New to reloading

Buy used on here, other forums and ebay. Only buy what you need. PM me for personal advice.
Let this run a little while and see what averages out.

Get a good single stage press first. 9mm will be easier to start with. Start out replicating factory ammo. You aquire things as you go. Lee carbide handgun dies are a great value, even comes w a powder measuring scoop. Also get a priming tool. Lee presses leave a bit to be desired, i think. That will get you started.

You could buy a decent kit and die set for that. Probably less. I've been piecing together the minimal needed, and ended up spending as much as a few diff kits minus the added die price. Do as much research as you can on what you want. Lot of good resources here as well to get you going.

Everyone has their own preferences for equipment and components that work well for them. I suggest you get a couple loading handbooks and read everything up to the load data. Take your time and read until you understand what they are writing about. If you have any questions ask them here or in other loading forums. The internet is a treasure trove of info. The research you do in the beginning will serve you well into the future. Lyman Reloading Handbook and Lee Modern Reloading are a good place to start. I do not know what the newest editions are but I have the Lyman 48th and the Lee 2cnd editions. They pretty much cover the basics in detail. By the time you read those two books you should have a good idea of what will work for you. There are other books on reloading also. I only mentioned the two I liked the most. Good luck and be safe.

There are digital versions of some manuals available on the web. Not the latest editions, but recent enough for the basic info about reloading and reloading equipment from more than one brand.

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading Manuals/

Two things I would do better if I were to start over: One, keep better detailed notes of loads I've worked up and two, never load and store ammo without marking with complete load details. Now, I am exceptionally good at properly marking reloaded ammo, but I went through a time when I thought my memory was flawless. As a result of that I will occasionally uncover a small batch (50 to 100 rounds) of something I loaded decades ago and never labeled with powder, primer and charge weight details. If you are a well organized person this will be a non-issue, but organization was always a work-in-progress for me.

^^great advice. Also be sure to label components and brass etc. I’ve thought “of course I’ll remember that these cases are trimmed but not gauged” but a few weeks later I can’t remember. Write it down every time. Put labels on or in the containers you use.

I would not buy a "kit." The essential component ( the press) is the most valuable part of the kit. The other ten pieces of equipment will eventually be replaced. I bought it one piece at a time.

Cost me more but I got what I wanted and did not have the dilemma of trying to sell what came with the kit, leave it in the drawer for 20 years, or throw them out.

my 2 cents.

When LaneP refers to "notes" I believe he is advising you to keep a reloading log. Start the log the day you start loading and keep it current.

In mine, I detail how many rounds loaded and all the information I put on the load label - caliber, bullet type and weight, powder type and weight, case used, primer used and cartridge overall length. I also note any special circumstances from the loading session.

When I return from the range I take info from my range notes and include them in my reloading log. Helps keep track of which rounds worked well and other observations.

Don't hesitate to call the powder manufacturer for info. I have found Hodgdon to be especially knowledgeable and helpful.

Go slow.

I saw a picture online of a sign posted in a store (or restaurant) window - I believe it was Chinese badly translated into English: "Do not dumb here."

I now have that sign posted above my reloading bench.

To kit or not to kit is a question which comes up over and over again. Guessing maybe 5 years ago my brother decided to start reloading. I gave him a RCBS Rockchucker kit as a Christmas gift. A kit affords not everything but most of what you need to get started also with other stuff you will likely never use or there are much better things. I gave him the kit simply because as a gift it was easier for me than compiling a list and shopping individually item by item. Personally I began reloading in '72 before kits or even the Internet was available. This forum has some very good information on getting started in the reloading section sticky notes. I suggest you read through that section. Then sit down with a nice clean sheet of paper and a pencil with a good eraser and start a list checking it twice. Look at your budget and just as you have done return here and ask questions.

I believe you will find just about everyone who rolls their own will have suggestions and much like to kit or not to kit you will be left to decide what works best for you. Go get yourself a good hard bound notebook like the good old "Composition" notebooks and keep good notes as to load data which works or does not work well for you and your guns. Eventually you will settle on some "pet" loads and reloading tools. Finally the term or wording is .30-06 pronounced thirty-aught-six. All in due time.

