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A little higher price for local store is fine- Our local gun store is so much higher that the hazmat fees look reasonable. Locally you save the $30 hazmat fee on powder/primers, so factor that into the equation on any decent priced stuff.

E.Marquez wrote:

Copperas Cove JT Sports[/quote]

Thanks, will check them out next time I head west

E.Marquez wrote: from local shooting supply store in my little town

In Kempner?? Do tell... very little to speak of in reloading over in the temple/belton area. I'm out that direction on occasion and would like to check it out next time.

You have it figured out- knowing your own likes/limitations is a key in doing it right. If I had the extra money at the time I would have tried the Gempro. I did a lot of research and talked to several people about digi scales. Without spending a TON of money, it's considered the to be among the very best.

E.Marquez wrote: I bought a RCBS rock chucker last night for $20 cash from Craigs list..

SCORE!! Nice find!

As for scales- the reviews are always hit or miss in digitals. If I went digi it would be a Gempro- almost bought one several times. I went balance for now- with magnetic dampening it is just about as fast as a digital, with no warm up period, way fewer interference issues, etc.and don't have to constantly re-zero during a session (unless I bump it, I will double check it)

I actually bought a RCBS 505 from an ebay store- brand new for about 1/2 the price as most retailers. For powder you are normally only weighing 4 - 80 grains so the typical 1000 gr capacity scale is necessary. Plus I think the smaller the capacity the better it can weigh smaller amounts. Although not marked past .1 grain increments, you can easily see smaller amounts on the needle, which allows you to really dial in, almost to the kernel. (with digital, you are never sure where in the .1 you fall, is it X.19 or X.10 which in can make a difference- especially in precision rifle.

As important as a good scale is a good set of check weights. (even if you buy a good digital scale) I opted to go with a pharmaceutical set in milligrams... and I calibrate at the actual powder charge weight I intend to load that session. I figure there is no point in calibrating to a 250 or 500 grain weight when I am weighing for 5 grains... All the articles I have read say scales are not consistent across all ranges. So setting up at a close to use range is optimal.

A simple conversion to milligrams and I'm calibrating at actual needed weight. For light target loads I use 4gr. clays and set up with 260 mg of check weights (which is 4.01gr.) Spot on!

I had no help or mentor and was able to buy, set up and start loading on a dillion 550 with no trouble. If needed you can run it as a turret/multistation single stage as you learn the steps. I can't personally speak to loading bottleneck cartridges on it, but have read of lots of people loading precision rifle on them.

Not that I'm recommending a 550 for your situation, just that you need not be afraid of a progressive press out of the gate. If you are mechanically inclined, can follow directions and observe detail, you should be fine. Also, Dillion's tech support is great- I called them before I ever bought a press and they spent an hour on the phone education me in the process so that I could make an informed decision.

Good luck!