gahunter12
Member
I carry Federal HST which I think they use better QC for there LEO ammo, but Federal DOES NOT have better QC than I do.
How many of you carry reloads in your SD guns?
- Thread starter TennJed
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I carry Federal HST which I think they use better QC for there LEO ammo, but Federal DOES NOT have better QC than I do.
GBExpat
Member
For me it is a question of both Trust & Expense.
I trust my reloads more than I trust store-bought ammo ... and ... my ammo costs a LOT less.
In addition, I am not limited to factory offerings in a particular cartridge.
I trust my reloads more than I trust store-bought ammo ... and ... my ammo costs a LOT less.
In addition, I am not limited to factory offerings in a particular cartridge.
I don't fully understand why it is so "critical" to use handloads for SD for you guys, under a legal standpoint. In a SD situation, normally a few shots are fired and leave a few remaining in the cylinder/magazine. I assume the gun will be taken as evidence and those rounds tested to check pressure/energy. In the case of my handloads, they have less speed (therefore, less energy) than most commercial ammo, since I load just to meet the minimum PF in competition. The tricky thing could be if my reloads were more powerful than the average commercial ammo. Then they'd be able to accuse me of deliberately loading my ammo to be more harmful than average. A lawyer could say that how can it be proven that the shots I fired were of the same characteristics than those remaining in the weapon, but then it would be, the one who accuses, the one who would have to prove that. He who accuses has to provide evidence to back up his statements, at least at this side of the pond.
I also assume that the wounds of whoever has taken shots are examined by doctors at hospital whether he survives, or by forensics during a post-mortem examination if he doesn't, and conclusions drawn from there. Simply accusing "you load to make your ammo more lethal" sounds kind of too simple without providing further evidence that this was actually true.
I'm not leaning towards one stand or the other. I would just appreciate if someone could clarify this to a forum member from the other side of the pond, where you know we are kind of weird
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This said, in my SD pistol I carry commercial ammo because that's what I bought for that purpose. As a note, hollow points are illegal here unless for some (tactical) police units, just because they're "more harmful" (stupid, I know) and I use semi-jacketed flat points. But if I run out of it I would carry my handloads without hesitation. Over here, that would be the last of my worries in Court and it would be hard for a lawyer to prove that I reloaded to be "more lethal" for the reasons stated above.
I also assume that the wounds of whoever has taken shots are examined by doctors at hospital whether he survives, or by forensics during a post-mortem examination if he doesn't, and conclusions drawn from there. Simply accusing "you load to make your ammo more lethal" sounds kind of too simple without providing further evidence that this was actually true.
I'm not leaning towards one stand or the other. I would just appreciate if someone could clarify this to a forum member from the other side of the pond, where you know we are kind of weird
. This said, in my SD pistol I carry commercial ammo because that's what I bought for that purpose. As a note, hollow points are illegal here unless for some (tactical) police units, just because they're "more harmful" (stupid, I know) and I use semi-jacketed flat points. But if I run out of it I would carry my handloads without hesitation. Over here, that would be the last of my worries in Court and it would be hard for a lawyer to prove that I reloaded to be "more lethal" for the reasons stated above.
LiveLife
Member
Nothing wrong with this as this is a free public forum.TennJed said:
Justified shooting is justified shooting whether factory ammunition or reloadeds were used. If I was reloading 200 gr lead SWC target loads for my 1911 range toy and a group of gang bangers kicked the backdoor down, I may not have time to get to my Glocks with factory JHP ammunition on the other side of the house and I won't hesitate to defend my life and lives of my family with reloads.
If I was asked in court why I used reloads, my response would be, "That was the closest ammunition available to defend my life and lives of my family."
For me, if I was involved in a shooting, I would feel more comfortable handing over to police my Glocks with a partial factory box of ammunition (I always keep the partial boxes of factory ammunition that are in my SD/HD pistols handy in a shoebox for such occasion) for evidence/testing than handing over my entire reloading stock of reloading components for evidence/testing for the duration of the trial.
We all make choices in life. Some by preference and some by economics - we may all live/die by the choices we make in life.
If I was hunting/camping in the woods with known wild animal threat with thicker hides, I would carry reloads pushing lead 180-200 gr TCFP/SWC at 1200+ fps out of Glock 20 using KKM/Lone Wolf barrel. I would not use FMJ or JHP bullets whether factory or reloads as they may not perform as well to penetrate through thicker hide to hit vital organ areas. Of course, if two legged animals with thin hides posed threat to my life, I would not hesitate to use the lead reloads.
Yup, don't pay full retail for factory ammunition. Why pay more than you have to? I usually get my factory JHP ammunition around 60-70 cents a round from SGAmmo - http://sgammo.com/catalog/pistol-ammunitionNWcityguy2 said:
They usually have very good prices on Remington Golden Saber, Speer Gold Dot and other factory ammunition.
I also reload practice/back up JHP rounds that have comparable felt recoil/POI as factory ammunition using bulk Golden Saber/Gold Dot bullets from MidwayUSA, Natchez, Midsouth Shooters, etc. in verified once-fired brass. For me, I don't like to load near max/max charge loads in mixed range brass with unknown reload history, especially for KaBoom prone 40S&W.
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Only an idiot for a lawyer would allow his client to be placed on the stand to answer questions like that.
