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Lost Sheep · October 2, 2012, 11:42 PM

Thanks for asking our advice.

Frankly, of the choices you presented, I would suggest the $100 setup and then, after you have loaded for a while, you will then be able to upgrade with some experience behind your judgement and choices.

I would also suggest looking for a kit (or assembling one yourself) built around the Lee Classic Turret. Suitable for medium-high production of handgun rounds and and rifle rounds alike.

But, to get back to my subject line:

A kit will get you started with ALMOST everything you need. They always lack something. They also have things you use, but will be unsatisfied with and trade in (at a loss, it goes without saying). So the savings in getting a kit is largely illusion. But it probably will get you started a little quicker.

A Kit will also have things you don't need, which is a waste of money But does provide some trade goods.

Building your own kit MAY be a little more expensive, but carries with it the research (and knowledge gained therefrom) you do in selecting the equipment best for you.

As you load and develop your personal style, you will find things you would like to have. Pick them up as you go to complete your fully mature "kit" from the core essentials you started with.

How you populate your loading bench, and with what pieces of gear is largely, then, a matter of personal style. There are several different ways to approach loading for the first time.

1) Buy a ready-made kit

2) Assemble a kit of your own, choosing as complete a kit as you can get, of premium gear you will never outgrow

3) Assemble a kit piece-by-piece with the components you expect you will never outgrow, but only the minimum pieces absolutely necessary and expanding as you find need for each additional piece, slowly, and as money and knowledge allows

4) Assemble a kit of your own choosing as complete as you can get with affordable gear that you will use until you outgrow it and hope that, by that time, you will have figured out what you want to use and will never outgrow

5) Assemble a kit of your own choosing with the minimum usable, least expensive components and upgrade as your tastes reveal themselves and as money allows. Spend money for upgrades as your taste spurs you.

Each approach has its virtues and its drawbacks.

What type of hobbyist are you? Are you analytical and thoughtful or do you jump right in and improvise as you go? Got more time than money, or more money than time?

My first advice: Read "The ABC's of Reloading", an excellent tome on the general processes of reloading.

Having said that, let me share with you some posts and threads I think you will enjoy. So get a large mug of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, whatever you keep on hand when you read and think and read through these.

The "sticky" thread at the top of TheHighRoad.com's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Thinking about Reloading; Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST"
http://www.thehighroad.org//showthread.php?t=238214

The "sticky" thread at the top of TheFiringLine's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST "
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=230171

The first draft of my "10 Advices..." is on page 2 of this thread, about halfway down.
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=22344

http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php?t=43055

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448410

Thread entitled "Newby needs help."
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=430391
My post 11 is entitled "Here's my reloading setup, which I think you might want to model" November 21, 2010)
My post 13 is "10 Advices for the novice handloader" November 21, 2010)

http://www.Thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=439810

"Budget Beginning bench you will never outgrow for the novice handloader" was informed by my recent (July 2010) repopulation of my loading bench. It is what I would have done 35 years ago if I had known then what I know now.
http://www.rugerforum.net/reloading/...andloader.html

Minimalist minimal (the seventh post down)
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=107332

Lost Sheep

October 2, 2012, 11:42 PM	#2
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	To Kit of Not to Kit? Thanks for asking our advice. Frankly, of the choices you presented, I would suggest the $100 setup and then, after you have loaded for a while, you will then be able to upgrade with some experience behind your judgement and choices. I would also suggest looking for a kit (or assembling one yourself) built around the Lee Classic Turret. Suitable for medium-high production of handgun rounds and and rifle rounds alike. But, to get back to my subject line: A kit will get you started with ALMOST everything you need. They always lack something. They also have things you use, but will be unsatisfied with and trade in (at a loss, it goes without saying). So the savings in getting a kit is largely illusion. But it probably will get you started a little quicker. A Kit will also have things you don't need, which is a waste of money But does provide some trade goods. Building your own kit MAY be a little more expensive, but carries with it the research (and knowledge gained therefrom) you do in selecting the equipment best for you. As you load and develop your personal style, you will find things you would like to have. Pick them up as you go to complete your fully mature "kit" from the core essentials you started with. How you populate your loading bench, and with what pieces of gear is largely, then, a matter of personal style. There are several different ways to approach loading for the first time. 1) Buy a ready-made kit 2) Assemble a kit of your own, choosing as complete a kit as you can get, of premium gear you will never outgrow 3) Assemble a kit piece-by-piece with the components you expect you will never outgrow, but only the minimum pieces absolutely necessary and expanding as you find need for each additional piece, slowly, and as money and knowledge allows 4) Assemble a kit of your own choosing as complete as you can get with affordable gear that you will use until you outgrow it and hope that, by that time, you will have figured out what you want to use and will never outgrow 5) Assemble a kit of your own choosing with the minimum usable, least expensive components and upgrade as your tastes reveal themselves and as money allows. Spend money for upgrades as your taste spurs you. Each approach has its virtues and its drawbacks. What type of hobbyist are you? Are you analytical and thoughtful or do you jump right in and improvise as you go? Got more time than money, or more money than time? My first advice: Read "The ABC's of Reloading", an excellent tome on the general processes of reloading. Having said that, let me share with you some posts and threads I think you will enjoy. So get a large mug of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, whatever you keep on hand when you read and think and read through these. The "sticky" thread at the top of TheHighRoad.com's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Thinking about Reloading; Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST" http://www.thehighroad.org//showthread.php?t=238214 The "sticky" thread at the top of TheFiringLine's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST " http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=230171 The first draft of my "10 Advices..." is on page 2 of this thread, about halfway down. http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543 http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=22344 http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php?t=43055 http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448410 Thread entitled "Newby needs help." http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=430391 My post 11 is entitled "Here's my reloading setup, which I think you might want to model" November 21, 2010) My post 13 is "10 Advices for the novice handloader" November 21, 2010) http://www.Thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=439810 "Budget Beginning bench you will never outgrow for the novice handloader" was informed by my recent (July 2010) repopulation of my loading bench. It is what I would have done 35 years ago if I had known then what I know now. http://www.rugerforum.net/reloading/...andloader.html Minimalist minimal (the seventh post down) http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=107332 Lost Sheep