re: Reloading

A lot of good info here.

Here's my tip.

Get on all the shooting/guns forums, most have classifieds. If you aren't looking for the kit, you can probably pick up some used gear for a good savings. Some of the forums where a lot of people compete, you might be able to find some new prize table items for cheap as well.

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Man that buys a shitload of ammo

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I still pinch pennies when reloading plinking ammo, but that's the only time I think of it as a cost savings hobby. Like I'm never going to buy new 9mm brass. I'll just buy factory ammo if I'm low on supplies. But if I have enough brass saved, then I can save some money with the process.

But the experience of reloading itself has now become a hobby and it's no longer about cost savings

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Thanks a lot everyone! I think I’m going to get the best I can get for 3k and adjust accordingly as i learn

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Go learn first. There are probably people loading for competition shooting that don’t have that in their setup. There are places you can spend a lot, but you have no idea where you will want those to be yet. You can spend a shitload on a multistage press that isn’t going to offer much benefits for hunting ammo but will turn out plinkers, same as an expensive powder trickler will just slow you down in some cases, etc. This isn’t a hobby where you can just go get the top of the line thing and you’ll be glad you got it one day, there are a dozen top of the lines each with a different goal in mind.

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expensive gear with sloppy technique.

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Get the best gear that works and learn on it. Better than buying twice.

9mm .21/rd. 45 acp and 45lc .31/rd. .223 .31/rd .308 and .30-06 .61/rd.

Bayoutiger08,
I'd suggest starting w/ a kid and a single stage press from a major manufacturer (Redding, RCBC, Forster, Lee Lyman etc) or a Lee Turret press. I'd feel uncomfortable as a newbie staring on a progressive. You can load a lot of ammo, and sometimes quite rapidly, w/ a turret press. When I first bought my Lee classic turret press, I used it w/ the rotating turret function to load lots of pistol ammo at a rapid rate (not as fast as a progressive, but faster than a single stage). Now I used it as a single stage. If you're like many bandleaders, your loading will evolve w/ time. I started off loading mainly for handguns (higher volume) and a 270 Win rifle. Then I moved into heavy loads for 44 Mag. Later I moved into loading for 223 Rem and wildcat rounds. Next, I found myself loading entirely for wildcat handgun rounds. Now I hunt exclusively w/ handguns for deer and prairie dogs. It's been about 25 years since I killed a deer w/ a factory round. I go on 2-3 prairie dog hunts every year, shooting >100 rounds/day. Consequently, I load high volume for these hunts, but I use a nice powder measure and a single stage press. For 40 years the Lee was my only press until I bought a Forster last summer. It has a LOT more leverage than the Lee which comes in handy when necking down brass.

Here's my list of loading equipment. It may be TLDR for many so I'll just share the link. A lot of my equipment recs prob won't apply to you in your early stages. You'll find out what works for you and your loading needs.

A few updates to the above link. I now use a K&M arbor press and LE Wilson neck dies and seating dies for most of my loads for pd hunting guns. Hornady dies are ok for me now since they've changed the construction of their depriming rod. Free shipping at Midway now usually requires >$99 purchase. In my experience, most handloaders don't save money as they end up shooting more than before. Nevertheless, most loaders find the hobby very satisfying.

My dad bought me a XL650 when I was 15, like 30 years ago. I'm still using the same press and it's the only press I've ever used. Loaded countless pistol ammo, 45ACP back in the day and basically only 9mm now. Dabbled with 5.56. I have to say it was the best thing my dad ever bought me. It's a super fun hobby. I would go progressive from the start, single stage is time consuming AF.