KansasSasquatch
Member
Yes, I carry handloaded ammo in my carry gun. Although right now there's actually a mix of ammunition in my magazines. I was having a hard time getting my hands on the XTP bullets that I like so I broke down and bought some Federal factory JHP ammo. Well my wife now has a carry gun, in the same .45acp caliber as mine. Not having the bullets I wanted for handloads, I tested some of that Federal in her gun, felt confident with it and filled her magazines with it. But there was some left some I have my main magazine full of that, my two spares are filled with 185gr XTP reloads, prefer 200gr. Finally found some 200gr XTP's that I'm hoping to load up later today.
When I do handload self defense ammo I use NEW or once fired Starline brass, a good hollow point, CCI primers, and heavy charge of Unique since it gives good velocity and accuracy in my pistol. If I ever have to shoot someone in self defense, I'm not worried about what ammo I use. It will either be a justified shooting, in which case there will be no trial or the ammo used wont be a huge factor. Or I will have made a huge mistake shooting that person, in which case the ammo used STILL won't be a big factor. So far I haven't made any mistakes I life that were THAT big.
When I do handload self defense ammo I use NEW or once fired Starline brass, a good hollow point, CCI primers, and heavy charge of Unique since it gives good velocity and accuracy in my pistol. If I ever have to shoot someone in self defense, I'm not worried about what ammo I use. It will either be a justified shooting, in which case there will be no trial or the ammo used wont be a huge factor. Or I will have made a huge mistake shooting that person, in which case the ammo used STILL won't be a big factor. So far I haven't made any mistakes I life that were THAT big.
Thanks for the input guys.
NW you are probably right, it is a poor excuse. I have been hunting and shooting for a long time, but carry and SD are fairly new things to me. Shooting has always been primarily a fun things. Plinking first. I am starting to make the shift to SD now that I have small children.
I guess I haven't gotten out of the buy bulk, shoot a lot, frame of mind. It has probably effected my thought process more than it should. Again, that is why I made the poll. To learn.
Thanks everyone. Keep then coming
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horsemen61
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Yeah I carry reloads from time to time I feel that my reloads are just as acurrate if not more so cheaper and the only time I'd use them is if I had to in a life or death situation
ares338
Member
I mostly carry factory SD ammo but if I can't get factory I will carry my reloads.
Comrade Mike
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Why would you even take the stand in the first place? That's a great way to get strung up real quick. Also there's quite a few real quick sustainable objections in there
It is probalby a false need onmy part that is rooted in shooting paper targets for so many years. I probably put too much emphisis on hitting a black circle
Godsgunman
Member
I carry reloads especially for my .38spl and .357mags. I have a highly accurate load for my .38 snub with XTPs that I can make 100 rounds of for the price of 20 factory rounds. Why would I buy factory then? I also trust my QC more than factory. I'm not a speedloader and am very meticulous.
loose noose
Member
No I carry factory Hornady Critical Defense in all my CCW's, cause I know they will work. I do practice with a very similar hand loaded round so I know where my point of impact will be. Better safe than sorry, and for $25.00 to $35.00 for 20 rounds why be sorry.
I don't completely understand the back-and-forth questioning of the witness above.
Wouldn't it be rather obvious to simply point out that one's charges are at the middle or minimum of the Sierra loading chart? And wouldn't my semi automated turret system demonstrate that? And all my records? And hundreds and hundreds of other rounds?
Wouldn't it be rather obvious to simply point out that one's charges are at the middle or minimum of the Sierra loading chart? And wouldn't my semi automated turret system demonstrate that? And all my records? And hundreds and hundreds of other rounds?
FROGO207
Member
I am more confident using my hand loaded ammo than a factory offering. So I do carry hand loads in my SD firearms. I will worry about other problems if I ever need to fire my SD firearms to actually protect myself. So far showing that I am armed and willing to use it has stopped two attempted "problems" before they ever got to the point of pulling the trigger. Thieves are chickens--t at best and usually run away scared when on equal terms at least around these parts.
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To those people that discount the use of reloads for SD.
1. the use of hollow point bullets used by all major manufacturers are intended to release as much energy as possible, thereby, increasing lethality. So reloading with a similar bullet increases your liability how?
2. We all simply follow manufacturers recommendations. Many times the ammo manufacturers provide +P ammo. So reloading within SAMMI specs increases your liability how?
Bottom line is that "just cause" will be your deciding factor. Some of the questions posted here in "cross examination" are way to funny and not well thought out.
1. the use of hollow point bullets used by all major manufacturers are intended to release as much energy as possible, thereby, increasing lethality. So reloading with a similar bullet increases your liability how?
2. We all simply follow manufacturers recommendations. Many times the ammo manufacturers provide +P ammo. So reloading within SAMMI specs increases your liability how?
Bottom line is that "just cause" will be your deciding factor. Some of the questions posted here in "cross examination" are way to funny and not well thought out.
Total crap. Yes, I am a lawyer, obviously you are not. Obviously. I carry Hornady Critical Duty +p, AND MY OWN HANDLOADS USING THE SAME HORNADY BULLETS AND GOLD DOTS.
In the civil trial that will follow your criminal trial, you may be compelled to take the stand. You won't have a choice whether to testify, or not.
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