FearSheeple

My grandfather, and father used to reload many moons ago...Since my grandfather passed away about 10 years ago my dad has not reloaded at all. We kept almost all of my grandfathers reloading equipment, and I just came across all of it today since I'm considering getting into reloading.

He has probably 10 different die sets for many different calibers, .38, .357, 30-30, .30-06, .300 winchester, and a few others I haven't even heard of (some awesome looking .22 caliber casing that's about as big as a .300 winchester!)

It's a single stage RCBS press (my guess would be it was purchased in the early 1970's), with all RCBS dies, powder measure, and many other parts (scale etc) Basically everything I'd need to start reloading except primers and bullets (lots of .300 bullets)

Is the old RCBS powder measure system going to be sufficient? Or would I be safer getting something new?

I have not looked into RCBS presses (new) much at all, mostly dillon, lee, and hornady. Will any dies work on this old RCBS press? I'm interested in reloading .40 S&W to start, since that is/will be my EDC weapon I want to practice as much as possible with it.

All of the RCBS dies are 2 or 3 die sets, I guess I'm used to seeing 4 die sets with the progressives...is that because the progressive die sets have their own powder measure?

I know progressive dies use a shell plate. I didn't investigate thoroughly but are the single stage's supposed to have a shell plate as well? I didn't see one but then again I don't know exactly what I"m looking for.

ETA: I forgot to mention...there is also a 4lb 'keg' of powder. What're the chances that this is still good? It's probably from the 80's, it has no date on it that I could see, it's sealed like new, but it's a cardboard cylinder not plastic or glass. it's been stored in a dry basement, are there ways to test it? or just throw it out(how do you dispose of powder...other than the fun ways :))