I wrote this about a year or so ago for a friend. The prices may be a little dated. Also, you can go slightly cheaper with the Lee hand press, but I think this gives you a good idea on how to get started reloading and what you'll need. I'm sure others have different opinions on the tools and techniques that work well for them. This worked very well for my friend.
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Getting Started Reloading
What you really need
Stuff I actually bought is in brackets [Like This]. Sources are Graf and Sons (
www.grafs.com) and Midway USA (
www.midwayusa.com).
-First and Foremost-
You need a reloading manual. One is good, Two are better.
[GRAFS - LEE MANUAL OF MODERN RELOADING 2ND ED Item Number: LEE90277 Price: $11.79]
[GRAFS- LYMAN MANUAL 49th EDITION SOFT COV Item Number: LY9816049 Price: $16.59]
If you’re just going to get ONE, get the Lee manual. If you want a third one, look for the Speer manual. There are many other good manuals. I like these three, in this order.
Get THIS Lee Anniversary Kit: [Midway item 423081 - Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit $81.99] It contains a single stage press and a lot of stuff you will need, and NONE of the stuff you DON’T need. When you get experienced at reloading, you will know if you want a progressive press. For now, just starting out, stick with a single stage press. Don’t forget you’ll need a bench to get set up on and bolt the press to!
-Case Cleaning-
You need to CLEAN once-fired and range pick-up brass before working with it in the press. POLISHING brass is OPTIONAL but makes it look pretty.
Cheap way to CLEAN:
Wash brass in water and dish soap. Agitate by hand.
Drain water and dry (hairdryer, lay in sun, or simple evaporation).
To CLEAN and POLISH:
Vibratory Tumbler: [GRAFS VIBRATORY TUMBLER 110v w/SWITCH & CLEAR LID Item Number: GR400 $45.99]
“Media” - Crushed walnut hulls [Lizard Bedding available at Petsmart $9]
NuFinish Car Polish (just a capful every 1000 cases or so, maybe less, should last forever)
Capful of mineral spirits every so often.
Optional: [GRAFS MEDIA/BRASS PAN SIFTER Item Number: GR5011 Price: $4.39] and 5 Gallon bucket or cat litter bucket to keep the media in and sort the brass.
-Case Prep-
A primer pocket cleaner is handy. This is included in the Lee kit.
The case trimmer CUTTER comes with the Lee kit. The kit also includes a case chamfer tool for use after you trim the cases.
Lee case lube is awesome and comes with the Lee kit. DON’T BUY A LUBE PAD. You may want one eventually but you don’t need one to get started. I bought one and don’t use it much.
You NEED calipers. [GRAF CALIPER STLSS DIAL 0-6" .001" ACCURACY w/CS Item Number: GR13 Price: $16.99]
A reloading tray is useful. This can be a block of wood with blind holes drilled in it to the proper diameter to hold the cases in the caliber you plan to reload. Or you can buy plastic trays for cheap. For 9mm trays: [MIDWAY item# 125282 Frankford Arsenal Perfect Fit Reloading Tray #3 9mm Luger 50-Round Blue $4.19]
There are also 'universal' trays that I find useful too.
-Stuff to buy for each caliber you want to reload-
Don’t mess around, buy Lee dies. Lee dies come with shellholders for the press, most other makers don’t come with shellholders. If they come in carbide, get carbide. If they come with a Factory Crimp Die, get it. Basically get the most deluxe set of dies available for the caliber you want to reload.
For 9mm: [GRAFS - LEE 9MM LUGER CARBIDE DLX 4 DIE SET, S/H #19 Item Number: LEE90963 Price: $32.99]
While the case trimmer CUTTER comes with the Lee kit, you need a “Lee Case Length Gauge and shell holder” FOR EACH CALIBER you plan to trim.
For Example in 9mm Luger: GRAFS - LEE 9MM LUGER CASE LENGTH GAUGE & SHELLHOLDER Item Number: LEE90153 Price: $3.59
(I have NEVER found the need to trim 9mm Luger brass. If you want to do the 9mm Luger to Makarov conversion you can start simple with the Lee case length gauge. I find it better to file down the Luger gauge then to buy the Makarov gauge. Better yet, when you graduate to 'serious', get a lathe style hand trimmer. YMMV.)
Also, don’t forget bullets, powder, and primers in the correct size and variety. I buy powder and primers locally to save on hazmat shipping costs.
You may want to get plastic ammo boxes, or you can just reuse old ammo boxes or use zip-loc bags.
-Press and Stuff (Actually LOADING)-
The Lee kit comes with a pretty nice single stage press. The kit also comes with a scale and powder thrower.
The press includes a prime-on-press apparatus to prime cases on the press called the “Lee Safety Prime” for all size primers. I feel this is superior to the Lee hand primer “Lee Auto Prime”.
(Note: this was written before the new square Lee hand primer was released.)
-Powder Measures-
The Lee kit comes with the decent Lee Safety Scale and the Lee Perfect Powder measure. Both work well if you know the tricks and read the manuals. There are some good YouTube videos from "Silicon Wolverine" on these products that give you all the tips and tricks for these products.
Don't get a powder trickler. I use a range pick-up bottleneck rifle case like 30-06 to trickle powder by hand.
-Fixing Suspected Screw-ups-
You may want something to take apart any loaded ammo you suspect you’ve messed up powder weights or when you find you seated the bullet wrong or to the incorrect depth. An inertial bullet puller will get the job done. [MIDWAY item 215517 Frankford Arsenal Impact Bullet Puller $13.29]
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