OK guy Im going to start reloading 44 mag.. I have nothing to reload with will have a buddy help me with it.. I am looking to start getting some stuff together to load my own.. I have $100 to start off with what should I buy first?

I’d buy a really good reloading manual like Sierra. Read it thoroughly. It will explain equipment, powder and techniques. Well worth the time to start there first… probably not the answer you were looking for but honestly is the best place to begin. I learned reloading from my dad some 30+ years ago… .and still read the books. BTW - welcome to the insanity fun...

thanks I have anew hornady book I am using from a buddy right now...

If your on a budget you may consider used items if you can find them. Nothing wrong with an older press in working order etc. And as far as learning the processes of reloading you don't need a new manual at all because it hasn't changed. All the load data you need can be found on the internet for free.

When I started what I thought you needed was

press
dies
scale
case trimmer
primer of some kind be it a hand held or one that is part of the press
and components(primer, bullet, cases)
chamfer/debur tool
powder thrower
trickler

You can get a lot fancier, but that is what I consider to be necessities.

X2 on read a manual or two. Then buy the best - not fanciest or fastest or newest - equipment u can.

I recommend an RCBS Rockchucker and RCBS carbide dies for the .44. One of their kits is good but check around for pricing. Buy live ammo and save the brass. Bullets will depend on how u plan to use the ammo and will dictate the powder to some extent.

I like to shoot reduced loads and hard cast bullets.
TC

thanks guys... Know of any older presses out there

HAve a look at this http://www.texasguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=509799

Real close to your budget and comes close to most of what you will need equipment wise

And buy a good set of digital calipers and check your case lengths before loading and trim as necessary. The book will have max. length and trim-to lengths. You will also need them for checking over-all-length of your loaded rounds.

Then work your way down the list that RedChevy gave you!

Call Lee Precision for used equipment. You can get a set of dies and a hand held press, a set of dippers, a few other things. Should get you going for around $100. You'll need calipers to check AOL as seating a bullet too deep can increase pressure.

I would not trust digital calipers on a $100 total budget. Trustworthy digital calipers cost that much themselves. I have some cheap ones, they're not that great. Lyman manual is good too but you'll need at least three manuals to be able to build a trust tree. Don't be afraid of Lee stuff. They have a few stinkers but most of their stuff is more than fine and cheap....especially used.

I guess it all depends on the goals of your reloading, but I reloaded for 2-3 years without calipers and never had an issue. I do use the lee hand trimmer so I never had to measure cases.

It's not the cases, Lee sells an inexpensive tool to trim the case length to the proper length, NO I was talking about overall length. The deeper you set a bullet into the case- the more pressure it creates. You have some wiggle room if you err on the side of longer than needed and you can probably take a store bought round and file a length gauge out of soft metal and use that. Heavier bullets create more pressure and change OAL. Stick with the information in the reloading manuals (some info is free over the net)
Phil Sharpe was one of the folks that came out with the 357 magnum. They started out with a heavy barrel revolver and just put in more powder and set the bullet farther out and then- because such a powerful load in a lot of old 38 specials would blow up the gun- they came up with the longer case.
For starters, why not just re-load your 44 magnum at 44 special pressures, with the very limited stuff I suggested you ought to be safe and you'll save some money and get a much better idea of what you want to do.
That hand held "nut cracker" type press. I've actually taken one to the range and reloaded right at the range in working up some loads. When you get to that point you'll need a lot more stuff but the thing is- that cheap hand held press can still serve a purpose.
If you plan on reloading rifle ammo- a single stage press can work for both rifle and handgun but if all you want to do is handgun, then a multiple stage set up is much faster.
The other thing you might want to think about is casting your own bullets as they are a major cost. A Lee mold, camp stove, melting pot, the first time you set up an operation you'll be money head. I cast 700 bullets for a 45 Colt in a couple of hours.

Better get more money ready reloading can be an addiction, lol. Good luck to ya

Since you are loading pistol rounds, I would highly recommend a progressive reloading press. Yes, they are more difficult to set up, and initially they are more difficult to learn on, BUT, and I say this because I've been down this path, loading pistol rounds on a single stage press is going to get very old, very fast.

Instead of buying a single stage press and then wanting to move to a progressive shortly thereafter, buy a progressive FIRST. You can use a progressive press just like a single stage while you are trying to learn.

First time I've heard that. I bought a turret first then two singles and wish I bought a single first. Guess it's all relative. Never trimmed a straight wall or even checked the empties for OAL. Not needed in straight wall pistol calibers.

If you really want the most out of handgun handloads, trimming is not a pointless endeavor. In pistols, the case headspaces on the case mouth so case length plays a role in accuracy since consistent headspace is important in pistol perfromance. For revolvers, a roll crimp is generally used and is necessary for best performance. Trim length is very important in achieving consistent roll crimps. It really boils down to just how serious you are as a handloader and shooter when it comes to handgun reloading.

You should consider the Lee Classic loader... Everything you need to load a single caliber for about $40. It is slow but you will learn the loading process and considering the 44mag usually isn't a high volume or precision round slow shouldn't be an issue.

I've loaded hundreds of 357mag and 45colt using that tool....still use it for a 30-30 too.

The progressive press is a BIG PLUS for handgun ammo. On the rifles the total number of rounds you shoot is usually much less and you usually want to be very careful on the loading. The handgun ammo can be shot up in vast quantities and a progressive press, as stated, is a real plus.
That hand held, nut cracker, I actually used that in 357 magnum rounds at the range.