If you reload, do you reload your own self defense ammo?

[GP100man]

I load my SD/HD ammo for the same reasons rc model stated .

It takes me longer to load my SD/HD ammo than my plinkin fodder though , I promise !!!

& each round is checked in each chamber of each revolver it may be used in !!!

 

[Jon_Snow]

I reload plinking ammo for my 1911 and match ammo for my rifles. I buy factory HD ammo because the only failures I've ever had with my 1911 have been with my handloads. Maybe someday I'll improve both the quality of my handloads and my confidence in them enough to start loading HD rounds, but for now I'll stick with factory stuff.

 

[buck460XVR]

......yes I do.

 

[wankerjake]

I will never pay the price of factory defense ammo, but I have acquired it in trade/gifts and such. I have both and carry both. If I have factory stuff in a certain caliber I usually carry it, but like I said I'll never pay a premium price when I can make it myself for less.

 

[Skip_a_roo]

Yes, no one, I repeat, no one puts as much love and care into loading my carry ammo more than me, no one!

 

[ArtP]

Same here. I'm really not interested in loading +P ammo. Speer makes a great product and I can get it cheap.

What's cheap for factory Speer GD 124's? I see them for about a buck per round. Have a source?

 

[mjyeagle]

a proper handload is better than factory every time and cost is much less some of the hd rounds the price is outrageous

 

[jfh]

I had not until recently. However, my personal net worth is now so low that I need to save every bit I can--and I no longer worry about lawyers or a lawsuit getting any of it.

And, there is one benefit--the round I would like to carry--an "FBI900" round (158-gr. LSWC-HP running at 900 fps from a 2" barrel)--is simply not available in commercial ammo. That's the round I like to carry in a lightweight.

Jim H.

 

[Otto]

What's cheap for factory Speer GD 124's? I see them for about a buck per round. Have a source?

I pay 46¢ a round, that's $23 for a box of fifty. I get it through LE wholesaler.
I still have a supply of the original Black Talon in several calibers but I stopped carrying it when the media labeled them "cop killer" bullets.
The terminal performance wasn't that great anyway.
I like Gold Dots because they don't compromise either penetration or expansion like when shooting through automobile windshields and they're accurate out of my Sig and CZ.
The Cor-Bon DPX is another good round.

 

[evan price]

I load my own ammo. I load an analogue of Speer Gold Dots for practice at a fraction of the price of factory ammo. For daily carry, I carry factory ammo. However, the guns that normally stay home all have some handloaded "hunting ammo" in speedloaders that would be almost impossible to tell apart from Gold Dots, except for the fact that I use another headstamp brass instead of Speer.

Note, it's not defense ammo, it's HUNTING ammo, but I'm sure it would do a good job as defensive ammo if necessary.

 

[Landric]

I don't "reload" my defense ammunition, but I do handload some of it. That is, I use new brass for my defensive ammunition, so it is not "reloaded". My department frowns on handloads, so I use factory ammunition in my carry guns, but guns that are around the house for defense are often loaded with my handloads. I wouldn't hesitate to carry my handloads if I carried on a permit instead of a badge.

 

[EMC45]

I have been reloading for a while now and have only experienced one squib load in all that time. It was a box of Remington 9MM FMJs. Lodged a bullet in the chamber area. Never had a failure with my own ammo though. I load, and will continue to load, my SD ammo. I use cast SWC and RNFPs for my revolvers. I talked to a trusted LEO and he said the family will go after you no matter what if you kill someone. Regardless of ammo selection. I am not worried about it.

 

[357 Terms]

there is no legal issue. All my 357's my40 and 45 are loaded with reloads

 

[CHEVELLE427]

NO===

PDX1 IN 45ACP AND 40SW

in my carry guns

 

[RealGun]

I don't believe I can buy the same type of bullets most highly rated for expansion. I want more than a common hollow point. I care very much which rounds are most highly rated and try various choices to make sure my gun will cycle reliably with them. I am not interested in buying a large quantity of a bullet type I will never shoot up.

