You’ve decided to take control of your ammo supply by starting to reload. But what equipment do you need to get started?
Fortunately, the investment for your initial tooling isn’t as large as you might expect. Using a mid-priced online retailer, I’ve put together an example package that will cover everything a handloader needs to get started with a retail price tag of less than $350, using equipment I’m currently using in my own home setup. Believe it or not, these six items are all you need to get started.
A Single-Stage Press
While the allure of a complex progressive setup is hard to ignore, it’s probably best to stick with a humble single-stage press at first. This helps you understand what each operation does before learning how to make them work together. This is by no means just starter equipment, either, as a quality single-stage press will become your go-to for precision rifle ammunition or short runs of odd cartridges. I settled on the RCBS Partner as an affordable option that works with standard dies and handles priming.
A Die Set
With the exception of only a few cartridges, you’ll need a die set for each round you intend to load. A typical straight-walled cartridge set (primarily pistol) will include a sizer, expander and seater. Rifle sets (primarily bottleneck cartridges) only include two and will typically come with your choice of either a full-length or neck-
sizing die coupled with a seating die. This is because you almost never need to expand the mouth of a rifle cartridge. Hornady’s Custom-Grade Dies are a great choice because they are well-built and, during most years, include a rebate that is good for 100 bullets. When you factor that in, they’re almost free. (Just don’t forget to add a shell holder at checkout.)
A Digital Scale
Precise powder charges are imperative for safety reasons and accuracy. Just like bullets, gunpowder is measured in grains, which is an extraordinarily fine unit of measure. Balance-beam scales are a thing of the past, as not only are they slow to use, but also their decline in popularity has rendered them substantially more expensive than modern digital options. Frankford Arsenal’s DS-750 is a perfect, pocket-sized measuring device that is exceptionally responsive and holds a tolerance of +/- 0.1 of a grain. It’s also great for sorting bullets and cases by weight to increase the overall consistency of a given lot of hand-loaded ammo.
Calipers
Handloaders need to safeguard themselves from overstretched brass. A case that is just a few thousandths of an inch over spec could cause a dangerous pressure spike and result in a rupture that directs several thousand PSI of pressure back toward the shooter. Thousandths of an inch can only be accurately measured with a caliper, as one thousandth is less than a sheet of printer paper. Digital calipers are going to be the best choice if you are farsighted, but I prefer dial calipers while my eyes are still young. My reason is solely battery independence since the digital and dial options keep pace with each other in cost and speed of use. Lyman makes an excellent dial pair that I’ve found to be faithful when checking cases or seating bullets to their respective specific depths.
Lubrication
The best part about lube is that, in many cases, it’s optional. If you are loading straight-walled cartridges with a die that features a nitride or carbide ring, you can usually forgo this operation. The same goes for bottleneck cases that are only being neck-sized. Years ago, I used to swear by a lube pad, but as time went on, I realized how long I was spending carefully lining up cases to roll them across it. I replaced this method by squirting a few sprays of RCBS Case Slick into a Zip-Lock plastic bag and shaking it up. Best of all, you can seal the bag and take breaks as needed.
A Reloading Manual
A reloading manual contains invaluable data, including compatible components, important specifications, powder-charge thresholds and even step-by-step instructions. Lyman’s reloading manual gets my highest recommendation, as it’s been the handloader’s guide for more than a century. Regardless of your experience level, this book can help you not only learn the process but also perfect your loads. The Hodgdon Powder Company also hosts complimentary in-person training via the Reloading Road Show, and also provides free loading data on their website.
While this list includes everything you need to turn fired brass back into ammunition, it is by no means exhaustive. A plethora of tools exist to help speed the reloading process and to improve the accuracy of your final product. Consider buying a kit and gradually adding items like a digital powder dispenser to your purchase. However, if you’re looking for the least-expensive way to find out if handloading is for you, this simple array of tools will have you rolling rounds in no time. And, for those who decide to carry on, I’ll discuss progressive presses in the next issue.
