Be careful buying ammo and components from private parties.

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SunnySlopes

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I'm seeing a lot of sketchy ads from private parties for ammo and reloading components. Selling powder out of old, already opened containers, for example. On our local forum, one guy was simply dumping part of his container of powder into the buyer's container. He assured that the powder was good because to him, it smelled ok. And the buyer really has no idea what he's getting.

And on another local website, I'm seeing ads for loaded ammo where there are mixed headstamps and wouldn't be surprised if some yoyo was selling his own reloads to try to turn a buck. That's not only illegal, it's dangerous.

One private party ad has a guy selling 223 ammo dumped in a pile on the floor with his thumbs up in the picture. And it's a poor quality picture as well.

I won't buy/trade/acquire ammo or components from private parties for that reason. I'm sure 90% of the time the transaction is secure/legit/trustworthy, but for me, it's just not worth the risk.

Just be careful out there.
 
When buying "used" components for reloading, caution is always advisable, good times or bad, but I suspect you are correct, a little extra caution is likely advisable right now.
 
I learned that lesson the hard way . Bought a significant quantity of .38 sp from a retired guy that was getting out of reloading and competition , cleaning house.
It cost me a cylinder of a Highway Patrolman. (Think about that for a minute - a .38 special round hot enough to stretch an N frame cylinder ...!)
 
Also, a lot of scam websites going around too. When in doubt, look at the bottom of the website and see when it was established.
 
Waveski said:
I learned that lesson the hard way .
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As did I. Just, not as hard as you did, apparently.

Years ago when I first started shooting, I was a teenager and patronized a mom and pop store in my home town. He had a jar of 357 reloads and I bought a dozen or so. Two of them resulted in hangfires. A sizzle. Then nothing. Then they went off.

I knew nothing about hangfires and it was just dumb luck I didn't immediately open the cylinder to see what was wrong.

That taught me to never shoot somebody else's reloads. I won't even buy boxed ammo from a private party. It's not worth the risk.
 
I've never shot a reload / handload, no matter what the price. I am sure some of you sharp guys can build a cartridge just as good as a factory, but no thanks.
 
Usonia3 said:
I've never shot a reload / handload, no matter what the price.
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As I said , I learned the hard way , but have not gone to the "never shoot reloads" extreme.
I have an trustworthy acquaintance who reloads. I am familiar with his "product" , as are several other folks I know and trust. This fellow had the foresight to stock up when the time was right.

Together we are riding this out.
 
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You should always check what your buying. To say you will never buy “ pre-owned” component is foolish. I’ve been to estate and garage sales where I’ve made out like a bandit on people just wanting to get rid of things taking up space. Currently working though all these 12g wads I got for $1 per bag ($12 retail)and the lead shot I got a $10 a bag($45ish retail) back in 2019.

Im more than happy to shoot reloads that were produced by SOME friends of mine. The caveat being that I only shoot them in THIER guns that they used to develop those loads. They seem happy to shoot my reloads but again I only load them in my guns.
 
Buying unsealed gunpowder - from a total stranger - is far riskier than buying a converted Saiga rifle from an unknown, Amateur builder.

I’m surprised that gun shows don’t require a signed liability waiver to buy //,unsealed // powder, or any ammo labeled “Reloads”.
 
I was gifted a reloading bonanza a few years ago by a guy who couldn't sell it all, and had to leave the state that night for a new job. Powder, primers, lead, tools, bullets, you name it, boxes and boxes of stuff. Gave a LOT away to fellow local reloaders...if I had hung ON to some of that I would have a lot of barter materiel left, but I made some people happy at the time. Heck I still have some lead left over, and one really happy find was a pristine 5050 scale still in the box, as I had very foolishly given mine away some years ago. Much of the powder was in original containers and some open, some not. I did the sniff/visual test, and went for it. Every bit worked perfectly...except for the one jug I haven't had the guts to try just yet. One 5 pound jug labeled Win 748 has a sticky label on the front reading "Red Dot"...given what everything ELSE this guy did that was very careful and meticulous about, I am willing to bet about 90% it is exactly what the sticky label says, but I haven't run out of every single other powder that covers that slot yet...
 
