subsonic

I bought the Lee Reloading Manual which cross references weight to the appropriate dipper for certain (not all) loads. The dippers also come with a slide rule style powder chart that converts weight to dipper size.

I recently bought the Lee Challenger Breech Lock single stage press kit, comes with a lot of accessories, but you'll still need dies for the calibers you want to load. I also decided to get the set of Lee Dippers for quick and easy powder measure. As I get further into it, I'll develop my skills with the powder scale and dispenser that are included. You'll also need to get a tumbler and media to clean spent brass.

For mics, look into Audio Technica.They have a wide assortment of affordable mics that perform beyond their pricepoint. I run a studio business and have more of them than any other brand in my mic locker. There are several brands of interfaces available with 8 channels and built in preamps, although the quality of the preamps is a crapshoot. I use an RME interface without preamps, prefer mine to be outboard for better quality. Look at a small Mackie board. They get scoffed at by gear snobs, but there have been hit records made on them and the preamps are sufficient. For software, there are some affordable choices. Reaper has a lot of fans on the audio forums. I use Sonar Producer, but Sonar is a PC only DAW, so that's off the table if you're going Mac. If you'd still consider going with PC, look into OEM boxes designed for gaming, from vendors like directron.com, that's what I'm using and it's a workhorse.  Don't forget about decent monitors, headphones and cables. The incidentals can rack up a large chunk of change.    As far as tracking drums, you can do a lot with four channels, you don't need to mic every drum in the kit. Holler if I can ever be of assistance.

Good advice, 10-Ring. I share that philosophy in my day job, which is a very tech oriented field. I resist the urge to have the newest bell or whistle and concentrate on squeezing the most juice out the gear I have until I reach a point where it isn't able to do what I ask it to.   I need to find some private land to hunt on, think I have a good shot with my wife's cousin who has a large amount of acreage in Giles County and they hunt as well.

Thanks for all the replies. I have not applied any lube inside the case necks, and I set the sizing die up according to the instructions that came with it (as Dolomite describes). I'm using the Lee wax based lube. Appreciate the tip about removing lube before seating the bullets and also lubing the bullet, Bullets are seating about 1/8" at most into cases by hand. When I place a round in the press to seat, I'm experiencing substantial resistance about halfway through the stroke, then it's like I bust through a wall. If I check the  round for depth of seat at this point, it isn't necessarily seated to correct depth yet. I appreciate that setting the seating die is a bit of trial and error. I thought I had it dialed in based on the second attempt as it had the perfect depth of seat and crimp looked identical to a factory round. Then the next two buckled.   Mark, appreciate the offer, I'll PM you contact info.

Started my first batch of .357 today, Lee Breech Lock press and dies, virgin nickel brass cases, 125 gr XTP and HS6. When I got to seating the bullets, first one went a little deep, second one was just about perfect, third and fourth had buckled cases. The Lee reloading manual doesn't mention a whole lot about the nuances of case lube....should I be applying to the inside neck of the brass? FWIW, the second attempt even had a very respectable crimp, can't figure out why the next two were such failures. Thanks for insights.

I'm in the same boat. I had hoped to be ready this past year, but the hunter safety courses had all filled up by the time I checked into them. I'm angling toward just rifle season, preferably on private land. Been shooting for close to 40 years, done some bird hunting in the past (grouse and pheasant). My current rifle options are .357 lever gun and .243 Savage bolt action (need a scope for this one). Real life got in the way this past season with the passing of my father in law. Going to start getting ready way in advance for next season. 

I've been busy cleaning out the garden tool sheds at my father in law's after he passed away a few months ago. He was a career Navy pilot. Yesterday I came across a metal suitcase full of survival related stuff, including some .38 spl cartridges, both loose in a cloth bag and an unopened box. Hard to say what the vintage is, he flew from WWII (Iwo Jima and Okinawa) through Viet Nam. The cartridge box looks at least as old as I am (57).  Also some other neat items ie: signal mirrors with crosshair sight hole, bolo knife, fighting/survival knife, liferaft "tablet" rations and a single page Malaysian language dictionary. 

I have a full box of Peters that I scored from my father in law. Interestingly, he never owned a .22 over the years I knew him, they could date back quite a way.

Cool. I lived there in the mid 70's for school, flew right over my old neighborhood at the very end, I used to play tennis in the park sighted below.

Thanks for the replies. Right now just concentrating on pistol rounds. After I get some chops, I'll be digging into necked cases.

I thought I had all the bits and pieces in place, sat down to attempt my first batch and discovered that I need a few case length guages. I have some new brass I ordered early on, just wondering if it's dependably manufactured to proper length. Having read a reloading book by Lee, I understand the necessity of trimming previously fired brass. Thanks for insights.

This is my target from the one range visit with the M92 with 16" barrel, I shot two rounds of 6 at 100 yds. The first group were high and to the right. When I got settled down 2nd group was where it should have been...     http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o526/subsonic55/DSCN0447_zps91a6bed7.jpg

Chas, Can you recommend a spring kit for the .357 Rossi? I bought an M92 this past year, only had it out to the range once....love it, but it is a little clunky cycling magnums. Thanks.

I carry a 605 and had the same trouble, settled on the Desantis pocket holster and got used to it.

Welcome aboard. I grew up in CT, got my carry permit there when I was 23 (I'm now 57). Even back then, it took a year to get done. I migrated to TN in '94, much better attitude here, although Nashville proper is more liberal than other parts of the state. No legislative threats to ownership here, and even some pushback from sherriff's departments and the state government regarding any federal efforts at limitations. Not aware of regular competitive events, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. You shooting handgun or long gun or both?

Here's an alternative method for charging your phone with additional SHTF benefits:        http://www.thecoolist.com/biolite-campstove-and-usb-charger/

Welcome aboard and thanks for your service!

Nice snag on the 16", I picked one up last fall and absolutely love it, accurate beyond my expectations.

Sure thing. I used to play bass in an artist project in the mid 90's. She and the original guitar player were at Gibson back then. I came fairly close to applying for a job there when I relocated here, have many years experience in construction and woodworking as well. Still dabble in sawdust for personal pleasure.

Thanks for the continued input, always enjoy learning from experienced folks more than books where practical....although I do expect to dogear my reloading manual with data tables!   Musicman, what kind of music are you involved in? I have a studio business.

David, I'll have to catch up with you sometime soon and make a purchase. Can you PM me contact info? Thanks.

In case your BOB has a bottle of wine and you forgot a corkscrew....................   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEPz1nkiwLI

Thanks for all the replies, very helpful! Looking forward to my first bench session and subsequent trip to the range. The .357 loads will mostly be for my new Rossi M92 Puma. I've heard that slower burning powder can produce better velocity and energy in a rifle load, any truth in that?

Just looking for a very general approximation of how many rounds can be loaded with 1 pound in these calibers: .38 SPL, .357 mag, 9mm Luger   I'm awaiting arrival of my first order of powder, and am aware that specific grain weight loads require different amounts, looking for an average number. Thanks.