If you started over today...

[Mal Paso]

Joe asks the Material Supplier his price for bricks. The Supplier says, "They're cheaper the more you buy." Joe responds, "Then keep loading 'em until they're FREE!"

I think a lot about that in this hobby...it IS cheaper the more you shoot so just keep shooting until it's FREE!

I Like That!

[jsizemore]

I'd get 1 or 2 RCBS Pro Melts or Magma Masterpot. I'd get a Star lubesizer to size PC/Hitek coated or uncoated.

[popper]

Lee bottom dripper, roto lead, PID, Lee S.S. press. I started with a Champion but it's gone now. Accurate moulds, only got one handle. Whatever die set you need. I did get the PC spray gun but don't use it anymore. Put your $ in the real toys.

[murf205]

I'm doing something wrong! I've been doing this looong enough and saved so much money I should be rich by now.

Me too. At this point, I can't afford to save anymore $.

[HATCH]

I wouldn't start over.
I couldn't afford to replace what is lost.
Not only the equipment but the supplies (primers,powder,lead,brass).

Plus in todays climate, it would take a year or more to order in all the replacement hardware. Master Caster, Star Sizer, Dillon 650, Dillon 550 x 2, Case Pro 100 roll sizer, the list goes on and on.

If I were 20 years old and just starting out then I would do the following.

Purchase the following

Dillon SDB - setup in 38 sp - guessing $300-$350
Lyman 45 lube sizer - have to look for one $??
Lyman 4-20 bottom pour pot - $75 Titan reloading
MP MOLDS 9 Or 38-147 RN BB 8 Cavity AL Mold - $110 shipped east coast usa

I picked the MP mold because it can be used for 9mm and 38sp/357 mag
The SDB because its a nice press. Very easy to use and very fast to load.
The two lyman products, well because they work very well.

38 sp is a no brainer. Brass is plentiful. Can be reloaded 100's of times

[Harter66]

I too would buy a bottom pour , and a 4-20 and the good ladle .
Gas checks would be in the mix from the start .
I would start NOE except for a couple Lymans that have been very good and the Lee 6 C for 358-158 , 401 175 TC , 452-255 , #4 , 00B and 000B .
I probably would go straight to a lube sizer .
Several different ingot moulds .

I started with Lee moulds and I have cast a lot of bullets with them but I also tried a lot of other bullets and NOE is the best bang for the buck for me .

I was determined to do this with as little out lay as possible and I have successfully shot a bunch of plain base bullets over 2000 fps with acceptable groups , I also have no regrets about learning paper patch . Make it a choice and a personal challenge not part of the learning curve for rifles . Pistols don't bother with checks , maybe the 460 Smith .

Pot for the fish frier , don't get any of that junk in any pot .
Bottom pour should make those big 6s easier to pour .
Ladle and pot because I pour a 3 hole 460-535 plus or minus <1 gr that way .

You will pour different alloys and different ingot moulds are a great way to keep them straight .

Last but not least unless you live on some weird magnetic anomaly don't skimp on a good balance scale even if you have a good digital . The batteries will never go dead , light fixtures and phones don't bother them and a power bump can't fry the pad or mother board .