Reloading ammo

[Soundguy]

Rcbs, so far has always come thru for bad parts too.

On the indexing dependent on handle pull issue... I dontmthinkid own a press that didn't simplemjustmwork as it should, none of this sometimes stuff.

 

[Soundguy]

Truly sweet bench

 

[Gary Fowler]

With careful attention to detail, I don't see any problem with using reloads for self defense ammo. I wouldn't be afraid of a mis-fire in hand loads any more than with factory ammo as long as the reloader person checks each step to assure primer, powder and bullet seat is right. However seeing as how self defense ammo will most likely never be used except to fire it when freshening up the old load, monetarily there is no gain to reloads over factory.

The only new factory loads I have ever had mis-fire are .22. I never had a center-fire cartridge mis-fire unless they were really, really old. My neighbor and I were shooting some very old 38 special ammo that was obtained from a friends grandfather's stock which were known to be from early 50's. Some were reloads and others were factory. They averaged 1 misfire out of every 6 fired. Sometimes the misfire would fire when cycled thru for a second strike.
We were really only interested in saving the brass, but the bullets were fine for our steel target practice.

 

[bumperm]

I was told the same, plus never to use a laser sight.

I don't agree with what you were told. Many cops use lasers, though not all departments allow them I hear. Very defensible in court I'd think, besides, if the shooting is justified, you won't be charged by the DA and it won't go to court in the first place. That said, I have a friend who was not charged in a shooting by the DA, they deemed it justified . . . though there was certainly some question in this particular case. He was sued civilly, that it went to court, he prevailed. (Neither laser nor hand loaded ammo involved, I just mention it to show you can get sued no matter.)

I would not rely 100% on the laser, but there are several advantages, especially as the old eyes age. Fumbling to find and get the glasses on is just one more thing to do after awaking to the sound of a door being kicked in. On the nightstand, Ihave a P229R .40 with Crimson Trace, TLR-1 rail light and an Osprey silencer - eliminates the muzzle flash to help retain night vision and I don't want to trash what little hearing I have left over from all that hunting with no ear protection when I was a kid.

 

[Soundguy]

Too bad he wasn't in a state with robust self defense laws. In fl if its a good defense shooting, you have civil immunity from lawsuits from the perps family.. etc

 

[hutchman]

I've heard that opinion passed around too and I don't subscribe to it either. The thought being if you reload your defense ammo you have a "Dirty Harry" complex.

Every firearm is different and I test carry loads performance and the fps is within factory specs. And I practice with them. With the ammo shortage (which is better now) you were lucky to find enough defense rounds to fill up the cylinder / mag., much less practice on a regular basis with it. Reloading it was the only way to have any and make sure it functions reliably.

I live by the "I'd rather be judged by 12 then carried by 6" principle.

 

[Soundguy]

Yup, reload manuals give you the salami specs and reload pressures to emulate the range of factory load ammo. Is, what's SAFE for your gun..

 

[Gary Fowler]

I was told the same, plus never to use a laser sight.

I just finished my CCW class and just to pass along what my instructor said ( he is a LEO + been teaching for 18 years. Optical sights are not allowed for the shooting test (at least here in Arkansas- I scored 95% with my open sights on a 9mm Ruger that I hadnt shot much at all so I had 2 rounds outside the center torso)however laser sights are OK although he doesn't recommend using them for your daily carry especially during daylight hours. He said that while you are searching for that red dot, you might get dead by the perp with a gun. Best to just point and shoot which shouldn't be problem if your attacker is 10 feet away. Any further than that and you may be in trouble with the law anyway proving that you were in a life and death situation.

I was kind of amazed (appalled actually) as to what you can and cant do to protect yourself. It seems the bad guys get the benefit of the doubt and you must prove that they meant to do you bodily harm so much so that you may have to take some punches if the guy isn't armed before you would be justified to even pull your weapon for threatening. You can be arrested for just showing your weapon in public as it is considered to be a threat of violence.
An example given is " you are in your house with door unlocked, an unarmed intruder can come inside take whatever he wants as long as he doesn't threaten you and you really cant do anything about it (legally), defense of property is not an excuse to shoot someone.
In the above scenario, if your door was locked and they kicked it open, you might get away with popping a cap on their arse.

 

[Soundguy]

I'd move to a free state....

 

[Walkin Horse]

You know something else I remember from that class. He said one day you will be carrying and someone will piss you off and not realize how lucky they were that they were able to walk away.