[rec.guns] Beginning Handloading - What's Needed?

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