Handloading Ammo for members of a hunting Club

[JoelSteinbach]

I have been handloading for many years, I have always been meticulous in my loading procedures. I have been asked by a few members of a hunting club, to handload custom rounds for them. I would be willing and would enjoy the opportunity since I am retired with too much free time. My question is what is my liabilaty, in case of a problem arising when my ammo would be used. I would also be doing this for a small profit.

 

[gspn]

Great question for a lawyer. A little money spent talking with a lawyer now might save you a ton later.

"Liability" means one thing when everything goes well...and it means something totally different when someone loses a gun, an eyeball, or some fingers. A "small" profit might not be enough to justify exposure to the liability.

Wish I could be more help...but I'm no lawyer.

Sounds like fun though...I hope it works well.

 

[chris in va]

If a case ruptures or somehow messes up their gun, not only are you out the cost of a replacement rifle, but any injuries incurred.

The BATFE also points out you can't sell reloaded ammo to help sustain your living.

That being said, I have given a friend some of my 9mm reloads when he ran out and couldn't find any locally.

Why can't they just buy factory ammo?

 

[silicosys4]

I won't load rounds for my friends because of the liability. I will gladly stand right beside them and walk them through the steps on my equipment, but they are the one pulling the handle.

 

[Romeo 33 Delta]

Ditto the last post. Have them come over and reload. They will have fun and will learn something ... and you should not have any liability exposure.

 

[Crashola]

Probably not a good idea. If for no other reason that if something does happen to someone and they come after you, you probably don't have any insurance coverage for manufacturing ammo. And if you don't have coverage, you're paying for your own attorney and you'll be responsible for any money damages.

For example, if someone slips and gets injured in your home, a typical homeowners policy provides that the insurer will hire an attorney to defend you and indemnify you for any resulting damages you have to pay. Now that's a gross oversimplification, but thats how they work. Chances are a homeowner doesn't get that coverage for manufacturing and selling ammo.

 

[beatledog7]

I wouldn't. I've loaded a few for a family member at cost, but that's a different matter.

 

[random_gun]

Probably because there's no ammo on shelves....

If you sell your own ammo you might need a manufacture licence

 

[hso]

You'd loose everything in the lawsuits if anything happened.

You should not take on loading ammunition for anyone that isn't an immediate family member.

 

[Jim Watson]

"That being said, I have given a friend some of my 9mm reloads when he ran out and couldn't find any locally."

The only gun ever blown up on our range followed that scenario.
Shooter A: "Darn, I'm out of ammo."
Shooter B: "Here, take some of mine."
Shooter A: KaBoom!


If you make a profit, the feds will expect you to take out an ammunition manufacturer's license.

If you slip up, a friend with a ruined gun and some stitches is now the plaintiff in court.

 

[Zoogster]

I would not load for anyone.

Even if I measure every charge and leave a margin of error I also know my reloads would get the blame for some unrelated problem.
Barrel obstruction leads to kaboom? Assumed reloads. Bug crawls in, or there is lint, dust, etc? Reloads get the blame.
Fires out of battery resulting in damage? Reloads will be assumed to blame.

Really reloads will be presumed the most likely problem, because they are, even when they are not responsible, and even without liability concerns that is just asking to hurt a relationship.





Then when you get into liability it becomes unworth it from a financial standpoint.
As others have said you can explain it and have someone else load with your stuff. Then it is on them. However if they are unexperienced they are even more likely to eventually make a mistake, especially if they start cranking out rounds. It only takes one.

While selling them requires a license. You could probably charge for cost or components, but how it was done would need to be very specific so it was not a gray area.


It is unfortunate there is so many negatives because it is such a neat thing that would certainly be appreciated. It just really is not worth it and advised against.
Now if it is done under the Clubs liability and covered by thier insurance then that can change everything.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

If I sell any of my reloads, it's to my parents and at a financial loss to me.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I won't load rounds for my friends because of the liability. I will gladly stand right beside them and walk them through the steps on my equipment, but they are the one pulling the handle.

This is the route to go with. Invite them over. Have a good time. Load some ammo together, with them doing the loading on theirs.

 

[303tom]

Ain`t no way in hell I would, and I been reloading for years, to many Liability issues.....................

 

[JoelSteinbach]

THanks for the input guys, I guess i will have to keep my hobby to myself

 

[FROGO207]

I would offer to teach them how to reload using your equipment, at least at first. The lesson/s could include working up a better than factory load for their firearm. If they are responsible for the ammo (with your close supervision) there will be no legal action in event of a problem. Sad that it has to be that way but in the times we live CYA is prudent. Who knows, you just might fire up a bunch of new reloaders.

 

[gamestalker]

Go to this site. He is an expert in all firearm related matters. armedpersonaldefense.com

GS

 

[ssyoumans]

Could you not have them sign a liability release form for any negligence or damages resulting from the use of your reloads. Clearly spell out the dangers and they "accept" all risks associated with firing reloads. Dunno, just a thought?

 

[HighExpert]

You need a ammo manufacturer FFL to load for others and make a profit. This doesn't even mention the insurance and liability angle. The only way to be safe is to rent your press to them and let them load their own. Or just share it for free. If they load they have the responsiblity for damages they incur.

 

[GLOOB]

I give reloads to my friends. I am afraid charging money would be technically against the law and open up more liability.

Any thoughts on this? If you're not charging anything, and you're not explicitly recommending them to be fired, then what's the problem?

Maybe you could give your reloads to your hunting club, and you may in due time receive acts of kindness in return.

 

[badbowtie]

The whole time I was reading all this which I don't have any desire to load ammo to sell to someone. But do have a friend that wants me to load some 223 ammo for him will not charge him he just buys all the stuff. I was thinking liability forum also then I see you posted it. I would think that would cover you but I am not a lawyer niether so have no clue.

 

[jwrowland77]

Not a good idea to reload for friends. The only people I reload for is me, my wife, my dad and mom and father-in-law. That's it. Had a friend ask, I told him he could come over and I'd be glad to show him how.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I guess i will have to keep my hobby to myself

No need at all to keep it to yourself. Just don't load and sell for a profit without going through the channels. We've got a buddy that wants 1k rounds of .223 and asked if we would load them for him and he pay us. We said, "No, but you can come over to the house, bring your components, and we'll hang out in the man cave and spend the day loading." Heck, that's a pretty good day in my book, and no liability issues if they're loading themselves.