Beginner Guide to Reloading - What equipment did you upgrade early on?

[mtmuley]

Definitely started way too focused on doing everything perfect. Lots of annealing, some neck turning, over prepping/sorting brass.. Upgraded chargemaster with an autotrickler. Wish I woulda just bought a progressive right off the bat and burned out 223 or 6 br barrels with thrown powder charges rather than dicking around with a million meaningless tweaks on magnum hunting rifle ammo.

Case prep sucks, anything that saves time there is a good place to start IMO.

I love dicking around with magnums. mtmuley

 

[brockel]

I’m rocking an old rcbs press, Lyman digital scale, Lee powder dispenser, Lee hand primer, foster case trimmer, dry media case tumbler and at the moment hornady dies.

 

[mtmuley]

I’m rocking an old rcbs press, Lyman digital scale, Lee powder dispenser, Lee hand primer, foster case trimmer, dry media case tumbler and at the moment hornady dies.

I'm using a Lyman powder dispenser that is probably at least 40 years old. Rockchuker and RCBS dies. Redding too. And Forstner case trimmers are awesome. And a beam scale. mtmuley

 

[Jbotto]

I started with the bare minimum but lucked out with my press. Bought a used Bonanza Co-Ax with a box of reloading odds and ends for $50. Went from the Lee Loader to a Co-Ax in one swift move. Had a Lyman beam scale that I upgraded to an RCBS beam scale. Used an RCBS trickler since day one and still prefer it with rifle ammo. I finally did try an RCBS uniflow powder measure and now have 3 set up for different favorite pistol loads. They have been a big improvement in volume. Still use the Co-Ax for most everything. Have a used Dillon sitting on pieces still that I haven’t set up yet and a handful of other single stage presses that don’t get used that I’ve picked up along the way. The Co-Ax is an awesome press for me and it’s done many thousand revolver rounds and a couple thousand rifle rounds for me already. Not getting rid of it!

I haven’t found a brass prep method/tool that I like yet but I’m cheap and haven’t bought a prep station yet.

I would like to get into annealing at some point.

I started with Lee dies and have switched out all of those sets to RCBS, Redding, and a lone set from CH4D.

My first advice to newbies is to read the ABC’s of Reloading (newest version is my Phil Massaro, whom I really enjoy reading) and then a good Lyman hardcover manual. I use multiple sources for load data but I started with a Lyman 49th and still buy and use the newest version as they come out.

 

[bucdoego]

Don't suppose you have had a chance to play with, or know someone who has played with that new FX Outdoors chrono have you? Supposedly reads more consistent that a Labradar.

You might be interested. Both beyond my current budget.
SKIP to the end for chrono comparison...

The Fastest Rifle Bullet (and the newest chronograph)
Backfire | FX Outdoors v Labradar...

FX Outdoors: "New King of the Hill"

 

[yakimanoob]

This thread is gold, especially for someone like me who's done a little loading with a borrowed setup, and currently saving towards my own. I had planned to get a FA M-Press but y'all have me thinking the RCBS is a better long-term option.

The only thing I have to add is to echo that when I first got started, I was way too focused on perfection. As a beginner I was obviously incapable of it anyway, but it took me a long time to settle in to the reality that I'm making hunting loads for a caliber that's good on deer and elk to ~500yds max. I don't need 2" groups at 1000yds.

I'm intrigued by some folks saying you don't need a chronograph. I need one. Or at least, I feel like I need one. Don't take my chrono away!

 

[kiwi hunter]

Cheapest in the world, lee whackamole. Got my latest one for 30 bucks a month ago for the 22 hornet and a hand me down one for the 222 rem. NoNof

 

[kiwi hunter]

Cheapest in the world, lee whackamole. Got my latest one for 30 bucks a month ago for the 22 hornet and a hand me down one for the 222 rem. NoNof

Big thumb. Anyway they fit in one hand and load n go hunting.