what is the absolute cheapest kit to get to start reloading. and what else do u have to get dies,powder,primers if i cast my own bullets. is rifle powder and pistol powder the same i would think so but i am not sure.

I guess you'd need to outline your expectations, what calibers you shoot and how much you wish to shoot them.
You might not want the cheapest bare bones solution if it can't do all you want to accomplish.

If you are new and try to get a grip on reloading and casting at the same time it is a pretty big bite to chew on.

I am not going to tell you the very cheapest kit to get into reloading. If I told you and you bought it by the time you reloaded your first box of ammo you would want to shoot me. If I was you I would go to Amazon and get a book on how to reload. Go to YouTube and watch videos on how to reload, there is quite a few to watch. If you think about it you wouldn't buy the cheapest car you could find to drive. You might not make it home. Don

PS Educate yourself before spending money.

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"Don't worry be happy"

+++++++++! For what hawkeye says!! Get the ABC's of Reloading & read it!! Then read it again, then read it again!! Understand the whole operation then go watch the videos on youtube!! Then think about what you need! It's not rocket science but one little mistake & kiss your fingers goodbye!! I researched for 6 months before I finally pulled the trigger on reloading! Be safe!!

BW

Jeremy, it is best to start with a couple manuals to read up on the equipment and the process--I'd suggest Lyman 49th Edition, and the ABC's of Reloading. Then make an assessment of what you are reloading for and the quantity that you shoot. If you ask about buying a press, most certainly several people from the "blue team" are going to tell you to buy a Dillon 550B or 650. If you don't shoot a large volume, I would recommend buying a RCBS Supreme Select kit from Cabelas. Here are the reasons:

1. Priced reasonably for what is included at $549.99
2. If you have a Cabelas visa card you earn $11.00 back in rewards
3. RCBS has a $50 rebate on purchases over $300--can earn up to $75 if you buy some components too.
4. If you have Cabelas Club Visa, you can buy it with 0% interest for 12 months

I agree with every one above, do a little research on your own so you get a kind of hands on idea for your needs. I use Lee equipment with great success, but I only reload about 1000 rounds a year. Reloading equipment is just like your guns, you will have your own preferences. Check out retailers of this stuff and again, talk to the sales people and get hands on the products before buying. I find that reloading besides being a cost saver, is a form of relaxation for me. This is my personal time to be alone and think things over. I do not reload while carrying on conversation or being involves in other distractions. I wish you success in your journey in this endeavor, I think you will enjoy it very much. But pound the pavement and pages before investing one cent. It will pay huge dividends.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

I haven't been reloading all that long myself but the ABC's of Reloading is an excellent place to start as that book was suggested to me and it's a great overall education.

I might suggest when the day comes to buy your press etc consider looking for used equipment in your local market paper, craigs list and or ebay but you do need to know what you're looking at. So, educate yourself. Maybe a kit would be the way to go but I didn't choose that route. I found a good deal on a used progressive LNL and a RCBS single stage along with several dies, powder, bullets, calipers, tumbler etc. The guy was getting out of reloading and it was my lucky day.

Good luck

Jeremy,
You can get most of the knowledge in these forums. Get a mentor if possible.

Not to put you down, but you post like my teenage daughter texts. Try using proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization where it belongs.

More people will read your posts if they are easier to read and understand.

I am interested in starting to reload myself. I am not really concerned with the cheapest but would like something to get me started for all or most of the shells I would like to reload.
30-06
.243
.45 ACP
.40
9mm
.38 special
.357

I would also be interested in Shotgun ammo to make my own 12ga and 16ga. The 16ga is really hard to find in SoCAL. I would like to do buckshot, Target and game loads as well. Any reccomendations would be great.

If you don't have the money to go the high priced route, take a look at the Lee four hole turret press. I got started with a used one six or seven years ago and with only one replacement part for under $10 and used it up to a couple of months ago (my girls gave me a new one). It does well for all pistol calibers, I haven't used it for rifle cartridges yet (only shoot pistol caliber rifles). You can do a price check at Midway - not very expensive.

Lee die sets (carbide) sell for around $30. I would suggest not usung the Lee powder scale. It's accurate, but lacks dampening and is a littletoo sensitive for my tastes. I use one of the RCBS scales.

The cheapest way to start is to find someone in your neighborhood who reloads, and is agreeable to allow you to use his stuff, and perhaps even give you some pointers. This way, you can learn, try out some reloading gear to see what you do and don't like about it, reload some ammo at a negligble expense, and possibly make a friend as well.

