To answer your question it depends what you are reloading caliber wise.
You will get your Return on Investment quicker with the odd ball calibers
or not to common rounds. The common ones would be 5.56, 9mm, maybe
45ACP, 6.5CM. Where you see the greater payoff is 22 Hornet, 256WM,
38/357, 44Mag, 338LM, 45 Colt, 7.62, 458WM, 460 Weatherby, 375 H&H,
Herrett Rounds, JDJ Rounds and Wildcats, or 50BMG... just some examples.
To start now the cost and availability of components, some consider it not, but
also with the factory loaded ammo being hit or miss, that's why many got into
reloading. The setup cost is where the money comes into play, just to get started
Press, Dies, Scale, Powder measure, trimmer, manuals, misc. odds n ends. Then
you source the components.
Cost: That also depends on what you want: Single Stage press, Progressive, and
who's. Scales: Beam or digital, Powder Measures: Uniflow - Harrells ($$$), Dies:
Lee - Redding, Sinclair, Whidden, Mighty Armory or custom. The variables, are
endless.
Determine your needs, how much do you plan on shooting, what are you shooting?
LR, Precision, 3-Gun, Matches, Comp., calibers your going to reload.
Your gonna get a lot of buy this and buy that, find a mentor, someone who left you
"pull the handle" and try different presses. Some go to Progressive from the get go.
Some use Single Stage for development or just plain use a Single Stage. It may be
all they can afford at the moment. Find what works for you and does what you want
it to. Me personally I'm not "brand loyal" don't care what color it is, Pink, blue, green,
red, black, rust colored, as long as it works for me. Have a gambit of presses, like the
old Vintage stuff, Stars, Hollywoods, etc. Even the ole "nut cracker" works great, Ideal
310 tool.
Progressives ..
They all have Pro's and Con's
They all have their liker's and hater's
They all need to be setup properly
They all need tweaked, here and there
They all produce a finished round, some faster than others.
They all work eventually....
Started on RCBS Rock Chucker in the early 70's, and it grew from there, presses here
and presses there. Under the bench on top of the bench. Powder measures all kinds
Then you will "branch" out, casting your own bullets, Swaging taking copper
jackets, 22LR cases and even pistol cases to make bullet jackets. Swaging is
where the dollars add up quickly.
Sum it up:
Determine your needs. once again. Make a list of what your gonna need and them
go shopping. Remember this: Be safe, stay focused, it ain't a race, in doubt dump it
out, never assume, one powder one the bench at a time and that's the one your currently
using.. you want things to go "bang" not "boom", or you may be missing body parts
or body injury.. Some people are so worried about "MAX" when it comes to powder
charges.... Reloading, casting, swaging is another hobby for me, it's fun, relaxing, the
other half calls me "cellar dweller"(basement here), that will change in SC, No basement.
Advantages:
Tailor the load to the firearm, more consistent, and savings depending on caliber
Here's a Spreadsheet to try out I've used.. it's a direct link as it will ask to download
it, it's safe. Lot's of tabs.
-Snoopz