Posted: 8/4/2010 7:10:38 PM EDT
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I like stuff. I like gadgets. I like flashlights.
I just bought two new lanterns this week on a whim. Just because I liked them. The reason I like them is because they have nice low settings so they are efficient for long term SHTF use. Then I started to think about efficiency. Learning to live on the lowest setting on these lights is analogous to learning to live with less in general. How would many of us face living in TEOTWAWKI where candle wax is so valuable that we don't want to spend more than using one candle at a time? I remember "Little House on the Prairie" from when I was a kid. I can only imagine that kind of life right now. I am not a rich man, but I realize how incredibly fortunate and rich I really am. When blowing $80 on two lanterns is nothing at all. I thought about preserving the wealth of the useful stuff I have so I don't need to experience the poverty of my childhood, or much, much worse. How do I prepare long term so life never seems so dark and brutal? I am putting a lot of my mental energy and money into putting together systems that will allow me to run a very long time with basic things like light. Its a comfort item, but I don't think its value is really as understood as it should be. Its seems that too many of us have no concept of total poverty. Some things just make life seem more livable when you are facing hardships that we cannot imagine now. Simple things that make life just seem more like we are not savages. This is why I plan on living a modern life after the world falls apart. I can do it and will do it on many levels. I apologize for the rambling thoughts. I am not sure how many folks are planning on continuing a fairly modern life, even when people around you are living in 3rd world conditions. I am reminded of the home made hot showers in "Lights Out". They were very much richer than their neighbors because of this innovative luxury. Its seems like a little thing, but how much better would life be with that kind of luxury? |
| Nothing may make you feel more cold and alone than the lack of light, or darkness, over extended periods of time. In the middle of winter where I live, it gets dark around 4pm. It is hard to imagine living in a post apocalyptic situation where there would be darkness and cold for many months. There is no doubt that light, whether artificial or not, will provide the comfort that few other luxuries can. |
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don't apologize... it's thoughts like these that need to be shared, so we can all make sure we cover bases we may have forgotten...
learning how to do the simple things is important, too. know how to tie a couple of good knots? sew a decent seam? build a chicken coop? the "simple things" are crucial. living simply is underrated. even if s never htf, if I spend half the money on clothing because I can do my own alterations (I'm short) and repairs (my son skateboards), then I have more money to go to dinner or the movies or buy that meat grinder I wanted, so I can make my own sausage, controlling what's in it so my family gets a better tasting, healthier meal. or I can save more aggressively and retire earlier. 
see? don't apologize. 
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I have an apparently weird foible, in that I don't particularly care for bright lights. I rarely use the overhead lights in my home or shop. Table lamps that shed light where it's needed.
Back in the mid '90s, I spent three years telling the whole world to fuck off. Lived in a trailer on the plains of eastern Wyoming with a re-wired .mil 5K generator, a couple of wood stoves and a well. It didn't take long to get used to it, honestly. Had candles and oil lamps for light, a single flashlight, and scrap wood to add to the bundles of edgings I'd pick up for $15 each at the lumber mill down in Colorado (I could fit four of them on the trailer and pickup combo, so I'd only have to go down occasionally) True, the interwebz hadn't taken hold yet, so I didn't have that to miss, but I found it surprisingly easy to chuck the rest. I did miss waking up warm, though. Only had two dogs, and some of them winter nights were three doggers easy! |
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Light is definitely one of those things you may not fully appreciate until it is gone.
With that said, I am a large proponent for redundancy in this arena. Along with a "tactical" light I have a headlamp in my BOB. I also have key chain lights attached to different zippers of bags in my kit. These things are pretty cheap and light weight. They are on my FAK, communications bag, toiletries bag, etc. |
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I really have never understood "survival" people who want to go from Internet to 1890's dirt farmer in one day. I prepare to live as normal a life as I can for as long as I can. I have lots of meat and vegetables, canned goods etc...in my preps.....beans and rice are great but I'm not a friggen Indian Sub Continent peasant! Really, how much do a dozen canned hams cost?
