Summer of '72 I bought a Blackhawk .357, and then a Win M64A. Had a co-worker who loaded, and he first taught me and worked me through running the Ruger. That fall, I used his Herter's catalog to order a U3 press, Model 5 scale and dies for 38/357 and 30-30. I got set up for both of those cartridges for $53. I got powder and primers at the Gibson's store in Boulder and at Woolworth's sporting goods dept. I pieced together a huge loading bench from scrap lumber where I worked and went from there. I've built several loading benches, for myself and others, usually out of solid doors and various timbers.
Fast forward 50 yrs and I run two single stage presses at home and one at the home ranch still in the family.
I bought a Dillon press about 2000 or so, but never set it up and sold it in a fit of broke.
I started into casting about 2010 or so, rounded up about 500 lb of wheel weights and got some high Sb lead from an employer. Made a few bullets a few yrs ago, but project sat till this fall. I got excited to take it up again and we'll see where it goes.
-West out