Reloading for a J frame

[ArchAngelCD]

My biggest concern on carrying reloads would be to hear a click rather than a bang at crunch time.

beachjumper,
That is the least of my concerns. I have NEVER had a round I produced fail to go bang when I pulled the trigger. What makes you think the factory would make better ammo than you can? Have some faith in yourself, I'm sure your ammo is much better than the factory stuff just as mine is. I use quality components and I practice a level of quality control no factory can possible attain because I load my ammo by hand. (Well, sorta by hand. My Lee Classic Turret Press does the hard work!)

My .38 Special ammo is better than any Winchester ammo I can buy. I use Winchester Brass, Winchester primers, Winchester powder and sometimes even Winchester bullets. My advantage is, I care about what I'm doing whereas a machine doesn't care at all.

 

[beachjumper]

How long have you been reloading ...CD?

 

[Slamfire]

That is the least of my concerns. I have NEVER had a round I produced fail to go bang when I pulled the trigger.

Well I have. Dud primers.

However the good news is, I have had the same thing happen with Master Brand and Zero factory reloads. I have shot cases of that stuff. So maybe I am not the only one who makes iffy ammo.

The premium new factory stuff, even the 10 year old stuff that has rolled around on the floorboards of the car, has always gone bang. But I don't shoot enough of that to have a good data base. Too expensive.

 

[beachjumper]

My feeling right now is to trust Speer, Hornady ect... to make my SD ammo. until I get a lot more experience reloading and then make a decision whether to make my own or use the factory stuff. With practice ammunition it's not a problem since I'm shooting at an unarmed stationary paper target. But I have seen experienced reloaders blow up thier $1000+ 1911's at the range I shoot at over the last three years.

 

[Clark]

But I have seen experienced reloaders blow up thier $1000+ 1911's at the range I shoot at over the last three years.

I assume you mean that the brass bubble burst over the long naked feed ramp, blowing the magazine bottom plate, mag spring, and follower toward the shooter's feet, while the grips blew off giving the shooter's hand an owee.

If anyone can split the barrel on a well supported 1911 with it's thick steel, like thin steel CZ52, I would like to see the pics and read what was the load.

 

[beachjumper]

That's a great description of what I saw Clark except their was blood involved and the barrel bulged on one of them.

 

[pinkymingeo]

The first deer I ever missed was "released" by a Federal factory .270 round that didn't go bang. I've had many factory duds and squibs since then. Don't trust the stuff at all, but I have complete faith in my loads. The legal argument surrounding handloads for personal defense is, IMHO, pointless. The legal team that's out to get your butt can make an issue of any ammo you use, handloaded or factory. What, you used "special, mankilling hollowpoint bullets that cost $1 apiece? A man's life is only worth a dollar to you?". Blah, blah blah. My CCW guns are scandium revolvers, and I load them well below published max. I don't care about maximum fps, fpe or theories of expansion. I just want a lot of penetration. Two holes are better than one. If a 135gr .357 bullet at 900fps will make two holes, why would I load it to 1000fps? It's done what it can do.

 

[beachjumper]

Hi: pinkymineo:
The only duds I've had were rimfire ammo. I did have a few rounds of brand named factory .45's and 9mm's that I could see were obviously defective; one had a gash in the bullet and in a couple of .45's, the bullets were pushed down too deep into the cases.
I've been an attorney since 1982 and have yet to heard a good arguement against using handloaded JHP ammunition in a legal self-defense shooting.

 

[Roccobro]

BJ- In your experience, does the make or brand of ammunition ever come up in a defensive shooting suit?

Justin

 

[beachjumper]

Hi reccobro:
My only experience is in florida. There are some states where hollow points are illegal to possess to the general public but I do not see how that would effect a civil trial.
If the self-defense shooting is legally justified, then I can't see how the use of a handload would matter whether you used a .22 short or a 12 gauge to defend yourself or your family. As we say "pick 12" and let's go to trial.

 

[Roccobro]

Thanks.

Justin