jamaass@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Jeffrey A. Maass) (06/11/91)
I am planning to get started in handloading, and am assembling a list of "essentials" to be acquired. I will initially be loading only 9mm, but expect to add .45 soon, and may someday be interested in some rifle-style rounds (for a T/C Contender). Based on my current use of ammunition, I expect to shoot 500-600 rounds a month. My primary interest is in producing safe, accurate, consistant rounds (no extensive load development or testing planned, and I won't by trying to "push the envelope" into maximum performance loads), and I want to limit my time spent loading. So, what do I need to load my first round? I plan to keep my equipment for many years (I hate to buy junk and then end up dumping it and getting what I should have bought). After reading all of the articles for the past year and reading some reloading books, I have decided to go with a Dillon RL550B press. With that as a base, here's what I _think_ I need: what have I forgotten, and what on the list is not needed? Dillon press with dies; Reloading Manual(s) Powder(s) Primers Brass Bullets Scales (balance? electronic?) Dial calipers Polishing tumbler/media Case trimmer? Depriming/hand priming tool? Primer hole brush? Chemicals (lubes? cleanup chemicals?) Advice, comments, and sage wisdom welcome! This is from jamaass@bluemoon.uucp jamaass%bluemoon@nstar.rn.com who doesn't have their own obnoxious signature yet