Reloading Caution

[Hondo 60]

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".

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The presenter was a cop who has a long list of cases where he was an expert witness

Masaad Ayoob by any chance? It sounds like him.

 

[Oyeboten]

What if one carries a Cap & Ball revolver?


Kinda no choice but to Load-yer-own...


For any argument which could be made in Court or elsewhere trying to duggest a bad intent for one Carrying Loade-theor-own Ammunition, there will be better, more rational and compelling arguments favoring that one had done so.

If the entire idea of a right to self defence is to stop a threat, however could it matter if one had mid range Wadcutters, or anything else.

I do not see how any argument could prevail to punish or invalidate self loaded Ammunition, unless of a type specifically prohibited by statute of the loacalle where it was used, and that would be a seperate issue, anyway.

 

[zxcvbob]

In a not-obvious-good-shoot, the use of handloaded ammo might invalidate gunshot residue forensics that would prove how far away you were when you fired. There is exactly one case (that I know of) where this was important, and it wasn't a self-defense shooting.

I don't worry about it for my home defense ammo. I do take it into consideration for my carry ammo, and I almost alway carry factory ammo (but my spare magazine usually has handloads because I have a lot more of them and that's what I mostly practice with)

 

[CraigC]

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.

Been through this a hundred times, even with Ayoob himself over on TFL. The bottom line is that this nonsense gets repeated so often people think it's actually true but there is no basis in reality.

Brian Pearce has an article in the latest Handloader magazine debunking this popular myth.

 

[EddieNFL]

In a not-obvious-good-shoot, the use of handloaded ammo might invalidate gunshot residue forensics that would prove how far away you were when you fired. There is exactly one case (that I know of) where this was important, and it wasn't a self-defense shooting.

Probably the same one I'm familiar with. Also the only one I've ever heard of. I recall a certain gun writer/cop/expert witness stating he would not testify on behalf of anyone that used other than a DAO in self defense.

Pick a subject and I can find "experts" on either side. The two most common on THR are cocked and locked and tumbling loaded ammo. Ask what's the best handgun for concealed carry and you have about 100 (to the tenth power) different sides.

 

[Balrog]

For any argument which could be made in Court or elsewhere trying to duggest a bad intent for one Carrying Loade-theor-own Ammunition, there will be better, more rational and compelling arguments favoring that one had done so.

Why do you want to have to even make the argument though? Just use factory ammo, and there will be no question.

Also, there is at least one actual documented case where the ballistics/residue information would have acquitted a shooter, but since he was using handloads, he had a problem.

In the end, do what you want. If you decide you would rather use your handloads and take the chance that you will not be able to use ballistics/residue evidence to your advantage, then go for it. I am going to err on the side of caution and use factory loads.

 

[oneounceload]

Also, there is at least one actual documented case where the ballistics/residue information would have acquitted a shooter, but since he was using handloads, he had a problem.

In the end, do what you want. If you decide you would rather use your handloads and take the chance that you will not be able to use ballistics/residue evidence to your advantage, then go for it. I am going to err on the side of caution and use factory loads.

Unless he shot up every round he handloaded, there would be more to do any testing - and what difference would that make? So what if it is handloaded, if you're following published data, there would be no big deal. By this argument, don't use a kitchen knife or baseball bat either - better to wait for help that may never come.

Don't load some exotic stuff like flechettes and there should never be a problem, no matter what Massad says

 

[qajaq59]

Pick a subject and I can find "experts" on either side. The two most common on THR are cocked and locked and tumbling loaded ammo. Ask what's the best handgun for concealed carry and you have about 100 (to the tenth power) different sides.

The absolute worst word to ever use in a starting post is "BEST". That leads to more arguments that any of us can count. "Which do you prefer?" works so much better!!

 

[Mal H]

This subject has been hashed, re-hashed and hashed again. Not much point in hashing it yet one more time.

If anyone can cite an actual self-defense court case where reloads vs factory ammo played a major factor (or even any factor), please PM me with the citation and I'll reopen this. (Note - citation does not mean an internet forum thread or blog post. It means an actual court case.)

Closed.