Time to go pro-active

I'm not what you would call an avid shooter, so for the most part, have been content to stick with factory loads for big bore rifles. That is about to change for a couple reasons. One is concern about future supply, the other simply relates to the hobby aspect of wanting accurate loads for long distance shooting. For now, only worried about a small group of big bore rifles, all of which are bolt actions and all similar enough the same powders and primers will work for all. Only different consumables would be the bullets. Low volume (50 to 100 each) high quality is the goal. Already have plenty of spent brass for all, just looking for a way to reload it. In the past, had a friend that loaded mine, but he has moved out of state and that is no longer an option.

So plan is to start accumulating tools of the trade. Time is on my side, as there is no hurry. This could play out over a year or so. May speed up if things break loose, but otherwise, gonna start picking stuff off as I find it. Powder measure, press and dies, plus all the rest. Has been a while since I was exposed to this type of loading, but know the basics. Already have a Texan balance beam powder scale that goes with a shot shell loader.

My question is.....when it comes to powder measures, presses, dies, etc. are there flagships that stand out? I'm familiar with RCBS stuff like the Uniflow measure, Rock Chucker and Rebel presses, etc. Less familiar with Horny or Redding stuff. 

And just a simple single stage press is all I'll need.

Lots of good brands out there and I've got stuff from most of them. I use a Redding press that I don't think they make anymore. Have dies from Reddiing, RCBS, Bonanza, and Pacific. The old Pacific dies before Hornady took over are my favorites. I use an old Redding powder measure and a Lyman/Ohaus scale. Trim brass with a Forrester trimmer, they may be part of Bonanza, memory's fuzzy you know. For shotgun shells it's hard to beat MEC, if they are even in business anymore.

Things have changed a lot since I bought my stuff, 30 or so years ago.

More fun stuff.......was going through some boxes of old reloading stuff I was handed last time to the farm (my sister was cleaning up the old armory....(my old bedroom), and among other things, found this:

Copyright is 1970. Surprised to see that powders and primers listed then are still valid today. Could probably use those loads and not be too far off for the few calibers I'm concerned about.

But then I was surfing around and came across a new twist.......Alliant powders......which is a new name to me. I know about IMR 4350 and 4064......but Alliant also makes a 4350 and 4064. Same or different? Would probably take a modern era reloading manual to know.

Speaking of that, Midway has a modern era Lyman manual, and I have one coming.

On things loosening up, I expect that will be the case. Hoarders and black market making a killing now, but won't want to be left holding the bag when the music stops. Guys queuing up to buy anything on the shelves, only to turn around to sell it on ebay or gunbroker will be in a panic to shed it all once things turn south.

Once that happens, and they stop buying shelves will start stocking up again. Or at least, that is my hope. But once stuff starts showing up, that will be an indication the storm has passed. Starting to see signs of it now.

But in the meantime, I am putting together the tools for reloading. Have found a sympathetic soul who had one of everything and was gifted a second set of one of everything, and is making one of those available for a good price.

So my plan is to continue putting together the basic tools and supplies......enough to last through a 5 year drought. Which for me, isn't much (1,000 primers would last me years) but takes the worry out of it.