[ready4shtf]

I picked up a 9mm pistol yesteday and the guy threw in 1,300 rnds of mixed reloads. Most were brass cased with greenish bullets. I poured them from one can to the other and while watching, I caught about a dozen "midgets" that had the bullet pushed too far into the case. Should I toss them?

[redneck2]

If you have to ask, you already answered your own question.

Are your hands or gun worth more than the ammo?

[bakert]

ready4shtf, I know I would toss them. You've already found some that could be dangerous and I just won't shoot other people's handloads. In fact I'm always a bit leery of what are supposed to be "factory" loads from someone I don't know well. Some people might try to pull them down to save the component brass and bullets but those little 9MMs are a b---- to pull down and I question any savings. JMO.
Baker

[Nortonics]

I'd say so. Out of all the calibers I reload, I don't fool around with too deeply seated 9mm cartridges as I understand there can be a steep pressure point encountered if the projectiles get pushed back too far into the case (with the higher pressure 9mm loads). I've read this in numerous articles, but never experienced the issue myself. I hear .40 cal can create similar issues. But I've also read that the people that used to have these problems back when 9mm was real popular were the ones who were handloading on the fine line of trying to squeak out as much velocity or foot pounds of power as possible.

If it's just a handful of cartridges, I'd axe 'em just to be on the safe side...

[ready4shtf]

Toss just the funky ones? Or all 1,300 rnds? I prob wont shoot them out of my Glock or AR, just this cheapo Cobray they came with.

[steveno]

I would get rid of ALL of them. find a safe place and burn them

[WayneConrad]

I wouldn't shoot someone else's handloads, no matter what they look like, unless I trust them with my life. Or at least with my fingers and eyes.

It's not all that hard to make a little pipe bomb when making ammo... using the wrong powder, or too much of the right powder is all it takes.

I might consider disassembling them and using the pieces. A hand loader might like to have the bullets, if they can be used. Maybe even the primed brass, if it looks good. The powder must be discarded.

[ready4shtf]

Wow, that really stinks. I hate to waste all that ammo, but I DO agree with you guys. I dont reload ammo, so I wouldent have any use for the components. If it makes it any better, they were in the same bags and labeled like they were bought at the "Bob the Reloader" table at the gun show. So they might be semi professional.

[ready4shtf]

Better yet, I will stick them in an ammo can and burry them and save them for SHTF "Trading Chips" :)

[leadcounsel]

I have a similar dilemma.

I bought a pistol and the owner threw in 100 handloads, and I bought another 100 from him.

I had a kaboom that blew debree into my face and the mag out of the bottom of the gun.

I was not injured, but thankfully wearing glasses.

Later, the gun malfunctioned and froze up completely, possibly due to the kaboom.

I did take it apart and managed to get the gun functioning again at the range.

I spoke with the seller and he also had a kaboom with his reloads!

I fixed the gun but now deciding:

1) Whether to take it to a gunsmith to have him examine it;
2) What to do with the 50 or 100 rounds I have;

I think I'll end up coughing up the money to have the gun examined. Although it appears fine, I should just be certain.

As far as the ammo, I can either shoot it, give it back to the seller (possibly ask for my money back on those reloads), or keep it for a much more desperate time (like a barter item in a TEOTW scenario).

Bottom line, we're talking probably a $20 loss on the ammo. No big deal and not worth injury or real damage to the gun.

[leadcounsel]

Maybe you can shrink wrap the ammo or at least zip lock them or something before you bury them.

Use non-degradable clean plastic jugs like laundry soap jugs. These are free and durable and will last 50 years, and are probably very close to air tight.

[ready4shtf]

Yeah, like I said, I will put them in an ammo can

[WayneConrad]

If they're not safe to fire now, what will make them safe to fire after being buried in an ammo can for some time?

[ready4shtf]

I dont plan on EVER firing them. I plan on trading them for stuff when people REALLY need ammo.

[taliv]

get rid of all of them. destroy them. don't even think about passing along to some poor schmuck something you have just admitted to knowing is extremely hazardous on a public forum.

ask the seller if they have the license required to manufacture and sell reloaded ammo.
ask ask the seller if they are bonded and prepared to deal with the liability of the kabooms.

and both of you should have your heads examined for even considering shooting someone else's reloads, much less actually pulling the trigger. holy crap guys.

[deciple-of-keith]

Put them in Plastic jugs that can be sealed & then fill the jugs with Brake fluid this over a short amount of time renders them useless & safe & dispose of them ! Experiance is something you get 5mins after you needed it! You've had the Brains to ask before you made the mistake of fireing any of this crap ! Yes it's embarresing when we make a mistake of buying something that turns out to be dangerous ! But I like to think of it as being a learning curve! Just cut your loses ,& the next time your at a show if you see anyone bout to buy stuff off of Bubba incorperated just have a quiet word in their ear ,about how you got caught ! Also warn your freinds about this sort of thing !


