Survival Handloading

 

Reloading is an age old hobby and a "must have" for Survival situations.  It requires little to no electricity and effectively supplies the survivalist with a means to "recycle" spent brass; using long-lasting, previously stockpiled components

 

 Many have commenced the task of handloading in search of obvious monetary savings, which are certainly in their future. But come later, rather than sooner:   most handloaders will find though, that the addiction to the hobby, the absolute love of handloading, becomes more important than any money that will be saved.

 

 As a survivalist, brainstorming possible scenarios relating to the much discussed SHTF situations that this world could feasibly find itself in, is unavoidable, as well as the desire and the drive to prepare for those uncertain events by stocking up beforehand.

 

 Most likely the question has already crossed your mind...Why handload as a survivalist?

Can't I just stock up on ammo, that I may need when the SHTF?

 

 Well, If you are reading this, you are at least interested in handloading, whether it be for the afore mentioned money savings, or for fine tuning custom rounds for your unique firearms, in order to achieve tighter groups, or maybe to down-load for low recoil, target practice, on some silhouettes at the pistol range...The immediate reasons are actually endless, from hunting to home protection.

 

   Quite frankly, I can not think of a million reasons why handloading would improve the survivalist's lifestyle so much better than just simply stock piling ammo...So I do both.

 

 However, imagine if you will, that you awake to find that TSHTF for real, and the future purchase of any ammo, with the exception of the black market is over, understandably you have 10,000 rounds of ammo varying from .22LR to .375 H&H packed away...You are taken care of, you are good to go, but wouldn't it be nice, after dropping some small game for dinner, to reach down and pick up that spent 5.56 case knowing that it's life is far from over? As a survivalist, you are planning to live for a long time, so ask your self an honest question, do I really keep enough ammo, on hand at all times, to last me the rest of my life?

 

 Simply having the skill to 'make ammo' for others could also become a very valuable asset...
Consider the guy who failed to put any ammo up, or has simply ran out completely, what would it be worth to him, to acquire a few rounds of ammo for his favorite hunting rifle, to allow him to harvest meat for his hungry family?

 

 If wheat is the survivalists 'magic stock pile food' then irrefutably smokeless powder has to be his 'magic stock pile material'...Kept in a cool closet, it will easily out live you and your grandkids. 
 So now you have the skill, and plenty of powder, your clients will be bringing you their spent cases, along with any lead you may have asked them to scrounge up for you...Casting bullets is an all together different animal, but with tire shops that are known to give wheel weights away by the bucket full, one can sure stock up on the materials needed in a short order. 

 

 If your goal IS to simply stockpile ammo, consider, that once the purchase price of the tools are overcome, there IS a nice savings to look forward to, a recent reloading manual lists a savings for 30-06 at about 20 cents per round, which certainly equates to more ammo in the store, while saving money for other necessities.

 

 Any seasoned handloader will tell you that after only a few years of passionately pursuing this hobby, the components seem to grow in their stockpiles on their own, Fire Chiefs nation wide would shutter to think of the many pounds of powder being kept in residential handloading nooks, explaining the thought that, if you get started in the hobby now, you will most likely have more than enough, when you need it most.  
 

 

~Crpdeth