I recently pieced together a budget reloading setup and it works way better than I expected. It’s nothing fancy, but it gets the job done without shaking the whole table. I’ve learned to appreciate patience… and how fast small parts can vanish when dropped..for what I spent, I’m pretty happy with it.
Budget reloading setup
- Thread starter Top_Bud
- Start date
Details man, details! 
My budget setup is the Lee Hand Press due to literally nowhere to put a "real" press and bench. I'll try it out next year once I've learned enough to feel safe doing so.
My budget setup is the Lee Hand Press due to literally nowhere to put a "real" press and bench. I'll try it out next year once I've learned enough to feel safe doing so.
Wendell Reich
Well-known member
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- Aug 9, 2025
- Messages
- 52
Yeah, you can get into it by buying used equipment. I have 3 Dillons. Was going to sell one until I saw what they go for. $500-$600 for a $1200-$1500 machine? No thanks.
BrotherHubb
Member
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- Sep 6, 2025
- Messages
- 22
I used a Lee Target loader in the 70's, loved it, super simple and can load anywhere without a bench. They key technique to learn is proper filling of the scoop and using an appropriate powder for your scoop. I have the Lee powder scoop set which can be used for different powders but you should always weight the scoop/ powder combination to know as exactly as possible how much powder is being loaded. Not doing this can be catastrophic and deadly. There are lots of good used beam scales available for not much money and they are essential. Of course you can use a digital scale but cheap ones are not accurate or consistent. AND you need to know what powder / bullet combination is appropriate for your cartridge, so a load data book is essential as well. If you use Sierra bullets as an example, buy a Sierra book.
I've got almost all Lee so far. I've got their beam scale. I'm going to splurge for a Starrett dial caliper. Everyone is big on digital everything but I'm an analog era guy and plan to stick with it. I've got a half dozen manuals, all latest (as of spring 2025 anyway) editions. I think Hornady is just out with the 12th so my 11th is now one version old, but I'm good with them for another year or so and will look into updating when they hit 13th. Hmmm, my Lyman 51st will be 53 then. We like odds better than evens and primes best of all. Weird tangent, I know. Still hoping to hear details on the OP finds and setup.
Wendell Reich
Well-known member
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- Aug 9, 2025
- Messages
- 52
Spend your money on components. Replacing reloading manuals is just not necessary at all. Data between some manuals is so different, makes you wonder how they came up with it.
Use the ones you have. Cross reference it with online data.
I’m not supposed to say this out loud, but I get almost all my data online. I reload a lot of ammo and 20 something calibers. I use the manuals as a guide, then confirm safe ranges online.
Get the Hornady reloading app too. Cross reference that with what you see online.
Yeah, I won't be getting new manuals every year. Now and then, as I like reading the articles they put in the front. And I take it back, I probably will get Hodgdon every year for the articles at the front and for being so complete without being inches thick and several pounds heavy. Sierra, maybe never another that huge. Lee, yes, if they ever do a new volume. Lyman every 2 or 3 years. Speer doesn't speak to me so probably no. Hornady is Kindle version and I do like that convenience but not the limitations of content. And Alliant and Hodgdon are good online.
