Friend,

My advice is to search out someone locally who reloads and learn a little from them first. It is very hard to know where to start with purchasing equipment if you haven't learned some of the in n outs and contingencies related to the many variables of the many potential cartridges and loads you may ultimately be interested in building.

There are three methods / systems of reloading dependent on the equipment one purchases -- so you don't want to purchase anything until you have decided on the method that you want to use.

First is the single stage press. This equipment is mechanically the simplest. However, it dictates that one prepare all cartridges one stage at a time e.g. = deprime all; size all; prime all; powder charge all; seat bullets in all. So you may have a batch of 50 bullets all half built and then be called away and return just in time to see the cat knock the tray on the floor spoiling not only your labor but also the powder that was dumped out.

Second is the turret press. This press is an advancement from single stage in that you can save a little time in setup as you preset the dies in the turret and then need only rotate the turret to do the next stage of activity. It's really not much of an advancement, but people who started that way are used to it and it works for them.

Third is the progressive press. This would be the most complicated machine of the three -- but it's still pretty simple. In this system the press is setup and a casing is placed in the holding plate. As the lever of the press is pulled, the case advances into the first stage of depriming and sizing, with the up stroke the case is advanced and primed and a second case can be placed into the next slot in the holding plate. With the down stroke, that second case goes through the first stage of depriming and sizing while the original case has advanced to the second stage of flaring or charging (depending on the setup). With the upstroke everything advances to the next stage and a third case can be inserted in the holding plate. Eventually there are 5 cases advancing all at the same time through the various stages of cartridge reloading. (On Youtube you can see guys reloading as many as 100 bullets in about a minute or so using progressive presses.)

When I started reloading, my purchase decisions were based not on the idea that I wanted to build some bullets, but that I wanted to setup a reloading shop. The simplest tools can be used to produce perfect bullets, but for me the goal was to setup an efficient and versitile shop for producing both quality and quantity. So I went with a progressive press.

It is important to know also that start up costs are way beyond the price of a press. While you don't need every bell and whistle to get started you do need a few "expensive" tools = the press; a powder scale; powder measure (if the press doesn't come with one); a case trimmer; bullet puller; dies and shell holders and/or shell plates; case lube pad; primer tray; chamfering tool; primer pocket reamer; etc., etc.

For me, the start up costs were overwhelming for my limited budget, but I held out until I had about a thousand bucks so that I could get pretty much everything all at once. I load for 6 different cartridges and shoot more than I ever dreamed I'd be able to!

See my topic = "I love Hornady!"