I've got a coupon for Cabelas and need to spend $150, so I was looking at getting some reloading stuff along with a few other things. The 2 that I saw that were cheap were the Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit and the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading Kit. If I were to get one of those, how much more besides the actual primers and what not would I need in order to be able to start loading? I'd load primarily .223, although I might do some .308 and .40S&W. Is this worth the money?

For beginning they are great...easy to use, I have the Breech lock set up.....each kit come with it's own stuff...but figure you will have to get a few more things....like extra bushings and a pullet puller and crimp die.....but it is well worth the investment....I can't tell you which one to buy....but I would go with the Challenger set....get the hand primer....the one that fits on the press works but I like the hand primer.....
Here is a video on the equipment that you will need......well as far as I see it anyway.......
SASS
Equipment

Just gonna put this out there.



The RCBS Rockchucker Reloading Kit (Master? Supreme?) is on sale at Cabela's for $290.  Get a set of dies and go over $300.  Then you get a $50 rebate from RCBS.

For a starter kit, I'd suggest getting the 4-Station turret at a minimum.  Lee gear is good, and capable of putting together some great ammunition.

I have the Breach Lock Challenger kit, and it works. Mine came with both press mounted primer tools, and a complete hand help primer tool, and the required shell holders for the hand tool. The included deburring tool works, but it's not the best.

Both of those kits have the same press included, the only difference is the extras that come in the package, so worst case, you can always pick the other stuff up at a later date.



It looks like the Anniversary kit seems to come with their Ram Prime system instead of the hand primer, and I really didn't like that setup at all. I bought it after I had the Challenger kit, and it was much slower than the hand primer, and did not give me as good a result. I just didn't like the feel of it.



The breach collars are very nice to have. You can change dies with 1/3 of a turn, as opposed to the 20 or so turns normally required by the thread pitch. But, you don't HAVE to have extra collars. You can just leave the collar in, and unscrew the die from it like you would with a normal press.



On top of the Lee kit, you will need to buy a set of die for each caliber you want to reload, and a shell holder for each caliber also. That one bit me in the ass when I ordered a 9mm die set... I forgot to order the shell holder with it, so I ended up paying shipping twice.



For .223, I settled on a short base die set from RCBS since it had the least difficult setup, and the most sure fire way to get good sizing. Yes, it works the brass more than other dies, but it's simple for a beginning reloader to setup. Just turn it in until the die hits the shell holder, and start sizing.



You will also need a case trimmer of some sort. The Lee kit comes with the generic parts for their trimmer, but you will need to buy the rest of the trimmer for each caliber. Their trimmers are not the best, but they do work, so for just starting out, use it till you get sick of it, then research a new trimmer. I ended up with a Possum Hollow trimmer for .223, because it's much faster, and easier on the fingers than the Lee trimmer, but I still use a Lee trimmer for .243, and 30-30 since I don't load anywhere near as much of those as I do the .223.



I'd also suggest a decent electronic scale. The balance scale it comes with works, but it's slow, and tedious. I use my balance scale as a double check for my electronic scale now, with the electronic doing every 10th load, and the balance checking the first and last of a batch of 50 charges.



The case lube included with both kits will work, but I ended up using a spray lube, and getting better results, as well as it being much faster, and cleaner.



All in all, I like my Lee setup. I'm not thrilled with the carbon steel in a lot of places, so keep you handle oiled, and the Perfect powder measure can be finicky if the tension screw isn't set just right, but over all, I think they are a decent value.



In all fairness, I have never used anything but this Lee press, and their hand press, and I'm still pretty new to the reloading game, so take it for what it's worth. The Lee works for me, and I think it's a good way to get started on reloading.



Edit: A short list of other things I have bought that weren't included with my kit:

ABCs of Reloading: A good starter book with step by step instructions on how to do it, and why you are doing each step.

Lee Modern Reloading Handbook: Also a good starter book. There is a lot of generic load information in the back half of the book to get you started.

Electronic scale: Much faster, and easier to read than the balance scale.

Tumbler, media, and separator: A must have item if you want to reload mil surplus brass. Not as important if you are sizing clean brass, but still handy.

Swager Die Set: Also a must have if you want to reload mil brass.

Bullet Puller: I got the cheap kinetic hammer style, and it works, but it takes some work. No one is perfect, so you will need it eventually.

Calipers: A good set is pretty cheap, and they really are a "must have"



I can't stress this enough: Read both books cover to cover TWICE before you reload anything. Make sure you understand what you are doing. Once you have the basics down, always remember: Start with a LOW powder charge, and work your way up from there. Then go have fun.

What most will need to start. Reloading Equipment List for Precision / Match Ammo

I just got the breech lock kit to start loading .223 and so far I like it a lot. I like the hand primer tool over the press mounted tool.

I already had a Lee Pro 1000 for .45 and for the price I was more than happy with the results I got from it.

I wanted a single stage because I knew I could use it for various tasks and the breech lock kit has been a pleasure so far.

Get the extra bushings, they are worth the couple of $ extra. That way you never have to adjust a die after you set it, 1/3 turn and you are in and out. I think its an awesome setup.

The beam scale works, but as others have done I now use it to check the accuracy of my electronic scale every so often.

I also picked up a zip trim. Some people seem to hate this thing, but it has worked just fine for me so far. I am not doing mass volumes of rounds, a batch of 50 or 100 at a time.

You will still need calipers, dies, a good reloading manual, brass, bullets, powder, safety glasses, bullet puller, and case length gauge. I did NOT need to buy any extra shell holders. The kit came with a multitude of holders for various calibers, one of which I mounted on the primer tool. The case length gauge came with another holder that I mounted on the press, and the die set came with yet another holder that I mounted on the zip trim. It makes the whole process faster if you don't have to move the holder from station to station.

Have fun, and read as much as you can so you dont blow yourself up.

plus 1 for the turret press it can be used a a single stage press but even the thought of single stage loading just pisses me off

I've been using the Lee Anniversary kit since '07 for loading .223 and .308 Win. It came with a hand primer tool, and without the Breech-lock feature. I don't have any experience with any other brand or type of set up, but thus far I don't see the need to get anything else. It's been putting out good ammo (good enough for my purposes anyways). The only item I don't use is the scale, which I replaced with a fancy electronic one, but the Lee scale is accurate, it's just a hassle to use.

I was using the $20 Lee press for a while and could load up some fairly accurate ammo with it.



I still think the Lee powder drop is one of the best on the market for stick powders.

+1 on the powder measure.  I've had good luck with IMR 3031 and Varget.

I already had an RCBS single stage, but picked up one of those inexpensive Lee presses as backup or secondary press.  Functionally, I have confidence in the quality of any ammo I made on it, however i like the feel of the Rock Chucker single stage a bit more.

I decide to get a Hornady Lock N Load and can tell you that after assembling it and running 50 rounds, it's a dream.

Now thinking about a case feeder.

Man I spend a lot of $ on this hobby.  I need to sell a rifle to finance some of this stuff.

ETA:

$399 at Cabela's  here

Really - after using Lee, RCBS and this Hornady, I would get the linked one above.  It is SWEET.

I use it to with IMR 4895 and 4064, but actually it meters ball powder better....or so I have been told...still have to run my RL 15 through it...
SASS