 

[Ian Sean]

I make my own. Been using Hornady XTP's in both .357 and .45, both have been developed for my carry guns. I can practice a LOT more. I trust my own consistancy and QC over the unknown.

If you are involved in a questionable defensive shooting, your ammo choice may come up eventually, but it will be the least of your worries. If you are that unsure, get some training. As for me, it is a non issue, a good shoot is a good shoot, but I won't be volunteering any information either.

 

[FROGO207]

If you can't trust your reloads to save your life then you need to practice your reloading some more. I do trust mine and don't let legal matters get to me as I have little other than firearms that are worth anything.

 

[Hondo 60]

I know some will say this is male bovine feces, but...

I went to an NRA class - Personal Protection Inside the Home & was given a caution to reloaders.

It's best NOT to reload self defense ammo. Some shyster will try to use that against you if you have to defend yourself. Be it the prosecutor or the shootee's lawyer in a civil case.

The presenter was a cop who has a long list of cases where he was an expert witness. His advice? Just don't! You'll save yourself a lot of scrutiny, and possibly a lot of money.

So just buy a box of name brand ammo & let the lawyers accuse the maker of loading to intentionally injure the "victim".

 

[taliv]

there are several threads on this topic in this forum. Probably 2 or 3 per year.


Mr Ayoob has posted numerous legal examples in several of them. You can do an advanced search for posts by him in the reloading section.
Whether you agree with him or not, you owe it to yourself to consider his arguments and inform yourself before making a decision.


My personal view is that you have to take cost and risk into account.

 

[Glock20]

If a person is ever in the position to defend his or family members life, the least of his worries should be what is loaded in his firearm. I feel 100% comfortable and confident with my own handloads so that is exactly what I carry.

I agree with ljnowell, I've found no examples where handloaded ammunition was an issue in a self defense shooting. This whole thing has been blown so far out of proportion, even by well meaning people.

If your concerned about it, carry factory, if your not, carry what you want. It's really that simple.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Considering how anemic modern police ammo is (thanx to the PC FBI), I wish I could use my own hand loads.

 

[keddie]

I've reloaded carry rounds for my wife's .40 but she still has the federals in the magazine. My defense rounds are handstuffed.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

If a person is ever in the position to defend his or family members life, the least of his worries should be what is loaded in his firearm. I feel 100% comfortable and confident with my own handloads so that is exactly what I carry.

i agree 100% if someone was busting in my door im using what ever the gun has in it.

BUT my carry gun always has fact ammo, just don't need to add fuel to the fire ,

a good lawyer can take the word CAT and by time he gets done twisting words with it you will have a animal,

that has been extinct for a million years.

 

[Mamertine]

I reload rifle only and for SD I use a handgun until a new AR is in the budget. My vote was no simply as I do not reload handgun ammo. I trust my reloads just as much as factory loads.

Re the suing of the manufacturer of the ammo I would guess that is simply as the civil lawyer knows that the manufacturer of the ammo, that injured a criminal, has deep pockets and that is the only reason they are being sued. Civil lawyers know who has money.

 

[buckeye8]

I carry 7 or 8 guns fairly regularly, and I can't imagine how much money it would cost me to practice with and continually replenish the ammo in all of them (plus the spare mags!). I would need a second full-time job.

I carry my reloads, and feel just fine about it. Hornady XTP/HP's mostly, as they are affordable and plentiful around here. My reloads typically cost me 1/5 or so the cost of factory SD loads. Handgun SD loads offer the reloader perhaps his greatest opportunity to save money over factory prices. Why some don't take advantage of it is beyond me.

Also, I just counted, and at $1 per round (factory prices), I would have over $200 in ammo loaded in my guns at any given time. If that were the case, I think I'd be too cheap to actually shoot any of it!