You can very easily create a one year supply of food at Walmart in the canned goods aisles. There is almost nothing that is canned in the way of veggies, meat products, soups, stews etc...that won't last at least a year. A year of food puts you ahead of 99% of Americans guaranteed. Is it the lightest or most compact source of food? No. Does it beat the hell out of beans and rice 5 days a week...YES. Just ask your wife or kids if you have any doubts...... I plan on having power and all of the things that means LONG after "the grid" goes down. It really isn't that hard. Modern electronics are very efficient and it's never been easier to put together a very basic solar or generator based personal alternative power solution. It DOES require a bit of thought and some cash outlay but even that doesn't have to be more than the price of an MBR. Once you have a couple of MBR's.....power looks damn inviting as a way to spend money. It just gives you so many options and options are good. |
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don't apologize... it's thoughts like these that need to be shared, so we can all make sure we cover bases we may have forgotten... learning how to do the simple things is important, too. know how to tie a couple of good knots? sew a decent seam? build a chicken coop? the "simple things" are crucial. living simply is underrated. even if s never htf, if I spend half the money on clothing because I can do my own alterations (I'm short) and repairs (my son skateboards), then I have more money to go to dinner or the movies or buy that meat grinder I wanted, so I can make my own sausage, controlling what's in it so my family gets a better tasting, healthier meal. or I can save more aggressively and retire earlier.
see? don't apologize. I was really over loaded with thoughts of how affluent our existence really is today. We are all really well off. Even those of us who have had hard times lately. I remember being a kid and getting a brinkman flashlight (mini mag clone) for my birthday. that was it. It was a dollar cheaper than the mini mag so mom went for it. It was broke before I even got the batteries in it. It took almost a week before we were close enough to a Kmart to go back and exchange it. I paid the extra dollar to upgrade to the mini mag. That was a great birthday. I even got a cake. Wouldn't it be ironic to have as much as I have today, only to some day be miserly with my candle wax and trying to make a little food last a long time. The massive amount of cool stuff I have partial useless. The many things I hold in such high regard today will only go so far during a really long term crisis. Someday, eventually, either we lift our selves out of the dark, or we stay there forever. I know many of us know what we are facing. Sometimes its good to sit back and ponder it. |
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I really have never understood "survival" people who want to go from Internet to 1890's dirt farmer in one day. I prepare to live as normal a life as I can for as long as I can. I have lots of meat and vegetables, canned goods etc...in my preps.....beans and rice are great but I'm not a friggen Indian Sub Continent peasant! Really, how much do a dozen canned hams cost? You can very easily create a one year supply of food at Walmart in the canned goods aisles. There is almost nothing that is canned in the way of veggies, meat products, soups, stews etc...that won't last at least a year. A year of food puts you ahead of 99% of Americans guaranteed. Is it the lightest or most compact source of food? No. Does it beat the hell out of beans and rice 5 days a week...YES. Just ask your wife or kids if you have any doubts...... I plan on having power and all of the things that means LONG after "the grid" goes down. It really isn't that hard. Modern electronics are very efficient and it's never been easier to put together a very basic solar or generator based personal alternative power solution. It DOES require a bit of thought and some cash outlay but even that doesn't have to be more than the price of an MBR. Once you have a couple of MBR's.....power looks damn inviting as a way to spend money. It just gives you so many options and options are good. Sorry but what is an MBR? |
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This thread is the reason I love SF. There is nowhere else that I have found a group of like-minded people willing to deal with the psychological aspects of SHFT/TEOTWAWKI. Most other forums - even the ones dedicated to survival - can not seem to get past the BOB threads, and the zombie fantasies. Threads like this signify a collective of matured minds. Bravo to all of you.
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The one thing that will make long term SHTF livable is my family. No kids of my own, but I love my Mom and sisters and their families. I think facing hardship will be much easier when I am facing it for them.
Maybe my penchant for gadgets will make their lives easier in some way for some period of time? Maybe even save their lives in some way? I can't imagine living with next to nothing without them, without a purpose. |
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Sorry but what is an MBR?
Main Battle Rifle. .......FAL, M1A, HK 91 etc....... Basically, for less than $1200 you can put together a hell of a solar or generator system is what I'm saying. No, you aren't going to be able to live like you are now but you will have computers, you will have a microwave, security lights, possibly a security camera system the ability to charge batteries etc......A HUGE advantage for a long time....Or at least as long as necessary. In my opinion there will be a steep die off. Some estimates by credible sources I have seen say that in a truly major SHTF that 90% of the people currently alive will be dead within a year. You make it through that and life gets alot easier in SOME ways....... |
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Probably like a lot of people, I bought a lot of very nice junk during the flush times. All of that stuff ends up owning you.