I would also suggest a reloading class. I found one at nrainstructors.org. I think it was reasonable about $150? Class time & hands on time. Lots of the reloading manuals like Speer & hornady have great info.


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I have many of the same cal's you mentioned. Started with reloading 38spl on a used rcbs rockchucker master kit. The 38 is easy to load. Later I reloaded 45 acp. That is enough for me. To try and reload all the different calibers mentioned would be very time intensive, and probably mistake intensive.My goal was and is, to reload better ammo than I can buy.My advice is to never trust your memory? Review load data,zero scales,check and double check die settings and powder charges. Little things can get you,38spl needs roll crimp, 45 auto taper crimp.If you enjoy learning new things you will enjoy reloading.For my purpose I have no need for a progressive press.I am going to shoot 25, 45acp rounds that I reloaded last evening. The only change I made was to increase the overall cartridge length from 1.203 to 1.215 inches.

Used equipment comes up on the local markets frequently. Buy out a widow and go from there. Most gear has poor resale, and after someone passes or gives up on reloading they are happy to clear it all out.
If you are near me in SC I can help out.

If you mean near by Southern California then yes I am close to you. I don't think you mean that, i think you mean S. Carolina. There was a time that I lived somewhat closer to you but that was back in the early 90's. How is the work force down there? Its gotta be better than the west coast.

DEFINITELY!!! I load 30 or more calibers from high velocity rifle shot in pistols to large black powder cartridges and learned 40+ years ago from my dad on a borrowed press (his). I'm still learning. You can feel free to PM me with questions if you like.


Go to the local gun shop, especially one who carries reloading stuff. They'll have books=ask them for suggestions. If you are going to cast bullets, get some back articles from Mike Ventrino and get the Cast Bullet Handbook (by Lyman, I think). You'll want at least two reloading manuals to start out and the bigger ones (like Speer or Sierra) will have introductions up front. Many shops now specialize in reloading and have classes and will let you use shop equipment during certain periods or for the classes. If they don't, suggest they start one. You'll get to know them and they'll generate more business. State where you are at and we might be able to suggest something (Ooops, didn't see you area when I was typing this-just a shortened heading!).

Generally, "C" or "O" presses don't wear ever out. Dillon has the BEST customer service and guarantee but may be too much for you. Personally, I have a Dillon 550 and an RCBS Rockchucker. Dies don't wear out unless you get grit in them.

That would be great, BUT, I live in Kalifstan. It is hard to find someone in the my city that will admit to owning a gun except at the range and most of them are LEOs. Even my parents do not want to have a gun in the house. They say "its dangerous. I tell them all the time they need to get one even if its just a little .22 or a Hi-Point. I even offered to give them one of my Hi-points for the day WHEN somebody wants what they have in their house in the middle of the night when they are asleep. So, thats the situation in the city where I live at the moment.
I know i need to save smoe cash and get the hell out of here, maybe WY or back to CO or KY.

I taught myself 25 years ago.Bought an rcbs kit and a couple of reloading manuals,followed that a few years later with a shotshell press.Read until you understand it,be cautious and as far as advice goes " consider the source"

there are so many items not icluded in a so called kit and what is icluded most say are not acceptable. it makes me think a kit is not the way to go . and case prep is a big part i assume yet kits dont come with these tools. then you need a brass tumbler? i was a mechanic so i own quality digital calipers and standard micrometers among many other tools what can be used from my tools i have now and do i need to go that far.i dont want to produce a stockpile of ammo so i dont need a turret or proressive but if i wanna do shotguns a whole different press is needed and all i want to do is make ammo as cheap and safe as possible to go bang ive done casting for fishing sinker and lures and have lead melting equipment so that would save me money i would like to see it done in person i think i am usually very good at the mechanical part of things and this would bring my infatuation for guns to the next level . any local people looking to donate your knowledge or reloading equip i can fix your car ,boat,lawnmower etc . will work for knowledge .also have boats if you like blue crabs lol lol but serious i also work for ammo , guns

A kit will get you started cheaper than buying tools individually,but like anything else,you will find you need more tools as you go along.I don't know if I would bother buying shotshell reloading equipment as decent clay target loads are fairly cheap now.I still load some as I've had the equipment for 25 years and still have a supply of components .

Take a look at this one. Has everything but dies and shellholder.

RCBS® Rock Chucker™ Supreme Master Reloading Kit

RCBS shows it discontinued but Midway and Bass pro shops show it in stock. Price is about $350.