armoredman said:
I was gifted a reloading bonanza a few years ago by a guy who couldn't sell it all, and had to leave the state that night for a new job. Powder, primers, lead, tools, bullets, you name it, boxes and boxes of stuff. Gave a LOT away to fellow local reloaders...if I had hung ON to some of that I would have a lot of barter materiel left, but I made some people happy at the time. Heck I still have some lead left over, and one really happy find was a pristine 5050 scale still in the box, as I had very foolishly given mine away some years ago. Much of the powder was in original containers and some open, some not. I did the sniff/visual test, and went for it. Every bit worked perfectly...except for the one jug I haven't had the guts to try just yet. One 5 pound jug labeled Win 748 has a sticky label on the front reading "Red Dot"...given what everything ELSE this guy did that was very careful and meticulous about, I am willing to bet about 90% it is exactly what the sticky label says, but I haven't run out of every single other powder that covers that slot yet...
Click to expand...
As long as there are red flakes in that powder based on what you said about the rest , I personaly wouldn't have a problem
 
I tried several times to trade some powder for primers the past couple of months. The powder is all new sealed containers, bought in the past 3 months. Every time I had someone on the line and asked how old their primers they are trading are, the conversation stopped. That says all I need to know. Point is I was trying to trade fresh powder stock for fresh primer stock, but it seemed like most people just want to take advantage and trade out their old stock sitting on the shelf for years. I gave up and will not try to trade those components anymore. It's just not worth the headache and the possibility of dealing with a dishonest BSer. You really never know what you're getting when dealing with others.
 
TheBruce said:
Every time I had someone on the line and asked how old their primers they are trading are, the conversation stopped. That says all I need to know.
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That's too bad. You ask me a question I'll give you an answer, even if it's not necessarily what you want to hear. I have to look at myself in the mirror every day, trying to get over on someone with questionable powder or primers is a pretty bad deal.

I've traded some stuff recently, and I've sold some stuff, too... all on the up-and-up. I've actually found most of the people I've dealt with to be pretty solid fellows... but there is always one in the crowd...
 
Not just private parties either. I bought a box of Win Whitebox ammo recently from a well-known local store, privately owned. Contained mixed headstamps and includind some swaged military crimp brass. I took it back and in spite of their "no ammo returns for any reason" signs, they were anxious to issue a refund and shoo me out of the store. Very suspicious.
 
wst38tx said:
Not just private parties either. I bought a box of Win Whitebox ammo recently from a well-known local store, privately owned. Contained mixed headstamps and includind some swaged military crimp brass. I took it back and in spite of their "no ammo returns for any reason" signs, they were anxious to issue a refund and shoo me out of the store. Very suspicious.
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That's scary. Local shop probably bought from an individual in order to have ammo on the shelf, or they are actually shady themselves and selling their reloads thinking no one would notice.
 
TheBruce said:
I tried several times to trade some powder for primers the past couple of months. The powder is all new sealed containers, bought in the past 3 months. Every time I had someone on the line and asked how old their primers they are trading are, the conversation stopped. That says all I need to know. Point is I was trying to trade fresh powder stock for fresh primer stock, but it seemed like most people just want to take advantage and trade out their old stock sitting on the shelf for years. I gave up and will not try to trade those components anymore. It's just not worth the headache and the possibility of dealing with a dishonest BSer. You really never know what you're getting when dealing with others.
Click to expand...

You realize that unless those primers are contaminated with oil or urine they will work no matter how old right?
 
Usonia3 said:
I've never shot a reload / handload, no matter what the price. I am sure some of you sharp guys can build a cartridge just as good as a factory, but no thanks.
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Winchester had a recall not that long ago and IIRC, it was because of double charged 38 Special white box target ammo.

If you can follow a recipe and methodically assemble parts, reloading can be perfectly safe. The guy reloading while drinking beer, watching TV or arguing with his wife, is asking for trouble.
 
Buyer beware, is a good mantra to rattle around in you head when buying all sorts of used or as sellers prefer to refer to them. “pre owned” items.

I’d throw used race engines in the same boat as buying powder from an open container. Even if it’s not so cheap you know they know it’s no good, that doesn’t mean it is what they say and it’s not going to blow up on you.
 
J.D.R said:
You realize that unless those primers are contaminated with oil or urine they will work no matter how old right?
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Shh! Don't spread that around too much or you'll drive up the last remaining deals on primers.

TheBruce said:
. Every time I had someone on the line and asked how old their primers they are trading are, the conversation stopped
Click to expand...

To each his own.

primers.jpg

These primers chronograph right alongside the new style flat bottom primers.
The FA Arsenal primers are corrosive, but I like the way they look in re-loaded '06 ammo for my '03 Springfield.
JT
 
1933 wow!
You mind showing a pic of the primers to show the difference to the new ones.
 
I think of “not shooting another’s hand loaded ammo”every time I take my wife. grand daughter, sons and daughter in laws or friends to the range. The only thing they shoot that I haven’t hand-loaded is 5.56.
Prudence would dictate that I stock only factory Ammo for those outings I suppose.
 
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