what do I need?

[Sneaky]

 

[Huntbear]

Look at the RCBS Rockchucker kit, then your dies, then all you need is bullets, powder and primers.... best set up for the dollar there is.  Also, buy yourself at least 3 different reloading manuals, and any books on reloading you can get your hands on.  I love "Pet Loads" one of the best written reloading books in my opinion.

[MHWASH]

Ditto!

[KillBilly]

Good luck at staying under $400.00....you might get your equipment, press, dies, scales, measurers, calipers, deburrers, sizers, etc. and stay under but just buying powder, bullets and brass will put you over.

[JoshT]

Lee Anniversary kit is well under $100... throw in the dies (another $25 each)... and some other misc. accessories (another $100 or so)... and you're in it for almost half what you were looking to spend... that's a lot left over for bullets/brass/powder. I've used the Lee kit for over 10 years now... literally thousands upon thousands of rounds loaded on that "cheap" equipment. I could have "upgraded" many times... but why? My simple kit loads super accurate ammo... and I'd rather spend the dough on bullets/brass/powder.

[Intruder]

You can mix and match components.  The big Lee press is a great deal.  You can buy a lot of common cal dies at the pawn shops.  Make sure you buy a good scale.  Doesn't have to be digital but spending a lil extra to make sure you got good quality is worth it.  You should easily be able to get outfitted for under 400 if you do your due dilligence and shop around a bit.

[thinkingman]

Lee Anniversary kit is well under $100... throw in the dies (another $25 each)... and some other misc. accessories (another $100 or so)... and you're in it for almost half what you were looking to spend... that's a lot left over for bullets/brass/powder. I've used the Lee kit for over 10 years now... literally thousands upon thousands of rounds loaded on that "cheap" equipment. I could have "upgraded" many times... but why? My simple kit loads super accurate ammo... and I'd rather spend the dough on bullets/brass/powder.

I bought the Lee Anniversary kit and it rocks for low volume reloading.
I kind of wish I'd bought a turret, but don't let anybody tell you Lee is junk...it's just 'the value brand'
Agree with idea of read everything you can and BE PATIENT...you are fooling around with something that has the ability to injure or kill you and the people around you....when you reload, don't have any distractions.....focus.
Enjoy

[12Gauge]

I've been using a Lee Turret press for 32 years.  I can load rifles then switch to pistols in seconds or another rifle cal in seconds.  Try MidwayUSA for components

[Clipboard guy]

One issue I had with the "Lee Anniversary" is the powder measure leaked with a real small grained powder. It works fine with IMR 4064 or Reloader 22, but not so accurate with H110.  I went to two separate Lymans and they work great and I can keep my settings the same while going from one caliber load to another.  I would also keep an eye out for components on Craigslist & pawn shops.

[KillBilly]

Hey Sneaky, see this post in the classifieds you might most of your stuff right here
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,19297.0.html

[huntinhick]

I have the LEE kit and it works however I do not like the powder dispinser at all, I have loaded several different powders through it and it always acts up.  I am going to replace it but everything else is great. you will want to pick up some case cleaning tools such as the bottle brush and primer pocket cleaner by RCBS.  I don't have a tumbler I use the ISO case cleaner which you soak cases in it seams to work good.

Carl 

[gasman]

I pieced together a kit of what i wanted to get and spent over $300.

A friend of mine bought the Lee kit for a $100 and uses every piece of it but the scale. He went digital with scale and it cost him more than the Lee kit. Its a good kit.

Scales can get spendy.

[JoshT]

The powder measure does get a little leaky when you're using ball powders... I just tighten the screw a little on the side, and I'm one of those guys who has to weigh every charge anyway.

I don't know why eveyone says to get a new scale... I've used the one that came in the kit for like 10 years now. I have a mark for +.1 grains, and one for -.1 grains... if it's in that range... it's good to go. I know that scale is super accurate too... at least the couple of times I've dumped a charge from one of my rounds onto a digital scale... it was within .1 grains of where it was supposed to be.