It is cool how in the internet age you can get a decent price for lightly used items on ebay or the EE. I have been selling some stuff, not so much for the money as the peace of mind of having less stuff to worry about. Other stuff I have been giving to my kids. I'd like to get to the point that I can fit everything I need and would really feel bad about losing in a pack, or at least in my truck. That is much more realistic now that you can put a lifetime's worth of photo albums, diaries, family records and letters on a thumb drive. "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." If the SHTF, get the family together with what you need and be prepared to leave the rest behind. |
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This thread is the reason I love SF. There is nowhere else that I have found a group of like-minded people willing to deal with the psychological aspects of SHFT/TEOTWAWKI. Most other forums - even the ones dedicated to survival - can not seem to get past the BOB threads, and the zombie fantasies. Threads like this signify a collective of matured minds. Bravo to all of you. I couldn't have said it better myself. |
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There is a concept about prepping so you don't notice the hard times. I play around with conserving electricity in some areas pretty hard and it adds up in the bank account slowly since I am not paying it to the electric company. While I would like to go off grid it won't happen this year, but some of the little projects I plan and mess with are things I use often and generally they lower the monthly bill but it is hard to say spending a few hundred bucks to save a few bucks a month on a bill will pay off so I I just consider it to be me messing around. I used to only have desktop computers and then I finally got a laptop and realized how nice and useful a laptop is during a power outage. Now I don't own a desktop, but I waited until the desktop was having issues to go get a laptop. A lot of threads about running stuff when the grid is down has people talking about how that is not survival oriented and what not, but I kind of want to be able to have the same things I use on a daily basis if the power is working or if the power is dead. Plus it makes car camping very entertaining. |
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Good points.
I have been thinking more and more (and talking to the wife as well) about the amount of "Stuff" that we have. And most of it was "stuff that we couldn't live without". Granted, at this point in time, I am looking at it more from the stand point of cutting the expense. But really, most of what we have, do we really need? I will shamably admit-"nope" didn't need half of it. Enjoy the heck out of it, but didn't need it. It has really hit home, raising our children, who are now teens. (AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!) Sorry, had to get that out. I truly feel that because I have "given them what I never had" they now feel entitled to whatever. I shutter to think what they would do if we had to bug out with only what we could put into the truck and there was not going to be any electricity. Bad enough that we went camping at a place that ran off a generator 4x a day. The wife and I had no issues with it. It was GREAT! But listening to the kids, you would have thought that they were going to die and the world was coming to an end. It's not that easy to get out from under the debt created by having stuff. Hopefully, the good Lord will help and show me how. Thanks for the rambling thoughts. (and you thought that you had rambling thoughts) 
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I think you are right on point. While I will admit I love to get involved with the EOTWAWKI discussions and all the BOB and MBR threads, they are some of the fun gadgets and fantasy aspect of prepping. (yes I have a BOB and an MBR, but that is because I plan for the worst, but hope for the best) Zombie threads can be very entertaining, and I will run with it once in a while. But that is not really why I prep. I want to go on with my life no matter what comes down the road, with as little fuss and muss as possible.