Ron

• Read here and elsewhere everything you can before buying anything.
• Reloaders are VERY low profile people. You probably already know 10 between work, neighbors and church. Men are usually visual learners, so try to locate someone who can show you, then the books will start to make sense. A discrete bulletin board post "Reloaders please call xxx-xxx-xxxx" is a good way. (But be aware that not all reloaders are knowledgeable or good teachers themselves.)
• Placing your locale in your profile helps US locate YOU.
• Videos can be good or very bad. I suggest the ones on UltimateReloader.Com and ignore the general YouTube contributions.
• Ask lots of detailed questions here. Of all the public forums, THR may be the most knowledgeable.
• There are no "stupid questions", except the one you were afraid to ask. We all asked the exact same questions years ago. None of us was born knowing this stuff.
• When you have educated yourself, your caliber and your desired volumes will narrow your equipment choices down from hundreds to 2 or 3 choices.

All the best.

Be advised that reloading handgun (straight walled cases) and rifle (bottleneck cases) is similar but each has specific differences.

I's get a copy of "ABC's of Reloading".It is a good guide for getting into reloading. You can get a new copy or if you have a good used book store near by, they may have a used copy for a bargain price.

Kits are not bad and yes, you will probably replace some the equipment. But, you would probably replace some of the equipment anyway because you fine something that fits your needs better. Also, sometimes it is handy to have some spare equipment. There are no kits that cover all of the tools and equipment you may need. There is always something extra that is needed. I'd get a kit with higher end components though.

Weiner_Jar, first off, Welcome to the forum. You have much to read and learn.

The 3 cartridges you list are very different in use and the volume of use. The 5.56 and 9mm are high volume and the 30/06 a low volume. All can be done on any press with great success. Study the three basic press designs for yourself and you may get a better Idea of what will work best for you rather than having a stranger tell you what they think you need.

Single stage presses are the very basic and come in all levels of size and strength but they all work pretty much the same way.
Turret presses are the next step up the chain and again there are many to chose from. From the small Lee auto advance four hole to the Large 7 hole manual advance presses. The Auto advance works well for pistol and small caliber bottleneck.
Progressive presses are the most complex and the fastest in term of output. They work very well for pistol and small caliber rifle but not so much for Large rifles like the 30/06.

Repeat the get a manual and read it, also Western Powders; http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/ , has a nice on-line manual that is absolutely Free and is even printable.

I am on my second bout of reloading and this time practically all my equipment was purchased used. Suffice it to say that most of this stuff is impossible to wear out. So if it's not abused or rusted solid it should still work.

Welcome to the wonderful. oft confusing and frustrating world of reloading!

I would suggest your first purchase be a copy of The ABCs of Reloading. It will show the "How to" along with the equipment used. Also are chapters on components so you can determine what is best for your reloading. Some things you'll just have to decide for your self, like which type of press you need depending on your mechanical ability, your ability to follow directions and your patience with repetitive tasks. Do you like "magazine dumps"? or do you aim and shoot? Will your handloads be range fodder or hunting ammo?

When asking a bunch of fellers on a forum about needed equipment you will get answers from the absolute simplest to a big $$$$, big inventory, home reloading factory, capable of turning out 1,000 rounds per hour. You will get answers from handloaders that enjoy the whole process to those that just reload for something to put in their guns and go bang. I was very fortunate as I learned to reload with a Lee Loader, learning each step, one at a time, slowly and deliberately, but some have learned to operate a reloading machine (progressive press) right from the start. I'd suggest after reading the ABCs, you K.I.S.S. and start slow, and a single stage is well fitted to this type of learning/reloading. I don't believe the "buy once cry once" baloney. How many cars have you owned? I have owned/own 6 or 7 different presses. I have nearly 1.47 metric tons of equipment even though I don't use it all.

One other suggestion; get your reloading data from published manuals with some (a few) from powder manufacturer's web sites. Ignore any data (powder charges) from any forum expert, or pet loads web site, gun counter clerk, range rat, good intended friend or gun shop guru. I have used this Rule #1 for over 40 years and in all that time I had one squib, and no kabooms...

Go slow. Double check everything. Most important, have fun...

Welcome to the site and to the hobby of reloading.

I'll 2nd the suggestion of buying a couple of books and reading them through. Then come back here and ask questions about anything that you found confusing. Its can all be confusing at first.

