Thanks for asking our advice. Welcome to reloading
Forgive me if this has been covered here, but I have never even looked in this section before. So, if I know I only want to reload for one cartridge s.a .38 special AND I shoot little, maybe a box or less/month will this basic LEE loader be good?...and enough? Opinions please...
http://leeprecision.com/lee-loader-38-spl.html
Thanks in advance
First, add eye protection and hearing protection. Maybe a heavy glove for the hand holding the tool. Also, use a mallet (not a hammer, steel on steel is not a good idea).
Yes, Lee Loader tool kit will do just fine.
However, you really should add a scale. Loading manuals are a good idea, too, although you can get load recipes from the internet (from the powder manufacturers, mostly).
With the addition of the recipes, you can vary the power level of your loads and, most importantly, you open up the options of other powders that may not be on the little table that comes with the tool and are able to be meted with the single dipper you have. To take advantage of the recipes, you need to measure different volumes of powder than the one dipper allows. Also, recipes from anyone other than Lee are given by weight, not dipper volume.
So, add a scale (for safety, accuracy and the options it opens), a full set of dippers and a loading block or two (for the convenience).
The Lee Loader, a mallet, a scale, a set of dippers, a wood block (use under the Lee Loader to protect your work surface) a loading block or two and and a manual takes up a bit more space than the Loader and mallet alone, but will still fit in a shoebox for sneakers. So now you are close to $90.
Consider if you decide to use a press instead.
A single stage press, dies, scale, set of dippers, loading block or two and a manual will easily fit in a shoebox for boots.
You will be much safer, versatile and still under $125. You will also be a lot quieter (even a wooden, rubber or rawhide mallet is a bit noisy), and less unnerving to anyone who might happen to see you whacking away on live ammunition.
Rather than a hand press, I used a bench-mounted press, but mounted it on a 2x6x18" board that I wedged into an end table drawer. It was a LOT more convenient than the hand press with the added benefit that I could prime on the press rather than in a separate operation with a separate priming tool.
You should add a dropcloth (cloth, not plastic). It will catch any powder or spent primer detritus that might spill and make any dropped new primers easier to find.
Welcome to reloading and thanks for asking our advice.
Lost Sheep