Using hand loads in a self defence shooting.

[1911su16b870]

Thanks topgun7 for the valuable input.

IMO if you reload, you are definitely not cheap with the expense in equipment and materials involved...spend another 20-30 bucks on good factory HD loads for use in your HD blaster(s), and load up practice rounds for the range, but use the factory rounds for SHTF.

[magsnubby]

Sure! "Pretty slim" is pretty good odds.

When it comes to my freedom "Pretty slim" is not good odds.

[Josh3239]

No it isn't an issue, justified is justified. However, millions of dollars have been spent on creating the perfect ammo for self defense. Take advantage of it.

[Interloper]

When it comes to my freedom "Pretty slim" is not good odds.

Then you have no business owning guns in the first place.

[magsnubby]

Then you have no business owning guns in the first place.

Thank you for the assessment of my firearms owning qualifications.

Every day life is a gamble, but as every wise gambler knows, you always try and stack the odds in your favor. So why would you knowing alter those odds?

[Interloper]

Thank you for the assessment of my firearms owning qualifications.

Every day life is a gamble, but as every wise gambler knows, you always try and stack the odds in your favor. So why would you knowing alter those odds?

You own a gun. You've already exposed yourself to tremendous legal and civil liabilities even if you don't own any ammo, reloads or not. The attitude of "why expose myself to further liability" is a bit silly. More people die in the bathtub than from violent crime. Is there a tub or shower in your house? Life is a study in probabilities. In the case of reloaded ammo I remain unconvinced that a legitimate danger of liability exists. If you fear liability then sell your guns.

[mzimmers]

It seems like there are two discussions going on here: one about whether handloads are inherently safe/reliable for self defense, and one about whether it exposes you to additional legal liability.

I don't buy the second one at all. If/when I use a gun, I am going to be damn sure I needed to. There will such ample justification that the ammunition isn't even going to come into consideration. Do I absolutely, positively know this for 100% sure? No...but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Now, as someone who is a NRA certified handloading instructor, and who STILL makes mistakes occasionally...does it make sense to use handloads for self defense? Not IMO. High quality ammunition is very tough to improve on, and will last for decades. I consider it cheap insurance.

[Kid Stanislaus]

The small boxes of 20 or 25 are usually in the $20 to $30 range, depending on caliber. No need to spend a couple hundred if you cannot afford it.

OH! But haven't you heard, you're supposed to practice with what you carry!

[Kid Stanislaus]

Of course these things rarely go to trial, after all the Depo's are done your Home owners insurance will step in with a settlement claim. (or whoever has the deep pocket coverage)

Only if its an "accicental" shooting and if you claim that the DA will jump on you for manslaughter.

[fiddletown]

...Life is a study in probabilities. ...If you fear liability then sell your guns...

Apparently you don't understand the difference between trying to eliminate risk, which is of course futile, and managing risk, which is wise and quite doable. Don't you wear seat belts, don't you check your car's brakes, do you drive on bald tires?

...If/when I use a gun, I am going to be damn sure I needed to. There will such ample justification...

You're very lucky to be able to be so sure. I guess you're clairvoyant. I wouldn't be surprised if Larry Hickey, Mark Abshire and Harold Fish (see post 40) were also that sure.

[mzimmers]

You're very lucky to be able to be so sure. I guess you're clairvoyant. I wouldn't be surprised if Larry Hickey, Mark Abshire and Harold Fish (see post 40) were also that sure.

I never claimed to be clairvoyant; in fact, I conceded I am not 100% sure. But that is way down on the list of things I choose to worry about. What happened to those individuals you cited is indeed unfortunate, but those cases are in the decided minority. Put simply, I like my odds.

[fiddletown]

...Put simply, I like my odds.

So I guess that you have no interest in learning how you might improve your odds. That's of course your choice. But personally, when the stakes are high I'd prefer the odds to be as much in my favor as I could conveniently arrange.

[mzimmers]

So I guess that you have no interest in learning how you might improve your odds.

Did I say that? This thread, you might recall, began with the subject of using handloads for self defense. As I opined earlier, I don't think the incremental (legal) risk of handloads vs. factory ammo is much to worry about. But I also said that I would use factory ammo for SD purposes, so the issue is moot from a personal standpoint.

If you're concerned about the risk of using handloads, I know an easy way to solve that problem.