Do you still buy factory ammo?

[Hamish]

I'll buy rimfire, and shotgun shells when I need them.

My carry/SD ammo is also factory, but I haven't purchased any for that purpose in a long time. I just rotate the ammo into a new magazine every few months, and shoot hand loads at the range.

The only time I've purchased factory ammo for any other purpose in recent history was to participate in classes that specifically required frangible ammo on their pistol range. In this case I'd rather buy it instead of working up a new load.

 

[jenrob]

Probably average a box a year. And usually that is buying 5 boxes at a time. Got a new 243 a while back and it was cheaper for me to buy 5 boxes of Hornady factory loads in 5 different bullets. This gives me a chance to try out different bullets without buying 100 bullets and only using a few out of the box. Then I have 100 rounds of Hornady brass. It is cheaper doing it that way. I'll buy a few boxes for a new carry gun just to insure reliability with said ammo, but for a pistol that is going to do mostly range. I haven't bought any factory ammo. Once I find a load for a rifle I'll never buy factory ammo for it either.

 

[CraigC]

The D.A. will say something like, "Ladies & gentlemen of the jury: The defendant was not satisfied with the lethality of regular factory ammunition used by police officers; he wanted to participate in the making of his own, home-brewed ammo to increase the amount of injury to his poor, helpless victim."

Hey, that's an interesting theory! Has it ever actually happened???

No.

 

[smitty1942]

I look at this way. I bought factory ammunition for all of my self-defense weapons. But as far as practice ammunition I use reloads and really don't care if I could purchase ammunition from a non-store source for less than what it cost me to reload. To me reloading is a hobby I enjoy, and we all know that when it comes to hobbies, price is not the deciding factor.

 

[Walkalong]

How did this change from do you buy factory ammo to a legal question concerning using reloads to protect yourself? That is a tired old argument.

 

[mokin]

I frequently buy factory rifle ammunition for the brass.

 

[horsemen61]

Yes I still buy factory ammo if I see a good deal or if I'm going shooting with a new gun

 

[Hangingrock]

I have a certain amount of commercial ammunition which I believe is a prudent option to supplement my reloading components.

 

[Reefinmike]

I know this isnt what my thread was about, but I'm glad you mentioned it. I keep seeing this over and over and over. What's the logic behind this statement? How would anyone even know its a handload once its already spent? I know people, including some cop friends, that couldnt walk into my loading room and tell me the difference in my stuff and the factory stuff laying around. How and the world would they figure it out once the bullet and powder are gone and the primer is burnt on the inside?

any remaining ammunition will certainly be recovered by police and it would be pretty easy to tell from there. any expended casings with primers and recovered bullets would also be easy to rule as a reloads if things dont match up.

 

[snuffy]

What would your answer be if you're asked, "Why wouldn't you use regular factory ammunition that police use? You can do more research on this subject by asking experts in that field - like Massad Ayoob.

Then it should be on you to find out what your local cops are using in their duty handguns. Then use the same bullets in your carry weapon. Now I'm no dumb john q. public that calls all ammo bullets, I mean if you can get the exact bullet they use for your handloads. Yes, it can be done. But why go to all that bother when/IF you can find the exact stuff the cops are carrying.

I now have the privilege/right to carry concealed. At first I most times forgot to grab my LC-9, now it's on me where ever I go. I sincerely hope I never have to shoot another human being. But I will defend myself, and I will use commonly available self defense 9mm ammo, currently that's some zombie Hornady hollow points.

 

[GBExpat]

... But I will defend myself, and I will use commonly available self defense 9mm ammo, currently that's some zombie Hornady hollow points.

With the added benefit that if you have to shoot a zombie and are subsequently charged/sued you can point out in court that you were using PC ammunition.

Sorry ... couldn't resist.

 

[buck460XVR]

The D.A. will say something like, "Ladies & gentlemen of the jury: The defendant was not satisfied with the lethality of regular factory ammunition used by police officers; he wanted to participate in the making of his own, home-brewed ammo to increase the amount of injury to his poor, helpless victim."

Someone has been watching way too much "Law and Order" on T.V.

BTW.....My lawyer could make the statement.."ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, my client used the same ammo to stop his assailant, in order to save his life, as he lets his 9 yr old Grand-daughter shoot water balloons at the range with".

Folks need to get real, pull the tin-foil hat off their head and quit listening to folks that get paid by ammo companies about what "proper" ammo to use.

 

[ljnowell]

How did this change from do you buy factory ammo to a legal question concerning using reloads to protect yourself? That is a tired old argument.

Because every time this comes up the anti-handload zealots burn it to the ground with absolutely no proof to back it up.

Happens every single time. I won't even participate in it anymore because there will be no reasonable discussion.

 

[buck460XVR]

How did this change from do you buy factory ammo to a legal question concerning using reloads to protect yourself? That is a tired old argument.

Yeah, and now I regret getting sucked into it. AGAIN!:banghead:

 

[Gun Master]

To Get Back On Track

Re: OP - "Yes."

 

[Davenj8]

cheap 9mm and 45 acp I absolutely do buy for plinking. higher end stuff for the same calibers maybe a box or 2 to go with a handloaded premium stockpile. Rifle ammo I very rarely purchase

 

[bob4]

I don't shoot near as much as others but no! Since I've started reloading I haven't bought a box of ammo in 4+yrs. Opps I have bought a few boxes of .22. Oh well .

 

[gonoles_1980]

I buy it for self defense, use it at the range. I buy 38 +P hollow points for my 357 carry, and get 9mm hollow points for my wife's 9mm, will do the same for her 380. It's just easier.

 

[SARuger]

All my self defense ammo, .380(I only have one and its a BUG so it doesn't get shot much), rimfire of course, and 20g shotgun ammo, is still store bought.

If I see a good deal on something I like to shoot, I will get it just for the future brass.

 

[drband]

SD ammo & .22lr only.

 

[Bama Drifter]

My Glock likes Russian stuff...

I shoot Brown Bear, Tula, et al "dirty Russkie" ammo exclusively through my Glock 19. The brass 9mm, .380, and .40 cases I pick up at range get traded for credit at my local reloading supplier.

Also rimfire, shotgun, and SD pistol ammo are all factory produced. Whereas my .45ACP, all revolver calibers, and centerfire rifle calibers are reloads. Still have a 500rd pack of S&B .45ACP that I haven't broken the seal on. Saving it till I lose a whole lot of brass.

 

[horseman1]

I really try to avoid buying factory rounds these days. I enjoy reloading and mainly the quest of finding/making better ammunition and the learning process. However, I don't yet load everything, so I do have to buy some types of ammo. If I did buy some that I reload for, I'd probably shoot it up pretty quickly so I could get to more important work on that brass for the next round of load development. Sick, I know.....

 

[IWAC]

Yes! One of Massad Ayoob's cautionary points is if you ever have to shoot someone, it may be to your advantage to use factory ammo, and have a round or three for testing.
I guess to "prove" you didn't make up or buy special "man-killer" loads.

 

[ljnowell]

Yes! One of Massad Ayoob's cautionary points is if you ever have to shoot someone, it may be to your advantage to use factory ammo, and have a round or three for testing.

I guess to "prove" you didn't make up or buy special "man-killer" loads.

Here we go again Walkalong!

 

[Duvel]

What's factory ammo?