defese reloads good or bad?

[Axis II]

I just started doing 9mm for target practice and when I carry a ccw or work gun I have factory ammo in it 100% of the time. my brother asked me if I can reload HP on my press and I said yes and he said so you can do say hornady HP bullets and I said yes and that was it.

what drawbacks does carrying reload personal defense ammo have? I know when I requalify for work every year they must list what brand, weight and charge we shoot. usually federal 115gr standard load is on the paperwork but I carry factory 147gr +p JHP when I'm working. I don't want to make reloads and give them to him and 1-not work because I goofed something up in reloading like not seating the primer deep enough, etc or 2-god forbid he needs to use them and then reloads opens a can of worms.

 

[GBExpat]

Quite frankly, I think that your best bet is to keep carrying factory loads in your ccw and work gun.

If you can workup some loads that approximate those factory loads, use them for practice.

FWIW ...

 

[Axis II]

I will continue to carry factory but my brother inquired about me making him HP ammo. I just figured it would be playing with fire if he had to use it either not working which is my main concern or oh you shot this guy with reloaded ammo....

 

[BigBore45]

Reloading is cheaper than factory. Some ammo is hard to come by. How can they fight facts. Show them the cost per round of loading your own ammo vs. premium self defense rounds and there is your valid argument on having reloads. I have reloads in all my carry guns. I do live in rural Kansas so im not worried at all.

 

[Reefinmike]

I have had two failures involving premium $1 per round factory stuff out of maybe 100 rounds total. One had no primer compound in the primer, the other had two anvils preventing ignition and tying up a revolver with a mashed out primer. I haven't had any issue with my reloads. Ones intended for carry I pay extra attention to making sure the primer is in good order and powder charge extremely consistent. Im the only one I trust to load my ammo.

 

[RX-79G]

I reload and like odd guns and all that. For carry, I don't see the argument for other than a boringly reliable stock pistol loaded with big brand defense ammo. No aftermarket trigger parts, no frangible rounds, no tuned 1911s, no aftermarket mags, no reloads, no boutique loaded ammo.

If you want to least issues and the best terminal performance, load an HK with Speer Gold Dots.


I do not understand the money argument. Spend $20-40 on a box or two of quality SD ammo and carry it for the next five years.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I usually carry factory stuff, but my handloads stand in on the occasions that I shoot it all up. In the future, I don't know, I might just stick with my own. Like most things, the only way to know it's done right is to do it yourself.

Don't listen too much to what people preach about carrying handloads. It is just about all speculation. Make your own decisions. Be happy.

 

[Shaq]

The problem with using reloads for defensive purposes is not reliability - it's a legal issue. Even worse if your friend uses your reloads in a defensive situation.

 

[CZ9shooter]

And here we go... speculation.

 

[Frank Ettin]

The legal issues have been discussed ad nauseum, and there is no reason to once again trample that well trod territory.

If you're interested in the topic, see this Sticky: Carrying Handloads for Self Defense.