Reloads for self defense?

[CALI SHOT DOC]

I've always been told that you never use reloads (whether or not you made them) for CCW, home defense and any other reason for self defense. I don't really understand this because many people reload their own ammo
1. to tune a load to a specific gun
2. to create a more accurate round
3. it's cheaper

I've always believed, like many others, that you shoot and practice with what you are going to depend on so you can become comfortable with that round. $25 for 20 jhp rounds is pretty pricy so by reloading you can definitely save money there. By reloading you can tune the round and make it more accurate so I've never really understood only using factory ammo for self defense.

[XDRoX]

There has never been a documented case that someone was punished in court because of using their reloads for self defense. I see know problem in using reloads for SD.

That being said, with something like my life depending on it. I think I'll stick with the best ammo available. And that is factory SD loads.

[Sheldon]

I think the common reasoning for not using reloads is that it might afford the prosecutor the possibility of demonizing you as someone who would concoct a special load for shooting someone and that as such you might actually have shot someone maybe to just see if the load worked as you hoped......or something else twisted along those lines. If you do tragically get into a situation where you have to defend yourself, why have that, even as a remote possibility, being ruled a possible motive.

Don't know if that has ever come up in a shooting case....gotta think it has.

[ireload]

The primary arguement is that a trial lawyer or DA can use your reload against you in court.

[bumpo628]

I keep my defense guns loaded with factory hollowpoints. It's expensive to buy, but cheap in terms of limiting liability.
It's not worth inviting the argument by using handloads. That will be just one less thing you will have to explain in an already bad situation.

[3GunFunShooter]

I have always been told to use factory ammo or what the local police depts are using.
You can always chrono your factory HD loads and then load up some practice loads to match the FPS. As the others have stated, just not worth the risk of some DA or trial lawyer going after you for trying to save some money reloading.

[GeoffLinder]

+1 to the previous post

[five.five-six]

I use facory ammo, but i have a killer trigger job on several of my HD gunz

[CALI SHOT DOC]

so then for those who reload, is the thing to do is come up with a round as close to the factory round you carry so you can limit some costs?

But yea i completely agree that its not worth the liability and possibility of a Lawyer or DA to make a case against you.

[scarville]

I have always been told to use factory ammo or what the local police depts are using.

That last is only practical if you carry the same caliber.

To avoid becoming a victim of the system is the best reason to use factory ammo. If you do shoot some poor vicitm of society, factory ammunition will be one less thing the lawyers can use against you in court. Like it or not the legal sytem is probably a bigger threat to a gun owner than all the thugs in Southern California. Like another poster above suggested, chrono the ammo then handload something equivalent for practice.

Of course, you can handload a bunch of SD ammo for when the zombies arrive because by then nobody will care.

[CALI SHOT DOC]

I use facory ammo, but i have a killer trigger job on several of my HD gunz

yea my g17 is my current HD gun and i have the 3.5lb connector. I have never liked glock stock factory triggers and i wanted something i could become very comfortable with and reliable with

Boy just think how the DA would put a case together on someone with a 3.5-4.5lb trigger and reloaded ammo.......

[SuperSet]

I'd like to see the documentation on the legal liabilities of trigger jobs. They may exist but I haven't seen a conviction yet.
For ammo, I'll usually have a set of factory hollow points and shoot a box or two to ensure proper operation and go to reloads for the rest. I've compared both ammo sets against a known measurable shooting standard and they are equitable.

[Notfade]

I would only use ammo I know and trust be it factory or handloads what ever hits hard and is reliable in your gun. Then you have to do your part and shot placement is key no matter what your using. A long time ago I was involved in a self defense shooting, I used handloads. They did there part, I did mine. It was ruled justified. If its a good shoot its a good shoot. Why would it matter if you use a baseball bat or a gun with handloads? Just make sure you know the rules if you ever have to shoot in self defense.

[mif_slim]

There's a book out (forgot the name) of a lawyer who is also a gun enthusist and he Works primarily in self-defense cases. His book writes of how you can use paper clips for shotgun loads to have devastating flesh penetration with no wall penetration...

What I'm getting at is that if a lawyer says to reload it, I'm sure its fine to use reload ammo for SD.

People, if we reload for the intent to kill someone then all ammo manufacture are loading millions of rounds intended to kill millions of people. Only difference is they have a license to "kill"

[SilentPea]

I read somewhere that if you use reloads, some of the forensic evidence (powder marks, residue, etc) become inadmissible to court, because they can't know the ammunition used is the same.