Right now I am doing a lot of research and education on alternative power. The biggest hole in my preps is sustained power over the long term. Have the gennie, but that requires fuel, and that limits it's usefulness. I would like to have a combination of wind and solar for the long run. I feel I could build and expand the system over time. I am also looking at making my home as energy efficient as possible, so my needs would be less. By working both ends of the problem at the same time, I think I could go grid free if required indefinitely. The point of the exercise is not so much cutting the shackles of the big power companies, but making it possible for me and mine to transition painlessly (without falling back into the 19th century) during any large or small SHTF situation. If nothing else, come retirement, my money will go that much further if I do not have to worry about electric bills. I think this is a natural progression in the development of the prepper. I think many of us got started out of an interest in the toys and gadgets. (well that, and fears over what has been going on in this country for a number of years) But over time the toys give way to more comprehensive and diverse preparations. Things like gardens and canning veggies. Those that can might start raising chickens or other live stock. One starts looking at alternative power, and learning diverse skills such as mechanics, welding, or plumbing. The progression is from a bunker down with your cases of freeze dried to living as full and diverse life as possible post SHTF. I am envious of those that have made the transition, and are so much farther along than I, but I am working on it, and I will get there given a little time and effort. There is nothing foolish or wasteful about spending a little time pondering how you would go about your daily life if the SHTF. It is a good way to brainstorm and pin point holes in your preps. One of the reasons I like ARFCOM is that I find so many really good ideas and projects posted by others. I have tucked away many for future eval, and others I have implemented almost as soon as I signed off after reading them. Good Post! stasiman |
| We had a huge yard sale today. We've been planning it for a while, with several ads on craigslist. We basically carved off all the useless crap we've accumulated over the years. We simply put our determination towards lightening our load. Tyler Durden was right: The stuff you own ends up owning you.We really all need to learn to live with less. Today we sold stuff that people gave to us for our wedding in 1977! Sometimes you have to realize that emotional attachments to gifts may not be anything more than the guilt of letting it go. So we ditched a lot of our old keepsakes and stuff we were holding onto for only God knows why. I made a lot of signs to get people here, because we live way out in the sticks. Between the CL ads and the good signage, we had a steady flow. We sold off all of our DVDs and even our old VHS tapes. I sold off all of the tools I inherited from my old man. I have plenty. I feel liberated, and we made $300 too! |
I've done the zen thing with no possessions, and I didn't much care for it. I'm more of a packrat. Sad thing is, every time I give in and throw something away, I find a use for it within a week. So I tend to keep odd bits of this and that.
This doesn't mean that I'd curl up in a little ball if I had to live without most of this stuff, it just means that I don't have to worry about it just yet. I figure if I own it outright and there's no upkeep costs, what the hell. But I guess I'm kind of a redneck at heart, and I tend to like cobbling things together. If I can find stray junk and put together a functioning item rather than shelling out hard earned cash for something prettier that does the same job to the same standard, I'm good 
Comes the day I have to shoulder a pack and a rifle and walk away, I'll shed a tear or two and motor on. I've done it before. |
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We have far tooo much stuff but very little of it without purpose.
Wifey and our daughter may have over 100 scented candles but they were 4 for a $1.oo in little glass cups at the food store bargain rack. I think we have about 3 to 4 packs or rucks for each of us but they were all priced right. I'm trying to work back to a balanced supply list after just buying the tacti-kool stuff (guns, mags, knives and ammo) for years. Fortunately most of the firearms were bought when a good deal arose not as impulse buys. Polar Fleece bag liners, wool blankets, Smart-Wool socks and poly pro base layers were last years Christmas items. Last year Wifey's father passed after a long illness and battle with Alzheimers, we had NO idea how quickly you go through cleaning products and wound care items for one member of the family. This year my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so a new threat/condition needed to be understood and managed. Fortunately we enjoy the challenge of adapting and the need for fiscal responsibility. Tomorrow, IKEA for a cheap lunch and a couple 100 bags of votive candles. |
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We have far tooo much stuff but very little of it without purpose. Wifey and our daughter may have over 100 scented candles but they were 4 for a $1.oo in little glass cups at the food store bargain rack. I think we have about 3 to 4 packs or rucks for each of us but they were all priced right. I'm trying to work back to a balanced supply list after just buying the tacti-kool stuff (guns, mags, knives and ammo) for years. Fortunately most of the firearms were bought when a good deal arose not as impulse buys. Polar Fleece bag liners, wool blankets, Smart-Wool socks and poly pro base layers were last years Christmas items. Last year Wifey's father passed after a long illness and battle with Alzheimers, we had NO idea how quickly you go through cleaning products and wound care items for one member of the family. This year my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so a new threat/condition needed to be understood and managed. Fortunately we enjoy the challenge of adapting and the need for fiscal responsibility. Tomorrow, IKEA for a cheap lunch and a couple 100 bags of votive candles. I don't consider survival stuff excess or fluff. There are things, maybe like the scented candles that could kind of be a treat during the monotony of prolonged SHTF, with working on the garden and basic survival chores. When your life turns into subsistence, nice things like that would really help to boost everyone's mood as well as cover some stinky ass smell coming from the man of the house who hasn't had a regular shower in weeks. 
