Would you shoot home reloaded ammo from a private party?

[lightman]

Have you tried a inertia bullet puller? It is slower but it will not damage the head.

I have one and I plan to try it. Probably this Winter after hunting season closes and I'm looking for something to do.

 

[Bartojc]

I have purchased commercially "remanufactured" ammo and shot it before I got into reloading. I cannot think of any reason I would shoot anyone's reloads. There's probably only 2-3 people I would even consider to trust enough.

I've been asked to reload for friends as well and supply reloaded ammo to folks. I refuse to do that as well. Not to be a jerk, but I explain to friends I do not want to be responsible for them losing a finger/hand, or worse. I always offer to help them learn to reload on their own if they wish.

-Jeff

 

[Smaug]

Yes, but not JUST anyone's.

I bought a bag of reloads at a gun show many years ago. 357, Keith-style bullets, loaded about like a 38+P in terms of power. I DID talk to the guy and kind of got a good feeling about him before buying. His whole table was reloads and he had a lot of repeat customers.

They were great; better than anything I'd made up to that point. Just the perfect amount of kick, very accurate, and nice clean holes in the paper. I wish I had his recipe.

The funny thing was that I shot maybe 1/3 of them, and then they went into a reloading-related box of stuff for about 10 years before I shot the rest. All I could remember is that I trusted the guy I bought them from.

Yes, it is more risky than factory ammo, depending on the reloader. We all have to weigh that risk vs. savings & accuracy.

***************************

Would I shoot reloads from an unknown source? Absolutely not.

The people who would NEVER shoot another man's reloads are just very careful and will have to pay more for ammo in the long run. It's their choice, I guess.

 

[Hal]

Would I - probably not knowingly.
That's the problem though if/when you buy "range ammo" like some of the ranges around where I live stock.

It's remanufactured - but - by who? (or is it whom?).

Heck, I just ran across a few thousand rounds of reloads that I'm going to have to destroy by either pulling the bullets or finding someone that will take them.
They have been in a closet in an unused bedroom since 2000.
I found all sorts of stuff in that room that I forgot was there.

 

[Smaug]

Heck, I just ran across a few thousand rounds of reloads that I'm going to have to destroy by either pulling the bullets or finding someone that will take them.
They have been in a closet in an unused bedroom since 2000.
I found all sorts of stuff in that room that I forgot was there.

You don't trust your 22 year younger self who bought or made them?

 

[Officers'Wife]

OK, a certain unnamed idiot (who shall remain my brother) reloads nearly all my ammunition for me. He knows bother the age and condition of my weapons as well as has been reloading for almost as long as I have been alive. I am further comfortable with the quality and care he uses for several reasons as follows...

He knows I keep a diary that says where all the bodies are buried (including who owned the bra his wife found in the tractor cab.)
I'm the only one that can talk his wife to reason when she is ready to perform barnyard surgery on him.
Other sundry bits of information still within the statute of limitations.
The family bond is a wonderful thing.

 

[biquer]

I never put someone else’s reloads in my guns.
And…
My reloads are never in someone else’s guns.

 

[HighRoadRover]

l wouldn't shoot my own reloads if someone gave them to me. (Sort of like W.C. Fields, or maybe it was Groucho Marks, said: “I wouldn't want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member.”)

But a more serious problem is, what do you do with a large amount of reloads in calibers you don't use? Can't give them away, and its too hard to pull all those crimped bullets, not too mention getting rid of the primers... Drop off at the local police department? ("Sir, what are you doing with so much ammunition in your house?"). Suggestions?

 

[hk940]

How many are you talking about, 100 or 1,000? If a 1,000 or more a inertia bullet puller is a little slower than a collet type but I have pulled military rounds without damaging the head.
Another thing pistol or rifle? buy a gun in that caliber and shoot them up.
The primers can be used after depriming.

 

[thump_rrr]

Most of us live by the credo "never shoot another man's reloads". As a general rule I follow that sage advice. I'll have to test that advice in real time very soon. My older brother has developed advanced dementia and his kids, (two women who know nothing about guns, reloading, etc) will eventually have to decide what to do with his stuff, which includes about 1,000 rounds of .204 ammo he reloaded to shoot prairie dogs. I will be discussing this is at length with them. I know from first hand experience that my brother knows how to reload. Before he taught me to reload, he loaded a bunch of .243 and it was the most accurate .243 I had at the time. About 10 years ago my brother moved several states away to live near his kids, grandkids, etc. When he moved in to his new home, it had a great shop area he turned into his reloading den. He was happy to have a really good dedicated reloading room. He used that space and time to catch up on years of reloading, which included the aforementioned 1,000 rounds of .204. My dilemma is that I don't know when his dementia was beginning to measurably impact his ability to manage such a potentially delicate task. Because he moved a long distance away from me, I didn't get to witness first hand the progression of his dementia. I'm about 99% certain he knew what he was doing at that time, but there is hint of uncertainty. Of course the safest thing to do is pull all 1,000 bullets and reload them myself. The family will count on my guidance. Maybe you guys can help. Ideas? I apologize if it seems I am highjacking the thread, but the questions posed are very similar. Maybe I should start another thread?

My Mother suffered from Dementia so I understand where you are coming from.

In your case where it is most likely a bolt action rifle I wouldn’t be too concerned once you pull a couple of rounds to verify the powder charge.

Im generally concerned with round shot from a semi auto where the urge to tap, rack, bang is present.

 

[DDDWho]

My late friend and neighbor was a reloader. A few years ago I bought a Ruger 77 Hawkeye in.280 REM so cheap I thought I stole it. On the other hand ammo for a .280 was hard to find and expensive when you did. My friend who had previously owned a.280 had a pile of .280 brass. He offered to reload the brass he had if I’d buy the ballets. I’ve shot some of it without malfunction and still have a lifetime supply left