Best Press Kit for Newbies under $150

[Payneboy]

Hello guys and gals, I'm new to the forum and new to reloading. I have an anniversary this weekend and my wife has agreed to help me jump start my reloading/hand-loading career. Can you guys give me links or suggestions to the best kit for under $150? I have heard that Lee is good stuff for beginners and I know they offer a few choices in that price range, but I have no idea which kit contains the stuff that is really essential to a new reloader.

I will be reloading 308/300wsm/45acp to begin with. Thanks so much for your help and advice. God Bless.

 

[Papa smurf]

Best for newbie

Lee all the way. In 2000 I had a fire that took away everything but my wife and dog. Before the fire I had a lot of equipment from most all the major companies. I now have just Lee and is serves me quite well. You can allways "up grade" as you learn. Been loading since I was 16, I am now 70 and dont see a need to "up grade" for my needs ,you may as you get farther into reloading.-----Good shoottng----Papa Smurf

 

[Payneboy]

ok so between the 50th anniversary http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1228701352.5599=/html/catalog/anivers.html and the Lee Pro 1000 http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1228701352.5599=/html/catalog/lp1000.html (which seems to come with a die of your choice and can be had on Ebay for $139.99 plus shipping), which way should I go?

 

[Ol` Joe]

Rifle or pistol? it can make a difference in some things you`ll need.

 

[Payneboy]

Mostly rifle, but wanting to do some 45acp also.

 

[rfwobbly]

Consider Used Equipment

Payneboy -
I'm not aware of any "kit" that comes with everything. Even with the best $500 kit on the market, you're going to need or want more than what comes with it. You see, reloading is a lot more than a press, a set of dies and a pile of powder.

May I humbly suggest you look on your local "Craigs List" web page and find a local reloader who's selling all their stuff. If you stick to the major brands, none of the stuff will be worn out and the seller is going to throw in his caliper, several reloading manuals, case trimmer, scale, cartridge gauges, decapper, some left over powder, primers, tumbler, bullets... in short all the jillion little "extras" that cost as much or more than the original "starter kit". And usually, you'll be getting much better quality than comes in any starter kit.

Any equipment that's not on your shopping list can become trading material for what you do need. Not only that, but you'll have met someone local who can explain how to use all this stuff.

 

[rondog]

Best starter kit there is.... https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41

 

[grsjax]

My first reloading outfit was the Lee Anniversary Kit. Great kit. I have graduated to a progressive but still use the original press for rifle cartridges because the progressive will not handle anything very long. Another issue is that progressives are not as trouble free as you might think. Get some time with a single stage press before you plunge into a progressive and a progressive only makes sense if you going to be doing large runs of pistol cartridges (several hundred at a time).

 

[12Bravo20]

I started out with a Lee single stage and then went to a Lee Classic Turret Press. I mostly reload pistol ammo and the only rifle ammo I'm reloading right now is .223 which I do on the turret press. Cabela's has the Lee Classic Turret reloading kit (4 hole) for $165. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0044122216337a&navCount=1&podId=0044122&parentId=cat20847&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat602007-cat20847&catalogCode=XJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20847&hasJS=true
And they have the Lee Anniversary Kit (single stage) for $85.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0003080216577a&navCount=6&podId=0003080&parentId=cat20847&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat602007-cat20847&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20847&hasJS=true

 

[Vacek]

I am truly enjoying my Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit that I have had for around 9 months. It sales for 89.99 + shipping in Natchaz and comes with the press, Perfect Powder Measure, Powder funnel, some quick change bushings.

Anyway, I have purchased around another $50 in bushings for my 9mm, 45 colt and 303 Brit. It is p;roblably not that much slower than a non-indexing turret and very flexible. The press seems more than adequate for my needs which also includes Swede, Mosin, and SKS reloads.

 

[RustyFN]

For the calibers you want to load I would go with the breech lock over the pro 1000. If you can go a little more then I would go with the classic cast turret.
Rusty

 

[goose2]

Save your money and get a progressive right off the bat. You can load one bullet at a time until you get the hang of it and get somewhat comfortable loading.
You buy this press and that press and in the long run it will cost you a lot more money. You may start at the top right off the bat.