I'll also 2nd the suggestion of keeping good records. A cheap 3 ring binder and a homemade spread sheet that you printed off from your computer will work great. Mine is copied from the MTM ammo log with a few personal changes.

Used equipment can be a good value if you have enough experience to figure out things that may be worn out, damaged or missing parts. But it can be frustrating for a new guy.

I would suggest starting with the 30-06 or the 223. The 9mm can be challenging . There are hundreds of different headstamps and the specs are all over the place.

Oh yeah, it would be great if you could find a mentor to coach you at the beginning. Maybe some older gent that hangs out at the range or at your favorite gunshop.

Any equipment you buy now, books, press, dies, scales, powder measure, etal, are pretty much window dressing if you can't find primers, LRP, SRP and SPP. Projectiles and brass, and even powder can be found usually, but the primer shortage is the constricting commodity. So get the books, and if you have a friend who reloads, pick his brain, let him show you what he does, watch the videos, and use the experience here for reference. Then, when primers are again available at a reasonable price you can pull the handle.

So like everyone above me said we all have different options on what is most important but will all agree that the big ones are all important. The biggest key in my book is two fold. 1.pay attention to what your doing, and 2. dont be distracted. This is not the hobby to drink beer while doing, or trying to watch TV.

Read the Reloaders Library of Wisdom folder on this forum. Begin with studying this thread;
For the New Reloader: Thinking about Reloading; Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST | The High Road

Keep it simple to start.

Single stage press
Dies
Beam "safety" scale for measuring powder
Case lube and application system of your choice
Hand priming tool
Deburing tool
Dial caliper
Personal protective equipment
Various little brushes and general hand tools

Grow your collection of equipment as your skill and needs progress. Tumblers, powder drops, case prep centers, progressive presses, etc can wait.

Lee is considered the economy line of loading equipment but it is good enough for the majority of folks.

Read up on this forum and others. All the little tips and tricks you can learn will help you immensely. But one thing with reloading and especially the internet, you cant take ANYTHING as absolute. Always start with lower charges and work up.

He is doing some 556 rifle so he will need a case trimmer.

Another thing I think is required that never makes the list is a set of quality check weights. Verify your scale is correct dont just hope not to blow your face off. Dont use one scale to verify another. The faster the powder your using the more important this can get. Powders like tightgroup and zip are easier to find in shortages. They are great powders but build big pressure fast. The slower powders on the table your loading from are safer imo while you learn.

FWIW and another suggestion/observation; When you ask this kind of question most of the answers will be equipment/tools the poster uses. Personal opinions on what is best for you, based on what is best for the poster. I have seen some wild suggestions ("I started on a Dillon 1000 auto-everything with no problems") which would only confuse and frustrate a new reloader. Product fans will badmouth every manufacturer besides the one they chose, giving a new reloader skewed opinions with little (no) facts...

Fortunately I started reloading way pre web and wasn't burdened with trying to sort between facts, opinions and old wives' tales. I went to the local library and researched. I read as much as I could, texts, not celebrity stories or opinions. I had access to published reloading vendor catalogs, The American Rifleman and wrote and requested manufacturers' product info.

Read as much in texts/manuals as you can. Take the opinions you see on a forum with a grain of Bullseye and think, decide what will be best for you. You won't be locked into anything, any equipment, tools or reloading components. If you find a tool/equipment isn't doing what you need, sell it and buy something else.

Go slow. Think. Double check everything. Most important, have fun...

I completely agree with mdi and his last post.

One issue I stress to all new reloaders is again to take your time, read all you can and once you actually start, start by building a repeatable routine. One that becomes ingrained so well that when something feels wrong or out of place or timing you will know and feel it. Your subconscious will tell you STOP!, something is not right. Next to all you can to keep distractions to a real minimum. If you feel distracted, STOP. Don't go to the bench when you feel tired or rushed.

Again build a routine. One that is not set in stone but can be altered, expanded or revised as needed or when a better way is found. Repeatability. Reloading is much about repeating things over and over. It also builds muscle memory even if you don't realize it. Do these things and it will go a long way in keeping you safe.

I don't care one iota for which kind or brand of equipment one chooses to use but I do care to know that when at the range the person next to me that is shooting reloads is shooting safe reloads. That at the end of the day both of us are going home intact.