What about any other tools for case prep? When I reload my rifle ammo, I will only be doing 25-50 rounds at a time so so I need the powder measure? What dies would be the best to purchase?
To start with you need some way to trim the brass, measure the length, and clean off lube (rifle) and polish the brass. If you use military brass, you will need some way to get rid of the primer crimp.
Other case prep tools are nice to have but are not absolutely necessary.
Note for trimming, you will need a chamfer/deburring tool and I think you will need pilots for the trimmer you purchased. Pilots may be included but you need to check.
Imperial Die wax is good stuff and I use it for certain tasks. But I prefer a case lube pad for lubing cases for resizing. Try both and make your own determination. The lube pads and Imperial die wax are pretty inexpensive.
A big note, do use too much lube, which ever way you lube. It will flow up into the shoulder area and put dents in the shoulder of the case. Generally not disastrous but it looks bad. The shoulder will blow out on the next firing. I hang the shoulder and neck over the side of the pad and only lube the body of the case. You will also need a way to get a little lube inside the case neck for the expander ball. Most use a brush with a little lube on it. This is one place I use the Imperial wax.
Measuring powder without a some kind of measure gets tedious fast. If cost is a big issue, buy Lee's powder scoop set and you can scoop powder until your load is close the proper weight and then trickle the rest. I do this on occasions when working up loads. Any of the drum powder measures are good.
RCBS Uniflow is probably the most economical to start with but by the time you bring it up to the level as the others by purchasing micrometer measuring heads and powder baffles you have spent near as much. The baffle is a must, the micrometer measuring head is not. Reddings are probably the most expensive in this class of measure. There are some powder measures with costs in the stratosphere but definitely overkill for your use.
As said before, it is best to have the drum cavity sized to optimize the charge thrown. Not absolutely a must but...
Some folks have good luck with the Lee powder measures but I find them problematic.
Any of the dies from the major manufacturers will work. Lee dies, which are good dies, do not come with clamping lock rings. This means, once the die is set and adjusted you could lose your setting when removing or installing the dies in the press. You can buy clamping lock rings but you lose some of the cost advantage of Lee dies. Some folks drill and tap the Lee lock rings to provide a positive lock.
Regardless what some folks say, without some positive lock on the lock rings, you will at some point lose the setting and then have a bunch of brass not processed correctly.
I prefer Redding at this time but have dies from all the manufacturers.
Anyway, your choice.
Good luck.
