You asked for it.....so here it is.
This is the the entire collection of reloading tools and accessories that I regularly use. The bullet puller gets used as infrequently as possible.
Here's a list of what a person will very likely need in order to load for pistol and bottle neck rifle cartridges:
Caliper to measure overall length and case diameter (doesn't matter whether it has a dial or a digital display)
Case Lube if you don't use carbide dies. I use the pad and bottle lube with no desire to change. Spray lube is another option.
Case Trimmer is needed when it's necessary to trim the cases to the same overall length to start, and to shorten the case after it's been stretched beyond the max length. I've used this manual RCBS unit for my entire career and it's worked like a champ. Motorized units are available, but I think they cost over $200.
Case Deburring/Chamfering Tool is needed to remove any burrs left by the case trimmer and to chamfer the inside of the neck to make bullet insertion easier. This step isn't absolutely necessary, but I do it anyway. Mine is an RCBS, but I'm certain that most other brands would work adequately. This has also never needed to be replaced.
Dies.
For bottle neck rifle, a resizing/decapping die is needed. A bullet seating die is needed. A taper crimp die is optional. Most bullet seating dies are able to roll crimp as well as seat the bullet.
For straight wall pistol, a resizing/decapping die is needed. A belling die is needed to slightly bell the case mouth to accept the bullet. A bullet seating die is needed. A taper crimp die is optional. Most bullet seating dies are able to roll crimp as well as seat the bullet.
I've used RCBS dies for the first 12 or so years of my loading career, and recently tried out a Lee pistol and rifle die. I prefer the locking ring of the RCBS die, which ensures that the seating depth and belling amount doesn't change unless you want it to. The Lee dies work fine, and are cheaper.
Primer Pocket Cleaning Tool is used to clean the primer residue that collects in the primer pockets after multiple firings. This step isn't completely necessary, but I do it occasionally. It only takes a few seconds per round, and the tool was cheap. Mine is RCBS, but Lee, Hornady, etc should work equally well.
The
Press is where a lot of the debate is centered. For loading 100 or fewer rounds per loading session, a singe stage press should be adequate. If the goal is to load several hundred rounds per loading session, a progressive is highly recommended, unless you've got TONS of spare time. Even if a progressive press is needed, it's a good idea to also purchase a basic single stage to load small batches, like when trying multiple different powder charges at different overall lengths. I've been using this RCBS Rock Chucker II continuously for 13 years, and it's ready for 13 more. Lee or Hornady should work fine also.
A
Primer Insertion method is needed, and I'm now using an RCBS hand priming tool. I used the built in primer inserter of my Rock Chucker for a while, but needing to handle every single primer is a bit of a drag. The hand tool works much better and it's easier to tell how deep the primer is being seated. Again, I chose RCBS and am completely satisfied. I'm sure other options are also available.
A
Powder Funnel is very helpful in pouring the powder into the case. The RCBS I use has a neck shaped to fit tightly around all diameters of case mouths.
A
Scale is necessary to ensure that the proper weight of powder is being used. There are multiple options for dispensing the desire powder amount, but the scale is necessary to confirm that the dipper, charge bar, etc is dispensing the correct amount. I'm currently using a Pact digital scale, since I dropped my RCBS unit off the desk about 2 years ago. Don't do that as it's unlikely to survive. Had I not broken it, I'm sure it would still be working fine today. Any digital scale that's designed for loading or any balance beam scale should work adequately. The scale was one of the most expensive parts I bought.
A
Powder Dispensing method is needed, and there are enough different options to warrant a separate thread. I use an electronic dispenser that I bought when I began loading, and I'm still using it exclusively. This dispenser receives an IR signal from the scale so that the dispenser knows when the correct weight of powder has been dispensed. To use it, it must be calibrated for the chosen powder and the desired charge weight entered. Pressing the dispense button trickles the correct amount +- .1 grain....generally +.1 if it's not dead on.
Case Blocks are nice to have to hold the cases. They're pretty cheap and they'll last pretty much forever. Brand isn't overly important. These are MTM.
A
Bullet Puller is handy when a mistake is made and it's not wise to just shoot the round. There are a couple of different options, kinetic and collet that's used with the press. I use the kinetic kind. They're all pretty much the same, so you can choose it by color. I didn't.....it was in stock.
A
Case Tumbler is optional, and I didn't buy this one until about a year ago. I generally only use it with old mil surp brass Ibuy and for when cases get thoroughly corroded.
Here are a few photos of my reloading bench and the tools I use.
