"I know there are a few kits out there ... know they all have there goods and bads"
You're correct, they are all "good", none of them are really bad. Perhaps the worst of the bad is the most often touted kits are greatly overpriced for many beginners and limit you to having everything the same brand. In spite of what some seem to think, no single brand has a lock on the best choices of any reloading tool but with a kit you get what they sell.
You see some great comments on the Rock Chucker press but little about any others. I have an RC myself. Fact is it's about as good as any of its type but certainly no better. You really don't hear of anyone "wearing out" a press that's been properly used and maintained with a little oil from time to time! No press that's abused will last very long.
My suggestion is to avoid any kit, get the press you want and get the other parts from the best, most effective designs.
Lee's auto-indexing Classic Turret press is excellant for faster production. It has a cast iron body, a fully adjustable lever for maximum user flexibility. For a turret it's unique in that it supports the head without springing. The turrets are as inexpensive as a set of "quick change" bushings; a head set up with dies can be exchanged in seconds without tools.
I prefer single stage presses, I seek precision rather than quanity. If I had to replace my RC tomorrow it would be a Lee Classic Cast single stage. It's the best of its type currently available, at any price.
Lee's inexpensive little "Perfect" powder measure isn't perfect but appears to be the most consistant measure available, especially so for the commonly hard to consistantly dispense coarse rifle powders. It does require a bit of breaking in and adjustment, that seems to throw some folks.
The RCBS 505 is the best scale value currently available. Get a Redding or Hornady powder trickler to go with it.
Dies are dies. Forget the externals. Ammo is made inside and there really is no average effective difference in internal tolerances and finish between brands. Lee's Pacesetter and Delux die sets include a $7-8 shell holder for "free." The Pace setters include a seperate crimping die, the Delux sets include a neck sizer die for bottle neck cartridges. Bottom line, pay whatever it takes to make yourself comfortable and know you have bought as good dies as any.
Case lubes: I'd get Hornady Unique or Redding Imperial and apply it with my finget tips, no sprays or lube pads for me!
Lee's case length trimmers are simple, consistant and a great value. If you REALLY want an adjustable trimmer the Lyman Universal is perhaps the best value. The Wilson is perhaps the most precise trimmer, but there are some valid questions of the value of truly great precision when case trimming anyway.
A good beginners reloading manual is a must for noobs. I used to suggest Lyman but the lastest edition, #49, is greatly reduced from previous editions. The current Hornady is much better and Lee's is also good, both have lots of clear illustrations and explainations for noobs as well as some really good data tables.
Other gadgets such as loading blocks, powder funnels, deburr/chamfer tools, etc, really won't much matter, they are all quite good for their purpose.
Case tumbers are popular but only fluff, that's why they aren't included in anyone's kit. They are nice but certainly not needed.
