Reloads for self defense

[Brbecker]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gundigest.com/handguns/concealed-carry/handloads-not-a-good-idea-for-concealed-carry/amp

[tradecraft]

We know.

[meno377]

Aside from a legal manner, it's not in your best interest for self defense, unless you have a proven load that has never failed you before. Factory loads are more likely reliable than reloads.

[Lonestargrizzly]

My HD shotgun ammo i made myself uses rusty nails and poisoned nails as the projectiles.
And I havent been sued yet.

[200Apples]

^ ^ ^ OK. lol. Right.

Factory loads are more likely reliable than reloads.

Not true. Handloads, when assembled according to the book exhibit more-consistent ballistics than do machine-made ammunition.

As for how one would appear in court? If I have to defend myself against a two-legged predator I'm not going to worry about using a .44 Special load using a 250-grain lead semi-wadcutter travelling 1000 fps... when a commercially-loaded .44 Magnum is a typically a 240-grain jacketed hollow- or semi-jacketed flat-point travelling at least 1200...

What I would be most concerned with in defense of my case are the circumstances that lead to the shooting.

Not concerned at all about the ammunition, but lonestargrizz might be about his. lulz.

[phonso302]

How could one prove what ammo was in the gun prior to the shooting? I have a reloading set up in my home and store bought s-d ammo in my guns.

[Win231]

I'll go with legal experts who say reloads for that purpose are a bad idea.

[Bainter1212]

If you used all the same headstamps.....how would they know if it was reloads or not?

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[boopiejones]

I think reloads are a bad idea for self defense. I can hear the jury now:

If you make the reloads lighter recoil than a factory load, it’s because you wanted to get more shots on target, in less time = more deadly.

If you make the loads heavier than factory, you wanted each single bullet to do more damage = more deadly.

If you make them identical to factory specs, why bother?

[dustoff31]

Are there any confirmed cases of someone being convicted of murder/manslaughter/etc., because they used reloads in a legitimate self defense shooting? Any at all? Just one?

[alpha_romeo_XV]

The article linked by the OP is mostly concerned with hollow point ammo. The idea that only reloaders can create HD hollow points is very false.
As an "expert witness" trying to be relevant he did not impress me.
One of the most traumatic gunshot wounds has long been known to be from 12 gauge buck shot. And Uncle Joe gave us the OK for that.

[Citadelgrad87]

Are there any confirmed cases of someone being convicted of murder/manslaughter/etc., because they used reloads in a legitimate self defense shooting? Any at all? Just one?

[Citadelgrad87]

[RickD427]

How could one prove what ammo was in the gun prior to the shooting? I have a reloading set up in my home and store bought s-d ammo in my guns.

I can't think of the issue ever coming up in a criminal trial.

In a civil trial, it's quite easy for the plaintiff's attorney to prove. He/she delivers you an interrogatory or request for admissions before the trial (which you're required to respond to) or they ask you the question on direct examination. The civil process ain't too friendly to folks who try to conceal or falsify information.

[trackcage]

I've considered mimicking HD/SD loads with the same bullet, etc. for cheaper practice since most range/plinking ammo is a little soft and does not prove your gun will properly function with hollow points, etc. But for primetime, I've always used factory.