierra tends to have higher maximum charge limits. A lot of information can be gleened from bullet and powder manufacturer's web sites. NEVER USE A LOAD RECIPE THAT YOU CAN'T BACK UP WITH LOAD MANUAL DATA. Not even mine... NEVER SHOOT SOMEONE ELSES HANDLOADS AND DON'T OFFER YOURS TO SOMEONE TO USE IN THEIR GUNS...

Keep in mind that reloading is worse then a drug addiction. Once started you can't quit and there is no cure or halfway house or support group to get you clean and free from reloading. The only support group you have is us and we are not going to try to cure you once you have started...

Never in your life??? Start IMMEDIATELY!

But, as Bushy and others say, It is addicting.

support group? I look at us as more as a bunch of enablers!! hahah i walked passed the press in the garage yesterday and i heard it say something.. 2 hours later I came back inside.. the wife looked at me asked what happened i told her the reloader was talking to me....

Lucky you Morax. At least You have your press in the garage...Mine is in a room (gun/reloading) just down the hall from the den. I can be watching TV and here it pleading for me all the time...And my firearms doin' the chorus part of the pleading...More like a lement.

Our reloading stuff, and I say ours since every so often I do it, is on an old apartment desk next to my parents bed. Every so often dad goes down the hall and about 10 minutes later we hear the sounds of reloading. I prefer to do the bullet casting but we haven't done that in years and I think I'm starting to have withdraws.

These folks are the go-to guys on reloading questions. When I see Gil, I will tell him that he forgot brass and calipers. He also did not list a powder measure, but I have never used one because I weigh every charge. Take care...
Joe

Sound advise from Gil, Bushy etc. I would also suggest a minimum of two reloading manuals. It is always good to compare loads. One of my choices of reloading manuals would be Hornady. Excellent bullets and info........... in fact, I shoot more Hornady bullets then any other.