Guys, I'm a complete newby and I'm going to get some equipment a couple pieces at a time. I want good stuff since the only reason I will be loading is to increase accuracy and use certain bullets I can't find in factory loads. Volume is not important, just precision.

With that in mind I am going to get a Forester Co-Ax press and Forster dies in a couple weeks. What is the bare min I will need? I assume a good scale and need a recommendation. I don't mind weighing each charge rather than using a measure if I can get more accurate loads. Again volume and time is the least concern.

So a scale, I guess trimming tool, caliper, ????

Just the minimum I need to start loading accurately.

Also I live in Winston county and was wondering if there is anyone close that would be willing to show me a few things. Maybe just let me watch you load a few and pick up some tips.

Books. And a couple more books.

I would go Harrells Precision before Forsters co-ax. Its 50 dollars less and a better press+ it portable. That being said both are good Harrells is more precise. Scales you can get a cheap set for 60 bucks but they want last. GemPro-250 Digital is 140 Dollars AAA batteries and a GOOD scale, the next best to a Saturoius 123= 350 dollars. Trimmer low volume=Hornady Cam Lock Cse Trimmer Set= 70 dollars. Caliper=just get a 30 dollar 1 from advance auto parts to start with. Dont forget a Case Mouth Deburring tool=15 dollars. Redding sizing die wax 1 0z=8 dollars. Lyman Powder funnel= 7 dollars. Hand primer tool. Lee Auto-prime= 20 dollars, but it need different shellholders than your press. So i would say go RCBS Hand priming Tool in stead for 42 dollars, with it you can use lots of different shellholders= Redding, Rcbs, hornady and Lyman all work in rcbs priming tool. Lots of hand loading tools are" Buy once, cry once". Do you need a 504 Saturious scale,or a 360 dollar Harrells Classic Culver powder thrower , or a 130 dollar sincalir primer tool or even a 190 dollar set of Starett Calipers, no not starting off. But when you start high volume reloading you will see why cheap ant always better. I started of with handy-down stuff in high school in 1989 and can tell you from experiance, get the best stuff you can afford, it will say you time and agrovation!

Thanks Shooters. I'll look into the Harrells but I liked the quick die change of the Forsters and it doesn't need shell holders and has an excellent if slow primer seating attachment.

Fosters- co ax is a great unit. It has good reveiws on lots of benchrest sights. I honestly didnt know you could primer with it! Thats a deal. Go with it! Its supost to be very accurate from what ive read about it.

Thanks man, and thanks for the other recommendations. I'm sure I'll have other questions pretty soon. It might take me a couple months to assemble my equipment and components but I'm a firm believer in cry once.

This is the vid that sold me on it. The only drawback is the Y handle doesn't allow room for 50 BMG, but that's no concern to me and I'm told the newer ones have a longer Y and a shorter handle option.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEzVZe7f6G0

Nothing wrong with buying your reloading stuff a piece at a time. I did the same thing in the early 90s. I still by things peice by piece, sometimes something better comes along and i buy it. I start 2 years ago with Harrells precision. My press, scales, powder dispencer, arbor press are now all portable. I like to be able to take mine to jackson county if want to build a cartridge and shoot it long range! Dont let anyone tell you that you need a 300 or 400 dollar 50 bmg press . I once took a rcbs rock chucker supreme and loaded 20 rds of 50 bmg for a friend. It want fit you say? A rock chucker has a 4 1/2 inch opening. Put in a 3.920 50 bmg case, then screw die down, size, then un-screw the die take out case put in another and repeat! Sure it takes forever to do 20 cases like that, but its better than buying a 300 dollar plus 50 bmg press! The main thing is never stop learning. I have reloaded for 24 years and am always learning new tricks, especally in thr BR world of shooting. Good luck. Let us know when you run into something that puzzles you. I promise THAT will happen!

I don't know if trickler is on shooters list but get a heavy one.

Well this is what I use.
RCBS rockchuker.
Forester case trimmer-seperate pilot & collet for each caliber.
Lee hand primer-like to feel the primer set in pocket
Starrett caliper-model 799
Thumbler tumbler case cleaner with stainless steel pins
RCBS 750 digital scale
RCBS water soluble case lube (to remove all lube from loaded cases which increases case grip in chamber to reduce bolt face pressure)
RCBS deburring tool
MTM ammo storage boxes

Purchase your primers in large quantity with same lot numbers. Be sure your scale is large enought to weight your cases, you will not get the best accuracy if your cases are different brands and they weight differently.
Try to use only one brand of case, don't mix different brands, and even when using same brand weigh all and seperate cases into like weight groups.

Get 4 or 5 good books, and read, read and read some more. Register with other forum's for reloading info, but be sceptical about all load data you find listed. Much incorrect and erroneous info on the web.

Good Luck.

I have some MTM and other brand ammo cases for my loaded ammo but I bought some of these bulk boxes in the calibers that I load and I like them better than plastic boxes

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/314443/...=ProductFinding

If you use a rcbs trickler, You can fill the bottom with lead shot and drive in a freeze plug. athis makes it not tip over. If you aren't looking for volume, I would go with Sinclair hand primer. I have a Harrell's powder measure and it works well, but my electronic scale with a trickler has spoiled me.

Harrells precision culver model is what i use!

Or if you get a light one, you can melt a slug of lead in the base (assuming it is metal - the RCBS model is) and will weight it down!).

OK - beat me to the lead in the trickler! Exactly what I have. Put mine in with epoxy!

I started out with an RCBS Rockchucker kit. If I were doing a do-over, I would DEF go with a Rockchucker press. And if you are going to do that, might as well get the kit that includes the scales, powder measure, etc.

I also highly recommend a hand primer. I have NEVER primed a case w/ a press! Hand gives you MUCH better feel!

I used to be an RCBS die bigot, but have recently used a number of Lee dies, and have been very happy with them.

Lee FCD - Factory Crimp Dies - are great, imo. Have them for all my lever and auto cartridges. Would not be w/o them.

IF you are going to cast bullets, Lee molds and size dies are great for their price point, imo.

I also like the Lee universal expander die. Plus can find custom plugs for it, if you are loading odd size cast bullets.

Lee dial Mic - You NEED a Mic!!!

You can use the cheapest case prep tools you can find, to get started. I use Lee stuff.

i would HIGHLY recommend you find a local reloader to mentor you and show you the ropes, the equipment you use, and why. I have learned a lot, and spent a LOT of wasted $ on hard learned school of hard knocks experience. A mentor is priceless, IMO.

IF you have a desire to swing by, I am in Hsv and would be more than happy to host you for a day and show you the ropes and my equipment, before you spend a bunch of money. Send me a PM if interested.

Steve

(BTW - the above invite/mentor offer is good for anyone that is interested in reloading/casting. I don't know it all, and learn something new every day, but have been reloading for ~30 years, and casting for 3-4. Always more than willing to share/mentor/teach and hopefully save a noob money and hard knocks lessons!)

The Harrells Precision classic culvert is light. it doesnt need to be heavy , it clamps down to table. Its feeds powder better than anything ive own. I have owned them all

One handy piece of equipment i haven't seen listed is a bullet puller.

Thanks guys. I'm still listening.

yup, you definitely must have one of those. Mine is from RCBS. Only used it a few times, but when you need it, you need it.

Haha. Sorta like 4wd!