I better invest in a few of those jar candles at walmart just for this reason. Just another good idea for a mood booster to make life a little sweeter. This and some good lighting and some reading or games in the evening could make things seem almost normal for a short time each day. |
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Sometimes you have to realize that emotional attachments to gifts may not be anything more than the guilt of letting it go. Wow. Here I thought I was the only one who felt like this. I inherited a bunch of "stuff" from my mother and grandmother, and while much of it is things that I would never purchase for myself, and has been boxed up taking up space in my closets for years, emotionally I'm having a hard time getting rid of a lot of it. Craigslist here I come... ETA: I don't particularly like scented candles so if I'm given any I usually regift them to folks who I know aren't preppers. That way I figure they'll at least have a candle or two around if the power goes out. |
| OP, thanks for starting this discussion. A lot of folks bringing up good points on simplification of life and avoiding accumulation of "things". I know how easy it is to get into the trap of buying too much, and I am reminded of this fact every time I'm transferred and have to move. I know a couple of folks that would get settled into a new place, and a few months later get around to the last few packed boxes––- and just get rid of them. The theory being if they hadn't needed whatever was in the moving box up until that point, they wouldn't miss those things when they were gone. |
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IKEA yielded assorted candles and 3 holders with handles for the 2" diameter ones that we found near the votive candles.
Sierra Trading sent us an online discount code so we are in Smart Wool heaven... this time it's the lightweight ankle length. I have my houseboy loading up some 44sps that will work in the Marlin 1895 and the S&W 696. While reading through this thread I started wondering when and if I would ever shoot competitive Bench Rest again. I could probably have $1,500 worth of preps in my bench gun and scope. I was addicted to Wildcat cartridges for years, leaning out a few of the oddballs will allow for more commonality in the arms dept and...a better generator. |
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I just realized that my hyper accurate 10/22's might actually serve the same purpose during SHTF as they do now, entertainment. Its a blast to get out with a few people and have some friendly off hand competition, and its good practice as well. Its a little thing, but some fun and relaxation will be a big deal.
Just another thought on how things I already have could serve to make life seem more like normal during a long term crisis. Things would definitely feel a little less spartan. I am pretty much going to keep 5,000 rounds of Wolf MT on hand for these rifles, so I don't consider it a waste of ammo. I have at least 15,000 rounds of other ammo for game getting. |
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Got to thinking about my wife's grandfather.
He lived in Northern Maine and hunted and fished quite a bit. Sadly...when he passed none of his guns were of interest to his son or daughter (wife's mom) so except for the Winny 22, they were sold. Savage 99 in 300 Savage Stevens break open 20ga Winchester pump 22. Browning Auto 5...gift from a client, Gramps was a master steam fitter. Not sure he ever read about belted magnums or what a disadvantage you're at without a scoped rifle...but they always had food on the table. Would help if I finished my point: I decided that I can do alot with a little less soooo I promise myself that I'm going concentrate on weeding and consolidating the arsenal and within minutes I'm looking to buy 2K of 44 mag and Spec. ammo...I really am hopeless. |
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Good post OP;I've been having some of the same thoughts.I don't have much but it isn't even close to true poverty.Compared to the rest of the world I live in luxury.I'm starting to get rid of things I don't really need and really evaluating what I need vs what I just want.It was hard at first, but it's getting easier.
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Got to thinking about my wife's grandfather. He lived in Northern Maine and hunted and fished quite a bit. Sadly...when he passed none of his guns were of interest to his son or daughter (wife's mom) so except for the Winny 22, they were sold. Savage 99 in 300 Savage Stevens break open 20ga Winchester pump 22. Browning Auto 5...gift from a client, Gramps was a master steam fitter. Not sure he ever read about belted magnums or what a disadvantage you're at without a scoped rifle...but they always had food on the table. Would help if I finished my point: I decided that I can do alot with a little less soooo I promise myself that I'm going concentrate on weeding and consolidating the arsenal and within minutes I'm looking to buy 2K of 44 mag and Spec. ammo...I really am hopeless. Agree with what you have to say but would not spending that money on reloading gear serve you better? Like the LED lantern loaded ammo will run out then what do you do? If your a reloader you load it up again! If your not your brass is a reloaders gold! |
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Nice post Bat, this will wander a little bit too. I had to think about this for a while. I've never been much of a gadget guy but understand what life would be like without them. To make a movie reference I feel like Neo in the Matrix living two lives. One is in computers where I live in the cutting edge high tech world of disaster recovery and another one where between consulting gigs I am at home unplugged and happy. My home is my bug in location and much of my preps revolve around getting home. It's just the two of us and we live pretty frugally now that we have recovered from a reckless youth. Yes I do loose sight of the poverty I grew up in yet if you would have asked me when I was growing up I would not have known it. I have a shop that would make any tool man envious to some degree but these days when I build furniture it is largely with the hand tools and the power tools silently waiting to be used. I could not tell you if it is a prepping thing or a longing for the growing distance of my youth and my roots. My wife has the garden and preserves well in hand and lives much more the way of her grandmother than her mother. We have spent a few years at garage sales picking up those old cast off gadgets from days gone by and using them as though they are are modern conveniences. Is my 125 year old antique National hand crank ice cream freezer a gadget? Probably but in a powerless summer it would be a magical device. (as long as there is still propane to make ice). Sure I have a 300w solar array over a couple of golf cart batteries that will charge my cell phone, netbook and run my LV LED lighting system in the house but frankly I have no problem lighting the oil lamps which I should comfortably have supplies for 30 years. I understand that it is far more brutal life, running thirty yards out to the pokey in a Wisconsin winter leaves little to be desired but am I going shirk away from it? Probably not.
