Carry Ammo - Handloads / Reloads, yes or no ?

45Carrier · Post by **45Carrier** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:57 pm

Hi all,

While waiting the zillion light years it takes for my application to get approved, I'm trying to learn a little more about some of the right things to do (or not do).

I am an avid reloader, have been doing so for over 30 years and have loads worked up for every single gun I own. Not to be too full of myself here, but the truth is my reloads shoot better in my guns than any off the shelf ammo I have ever found, premium, budget, surplus or otherwise.

I've read a lot of hype over the years about reloads, some of which may be true, because the fact is, some people shouldn't reload.

This being said, I have 100% confidence in my handloads (in the gun they were developed for ) and can buy premium bullets to load with. Gold Dots, XTP's, Sierra's just about all of them.

The question I pose for discussion is; are there any *sound* reasons not to carry a handload for self defense ? I'm not talking about internet armchair lawyer 'I heard' stuff. I *am* looking for citable, verifiable information to support or oppose the idea from a rational point of view.

I've sent well over 400k handloads/reloads down range in my lifetime, never experienced a squib, a failure to fire or anything even remotely construed as an ammunition problem. I am a conservative, cautious reloader and certainly don't have any intention of creating 'lung cutter du jour' to impress myself or anyone else.

Please post your opinion so that everyone may comment or discuss, and please vote in the poll.

Thanks to all ;)

45Carrier

Crash · Post by **Crash** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:57 am

45 Carrier,

I'm certainly no expert on this subject, but I do know one thing for a fact: some lawyers will do anything to win their case, including telling lies based on information obtained illegally (I was on the jury in this case). So it wouldn't surpise me if some unethical lawyer would try to influence a jury by telling them that you created handloads with evil purposes in mind.

Crash

frankie_the_yankee · Post by **frankie_the_yankee** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:58 am

Ayoob has documented cases where using reloads/handloads hurt the shooter. Of course, like most such things, this will hurt you less in TX than in most other places.

But I see no point to using handloads myself. I think that today's factory ammo is more uniform and will function more reliably than almost any handload.

In a semi-auto that is important. Even in a revolver, I have had the occassional high primer lock up a gun when using handloads. This never happens with factory ammo.

Liberty · Post by **Liberty** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:02 am

I am not a reloader, I'm not even a lawyer

I agree that legally it will probably never be an issue in Texas. If you want to be super cautious you could be prepared to show that your defencive were simular to those loads used by civilian police agencys.

My concern would be about expansion The ballistics are reasonably understood, but I as a nonreloader don't understand how well tested and understood the expansion characteristics of different loaded cartridges.

AEA · Post by **AEA** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:29 am

A good shoot with factory ammo will set you free!

Liberty · Post by **Liberty** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:45 am

Liberty wrote:I am not a reloader, I'm not even a lawyer

I agree that legally it will probably never be an issue in Texas. If you want to be super cautious you could be prepared to show that your defencive were simular to those loads used by civilian police agencys.

My concern would be about expansion The ballistics are reasonably understood, but I as a nonreloader don't understand how well tested and understood the expansion characteristics of different loaded cartridges. Will they expnd as expexted and are you sure?

nuparadigm · Post by **nuparadigm** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:53 am

Liberty wrote: ....I'm not even a lawyer ....

I agree that legally it will probably never be an issue in Texas. ....

Photoman · Post by **Photoman** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:00 am

The legal abuse after a shooting is difficult enough. Spend the extra $1.29 for cryin' out loud.

HighVelocity · Post by **HighVelocity** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:39 am

Besides the legal questions, here's something to consider...

Being a reloader myself, I can say with a good level of certainty that no matter how careful and methodical I am about my handloads, I am much more likely to make a round that would fail on occassion than a major producer of defensive ammo would be.

That said, I might be able to create, with extensive research, a defensive load that would work "as good" as the top factory loads, but why??? I have a family and a life. The couple of dollars I would save on ammo would not nearly offset the amount of time I'd have to put into developing it.

Handloads for practice, yes.
Handloads for hunting, yes.
Handloads for self defense, no.

My .25Â¢

phddan · Post by **phddan** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:23 am

Doesn't bother me a bit to carry reloads.

Dan

jazr45acp · Post by **jazr45acp** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:06 am

Being that I've had factory rounds not go off more than once before, my reloads are the only thing I carry now. I've reloaded thousands and thousands of 45acp, 357mag, 38spl(+p), 30/30 with no, I repeat no failure to fire rounds. My life and those of my family are worth knowing that when I pull the trigger, the smoke wagon will smoke. I vote yes. However, much testing is required to obtain a reliable load and by no means create a round that exceeds factory specs. It's just my thought on the subject. Later

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:27 am

If it go bang...

Steve very happy...

On a serious note...(Yeah right)

I can't seem to recall anything in the penal code, or law for that matter that describes what kinds of ammunition you can and cannot use in this state...Maybe in some hunting regulations, but not in regards to self-defense issues...

Personally, when and if I get into reloading, I would probably have my usual carry loadout with some reloads I meticulously created for that purpose...

They would not be some super-duper heavy loaded +P+P+P+P+P+ rediculous things...But ones that would do well in any situation...

Just my opinion...

jazr45acp · Post by **jazr45acp** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:22 am

Steve, you're correct on the penal code and/or laws of TEXAS regarding reloads for SD. I've spoken to several criminal defense liars.. oops, I mean, lawyers that reload and carry them for the same reason I do. I have full faith in mine, but not in factor since I've had several that didn't go bang.

Later.

chewy555 · Post by **chewy555** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:40 am

I only carry factory rounds. It might because I do not reload as of yet. But I think that I will still carry factory rounds. I have read may places that say that you should only carry factory for one reason or another.

jbirds1210 · Post by **jbirds1210** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:24 pm

I use handloads for practice and proven factory rounds to bet my life on.

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Carry Ammo - Handloads / Reloads, yes or no ?

Reloads or Handloads for carry ammo ?

Carry Ammo - Handloads / Reloads, yes or no ?