Dave

[unloaded]

By "greenish bullets" you mean tarnished copper? If so I'd be willing to buy them from you for cheap. I'd break them down and use the parts to feed a buddies machine gun. If the bullets are lead I wouldn't be interested. PM me if you are interested.

peace.
unloaded

[FJC]

Another option is to get a bullet puller, and pull them. Toss the powder (who knows what it is). Save the primed brass. Toss the bullets unless they look good, if so then weigh them to make sure you know what they are before using.

1300 is a lot of pulling, though...

[huntershooter]

Shooting someone elses handloads is like borrowing their toothbrush. In a desperate situation I might do it if it looked well cared for/maintained and I knew the individual well. The circumstances would have to be extreme however. Dump the ammo.

[enfield]

That's why I don't buy reloads. There were some really good prices on reloads at the last gun auction I went to, but I waited for the good stuff to be trotted out. The price wasn't that much different, but the peace of mind was.

I'd donate a case of auction reloads to Bill Clinton if I thought he'd use them. :neener:

[Steve C]

There's no reason to destroy the reloads. You can dissasemble the rounds and use the components. While this isn't as economically rewarding in 9mm being that factory rounds are so inexpensive, it is better than just throwing them away.

[TenRing]

ready4shtf and leadcounsel;
Why on earth would you even consider using someone else's reloads at all? Even if you watched those people making them the risk is not worth it! The Navy seals have a saying: "You're not a REAL Seal 'till you eat Italian steel". And that is with factory/military rounds! Ask yourself if you really want to eat or permanently wear parts of your nice guns?

[ready4shtf]

Well, they did come in for free as a package deal. Any I did say that I wasnt going to put them in my nice 9mm weapons, just the Cobray M11/9 I have, with is a sheet metal POS.;)

And the slides blowing off the original 92 Beretta's was ALSO(and I believe mostly) due to the French supplying the Italians with crappy grade metal.

[temmi]

You can pull them and use the brass... may be more time than its worth, I would not shoot them.

[BluesBear]

In fact, it is against federal law to sell ammunition MANUFACTURED by anyone other than those federally licensed to do so.
That would be class #06, #07 & #10 FFL.

I don't buy unknown ammo.

[DIXIEKIMBER]

9mm factory loads are cheap enough that you don't have to endanger yourself with someone elses questionable handloads. Around here you can go to Wally World and buy 100rnds for about $10 and have peace of mind.;)

[HankB]

I don't shoot other people's reloads.

I don't give or sell other people MY handloads.

I don't buy or shoot gun show reloads.

Too much downside, not much upside . . . especially in cartridges like 9mm P, which are CHEAP when loaded by the factory.

[deadin]

I haven't wasted my time reading all of the responses to your question because there is only one answer concerning unknown reloads. DO NOT USE!!!
Either break them down, dump the powder and use the other components or dispose of them. Personally, I won't even use a reload from my best friend in any of my guns. If I didn't load it, I won't shoot it.

Dean

[OldSchooler]

I dont plan on EVER firing them. I plan on trading them for stuff when people REALLY need ammo.

Okay, let me see if I got this right.
Youre going to hoard them until SHTF Day. Then you will use what is already POS ammo as trade tokens for people who are, shall we say, distraught enough as it is? Distraught, armed people?

Providing your trade partners survive:

A. The ammo itself, or,
B A dangerous encounter wherein they actually use the POS ammo,

You will not have done much to endear your "customer" to you, who is now a very disgruntled individual that likely wants a "refund" - with no LE and no small claims court to muddy the proceedings. Should this turn of events result in your own personal SHTF Day, you could possibly stand the worse for it.

I'd call that poor business practice and piss-poor planning. Just because it's SHTF Day, doesnt mean you should turn jackal.

You got the stuff for nothing. You're out nothing. Dispose of it or recycle it.

Here's an idea. Take the stuff on your next campout, have a few drinks and then toss the ammo into your campfire, one handful at a time. Great fun and excellent training if your personal SHTF Day ever comes.

[jjohnson]

Yeah...... I HATE to waste ammo, too, but come on, 9mm is cheap. It's not like pitching even 7.5 Swiss or something worth pulling bullets on so you can recycle the brass. Somebody else's unknown ammo is potentially problematic to start with, and if it's visibly wrong, don't go any further. I like the idea of using the brake fluid to kill it. There's just too many down sides to the equation to make any idea outside of properly disposing of it make any sense.

[Tidewater Tom]

Lifes to short...toss em. It's 9mm!