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Nice post Bat, this will wander a little bit too. I had to think about this for a while. I've never been much of a gadget guy but understand what life would be like without them. To make a movie reference I feel like Neo in the Matrix living two lives. One is in computers where I live in the cutting edge high tech world of disaster recovery and another one where between consulting gigs I am at home unplugged and happy. My home is my bug in location and much of my preps revolve around getting home. It's just the two of us and we live pretty frugally now that we have recovered from a reckless youth. Yes I do loose sight of the poverty I grew up in yet if you would have asked me when I was growing up I would not have known it. I have a shop that would make any tool man envious to some degree but these days when I build furniture it is largely with the hand tools and the power tools silently waiting to be used. I could not tell you if it is a prepping thing or a longing for the growing distance of my youth and my roots. My wife has the garden and preserves well in hand and lives much more the way of her grandmother than her mother. We have spent a few years at garage sales picking up those old cast off gadgets from days gone by and using them as though they are are modern conveniences. Is my 125 year old antique National hand crank ice cream freezer a gadget? Probably but in a powerless summer it would be a magical device. (as long as there is still propane to make ice). Sure I have a 300w solar array over a couple of golf cart batteries that will charge my cell phone, netbook and run my LV LED lighting system in the house but frankly I have no problem lighting the oil lamps which I should comfortably have supplies for 30 years. I understand that it is far more brutal life, running thirty yards out to the pokey in a Wisconsin winter leaves little to be desired but am I going shirk away from it? Probably not. You really seem to catch the spirit of what I am thinking. Its not that gadgets are bad, or that we need to simplify the hell out of everything now. Its that our lives are going to simplify instantly weather we like it or not. Imagine, one day being surrounded by technology and the next day you are sitting amongst your former life and most of its worthless. If you planned ahead well, some of it might present you and your family with some basic comforts. Most of it will be absolute garbage. You might as well drag it outside to make room for useful stuff. Some of us have started simplifying ahead of time and are re learning how things used to be done. Those folks will not feel the impact as much as those of us who are not getting what we are preparing for. I don't feel the need to stop buying gadgets. I just know that's all they are. They can be brushed aside in an instant not of my choosing. Getting your head wrapped around what that really means is a big step to really prepping. |
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Got to thinking about my wife's grandfather. He lived in Northern Maine and hunted and fished quite a bit. Sadly...when he passed none of his guns were of interest to his son or daughter (wife's mom) so except for the Winny 22, they were sold. Savage 99 in 300 Savage Stevens break open 20ga Winchester pump 22. Browning Auto 5...gift from a client, Gramps was a master steam fitter. Not sure he ever read about belted magnums or what a disadvantage you're at without a scoped rifle...but they always had food on the table. Would help if I finished my point: I decided that I can do alot with a little less soooo I promise myself that I'm going concentrate on weeding and consolidating the arsenal and within minutes I'm looking to buy 2K of 44 mag and Spec. ammo...I really am hopeless. Agree with what you have to say but would not spending that money on reloading gear serve you better? Like the LED lantern loaded ammo will run out then what do you do? If your a reloader you load it up again! If your not your brass is a reloaders gold! We have the ability to reload about 25 standard and wildcat rifle calibers as well as 32H&R mag 38/357 44 mag and Spec. 45 Colt and 45ACP. There may be 9mm dies somewhere in the mix as well. |