was wondering what equipment i will need to be semi-productive at handloading without breaking the bank, was looking at this starter kit http://cgi.ebay.com/Lee-4-Hole-Turret-Press-Deluxe-Reloading-Kit-90928_W0QQitemZ140222516001QQihZ004QQcategoryZ7112 0QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em118Q2el1247
but dont know what else i will need to make a good quality load
btw i will be reloading .40 s&w

thanks for your help
Jere

Welcome to the forum Jere. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

I'd recommend Lee's Anniversary kit with Lee's latest manual. It runs around a hundred bucks from Cabela's or Midway. All you need besides that is a set of Lee dies for around 30 bucks and your brass, bullets, powder and primers. I would add a Lyman manual to round out the equipment. Make or buy a bench from Home Depot.

I've had that system on my bench now for around 15 years and I've used most of the reloading equipment on the market.

hey thanks a lot, appreciate your help xD

If you are totally new to reloading, I would not go with the turret press to start out. I would do like Bob said and go with one of the single stage kits. As you learn the different stages of reloading you can move up to a turret press and multiple stages happening at one time. I have been reloading for 45 years and I still make bobos.

Welcome to the Forum Jericho
Personally,I do not prefer Lee equpment,but I believe that their Starter Kit is the best entry level purchase.
Use it to learn "how to",and then up grade if you feel it necessary.
Good luck
Frank

+ 2 on Bob's advice.

However, for some people, loading LOTS of pistol rounds can get old fairly quickly using a single stage press. Should you decide to upgrade later, you will always have uses for 1 or more single stage presses - in addition to whatever equipment you decide to 'upgrade' to.

+ 3 on Bob's advice.

Another option is the Lee hand press. It is a single stage press that does not need to be mounted to a bench. It is about $20 but you would have to buy a scale, manual, case trimmer, powder funnel, etc. separately. If you get into loading a lot of pistol cases, you would probably prefer a progressive press instead of the turrent press anyway. With the handpress, it takes me about an hour to charge and seat bullets in 50 cases that are already preped and primed.

Buy the RCBS master loading kit Midsouth $259

The Best warrenty in reloading

Buy the RCBS master loading kit Midsouth $259

The Best warrenty in reloading
Now THERE's a reloader who jumps into it with BOTH feet!:D Seriously, there is some merit to Huntducks suggestion. Do you purchase entry level equipment and upgrade later or do you purchase skilled level equipment and keep it forever? Also depends on your dedication and budget. Most of us get bitten by the reloading "bug" and end up upgrading. Had I known I was going to reload for 45+ years, I would have started out with better equipment and it would have been less expensive in the long run. You makes your choice and ponys up your money. Just my take on this YMMV.

I agree with Marshal it may be be cheaper in the long run to get better equipment to start with. Here is complete Lyman set up from Mid South for under $150. http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000157810270

Lyman is good stuff my Dad has been using his Lyman Spartan since the sixties.

Lots of good advice here. The recommendation to start out with a single stage loader is really good advice for anyone whom is just getting started in loading. Doing one operation at a time removes some of the problems presented to new loaders. I have a Lee Turret press on my bench and use it in a single stage fashion. I just removed the auto advance feature on it.

I've been loading now for near 50 years and have used several progressive loaders over that time, but always feel more comfortable doing one step at a time. I also seem to get exceptionally accurate ammo that way.

...be semi-productive without breaking the bank



Try knitting or quilting... you won't save a penny by reloading, you'll just shoot a LOT more.

I started with the basics, all RCBS equipment, and I don't regret any of it. I started with the Partner Press, hand primer, 5-0-5 scale, case lube kit, dies, and powder measure. Now I have the Turret press that really speeds things up. Turret & progressives are not for beginners.

I started out with a RCBS rock chucker. Its great for reloading my rifles, and I would do 50 or 75 rounds of handgun and then go to the range. But as I ordered more and more brass and worked hard at the pile, I seemed to get no where fast. I then, after a lengthy thread here with some great advice and knowledge, decided to buy an RCBS Pro2000. A little pricier than some of the entry level progressives, but RCBS quality and customer support played a big part in my decision. If you are going to lay down some serious money and get into reloading, my (limited) experience is to get a feel for it with a single stage and then move up to a progressive. Buy as good as you can afford all the way around. When (if) you do move up to a progressive, you will still want your single stage, as soon as you take it off your bench, you will miss it. It might be a little slower, but it definitely has its place.

My 2 cents.....I don't see a difference between a single stage press and a turret. You can do each step in batch with a turret just like a single but you spend a lot less time setting up the die. That's my opinion but if you look on my bench you see multiple single stage presses.

R and P side of the bench same RC for 30yrs now got rid of the old blue one because I wanted green.

My 2 cents.....I don't see a difference between a single stage press and a turret. You can do each step in batch with a turret just like a single but you spend a lot less time setting up the die. That's my opinion but if you look on my bench you see multiple single stage presses.

EXACTLY.
So, theres nothing wrong with the turret, get one if you want to spend the extra money off the bat. I would just avoid anything that is progressive or auto-indexing until I got more comfortable with the process. I would, in my very limited experience, avoid anything that is auto-indexing anyways, at least the lower end stuff, you get what you pay for.

Do a search, ebay, craigslist, yard sales, whatever and see what you can find. I got my first set up (RCBS: Rock Chucker with auto prime, stand-alone auto priming tool, 5-10 scale, (2) UF II powder measures, powder trickler, case board, dies and case holders) for $250. I was able to get a feel, get a good set up, and save money for my progressive. Now I have a sweet setup, plenty of options and no regrets.

This may help.

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/49

As may this:

http://http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=423081&t=11082005