Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Ok, that Standard Controllability Test that I mentioned? Uhm..an eye opener. That all I wanna say about that. At least, until I throw another few hundred rounds downrange.

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I’d like to take this opportunity to remind folks that while youre scrambling for guns and magazines do not overlook reloading components. Although I havent heard anything about it (yet) all its gonna take is one of those highly touted executive orders for Glorious Leader to reclassify our powder and primers as a ‘permit required’ item. A brick of a thousand primers is, most assuredly, not enough. Remember the great primer scare during the Clinton administration? Alot of us said we’d never get caught flat-footed on primers again. Fact is, while there are some ways to make your own primers and powders nothing works as well or as cheaply as the real thing. Grab some while you can. How much? Well, a brick of 1000 primers lets you make, unsurprisingly, 1000 rounds. Do you think you’ll need more than 1000 rounds over the course of your life? Yes? Then get more. Powder comes 7000 grains to a pound. My 9mm eats about 6 gr. per cartridge so 1# of powder would mean around 1160 or so rounds per pound. Since I figure I’m gonna want a hell of a lot more than 1100 rounds in my future, an 8# keg (or three) might be a good idea.

Bullets are always being threatened with that ‘microstamping’ nonsense. For the lower velocity stuff like handguns I can cast bullets out of lead if I had to. Hence, a few bullet moulds and casting equipment is a good idea to put back.

If you dont reload I strongly suggest you start. You can buy a cheap setup from Lee for less than $150. Its not the best gear on the market but if you try reloading and don’t like it you’ll only be out about $150. If you do turn out to like reloading you can upgrade to some RCBS or Redding gear. (RCBS gets the nod for universal parts and accesory availability, although I think Redding makes a superior product.)

Heres your shopping list:

• Primers – At least a thousand in each size that you use (Small pistol, large pistol, small rifle, large rifle) Store them in a dry, sealed container like a plastic ’sportsmans dry box’ or ammo can. No, it won’t be a bomb,
• Powder – At least enough for a thousand rounds in each caliber you shoot. (Thus, finding a powder that works with a variety of cartridges is a good thing….Unique in pistol, IMR 3031 in rifle) Again, store it in a dry, waterproof container.
• Bullets – .223 and .308 bullets especially.
• Brass – You have been saving your brass, right? And pick up any reloadable brass you find at the range…you can always trade it later.
• Reloading gear – I cant see this stuff ever being controlled (although the Brits were up in arms, so to speak, about being able to buy a ‘bullet making machine’ off eBay) but have an extra set of dies for the stuff you shoot. They can be had used for $15. Get some spare primer punches and that sort of thing too.

I reload for economy’s sake but often I am forced to reload because the gun Im shooting hasnt had commercial ammo made for it since WW2. If the Carter II administration decides to tackle gun control issues dont think they wont have people advising them who havent learned from the 1994 AW ban….they’ll close those little ‘loopholes’ and Im sure gunpowder and ammo will be on their agenda.