Going through my ammo stash I found 5 boxes of .357 Mag ammo that I reloaded for a gun I no longer own. I don't have a .357 at all anymore, so wondering what to do with these. I don't really want the liability of selling them, but I'm not even able to use the components if I break them down. Any ideas? These are a pretty mild range load with a Missouri cast 158 SWC and 5.0 gn. of TiteGroup.

Advertise them at your local gun club for free. Have the person sign a waiver of liability in case their gun blows up, etc. (not going to happen, just legalspeak for you).

Option 2 - break them down, remove the primers and offer the bullets and cases for free. Wet down the powder and put it in your garden.

The solution is obvious...go buy a .357!

Buy a 357 Magnum revolver or pull the bullets and dump the powder.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Leave them out on the table next time you go to the range with a note, I'm sure that someone will come along who would appreciate them.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I was in the custom reloading business for 11 years. Got smart and stopped. Getting someone to sign a waiver of liability will never hold up if someone wants to go after you. I agree with the one poster, buy another .357 Magnum, or pull the bullets and dump the powder. Sell the Primed Cases.

Bob

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Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

You could "karma" them to someone here who really needs some .357 brass for the postage.

Can’t mail ammo. ORM-D. I’m not sure what the process is for a regular Joe to ship it UPS/FedEx.

I can’t imagine any gun lover and specifically a S&W Forum user who doesn’t own a .357 Magnum or won’t soon own another in the future. My brain cannot compute such a thing.

I think Inspector Callahan has the best idea. Leave them on the bench of your local club. Instant karma.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

Would that remove any liability? I suppose you could state they are reloads and should only be broken down for components, but you know someone will end up shooting them.

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

Doesn't one of your shooting buddies have a .357 you could borrow and just enjoy them?

Not really. A waiver is no defense against negligence. Say you go to an amusement park and buy a ticket for a ride on the scariest roller-coaster in the world. Before you get on, the park requires you to sign a waiver. You then get thrown out of your seat because of a faulty restraint mechanism, and you get seriously injured. If you can prove the restraint failed because of their negligent maintenance -- congratulations, you now own an amusement park.

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Pisgah

See if a range that rents firearms will let you shoot up your reloads. You might have to agree to buy the rental gun if you damage it with your handloads, but it's worth a try if you want to shoot them up with no obligation. A shrewd trader could simply buy a .357, shoot up the loads, then trade away, hopefully for little depreciation.

Does your local police station accept surrendered ammo?

I think this is the best answer yet. I mean, who doesn’t own a .357...well, besides the OP

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

If I were leaving them I wouldn't include a note. That's like hanging out a sign saying SUE ME! Because you know damned well if there's a double charge in one of them that damages someone's gun they'll track you down and that's exactly what they'll do.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Actually, you can mail ammunition. I have done it.
As I recall, I did it through the post office. The provided ORM-D stickers which had to be displayed on the outside of each box. I did not have to pay an extra fee.
I did this a few years ago, when I sold my SKS rifle with the ammo and spare components as a package deal.

1. Local police ranges usually accept unwanted ammo.
2. Break down and then bury.

I'm in the same position with some 380 ammo - but I see it as an opportunity. Some day I'll go shooting with someone who has a 380. Problem solved!!

I’ve gotten rid of ammo I didn’t need any longer an in a couple years I had to go buy the same thing. Put them back on the shelf till you need them.

I recently received two good sized boxes of ammunition from a friend's estate. Several boxes of factory shotgun and rifle ammunition in various calibers, which I will use or share with others.

About 250 rounds of reloaded ammunition went into a hole in the ground with a couple of feet of dirt over the top, in a gully on the prairie known to be flooded during spring rains. Less time and effort than breaking it down for marginally useful components, maybe a little fertilizer for the flower beds.

Hang on to them in case you get another. 357?

I'm going to have to disagree - current postal regulations specifically prohibit mailing live ammunition. You have to use a common carrier, like UPS or Fedex, and affix the ORM-D label to the package. There is no extra fee for shipping ammunition by UPS or Fedex.

You can mail a rifle or shotgun by USPS, but you need an FFL to mail a handgun or other concealable firearm.

Please don't just bury them. That would be a complete waste of totally reusable components; brass, primers and bullets. Turning them into the sheriff would be the same, as they will more than likely be burned.
There are some of us who WOULD pull them apart and start over.

I don't own one.

You CAN NOT mail loaded ammo via the USPS. If you get caught it is a $10,000 fine. You can send Primers and Powder with the Hazardous Material sticker and projectiles and brass without anything, but not loaded ammo.

Turning them into a local police force, could be a good way to get rid of them.

Where are you located?

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Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

I keep ammo even if I don't have a gun in that caliber even if it is a box or two. Why ? Because sooner or later I will need it....

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Randy

Yes, put them back on the shelf.

Not against just tucking them back on the shelf in case, but I haven't fired a round of .357 for at least 6 years and finally sold my 28 to fund a new gun. I don't really see myself getting another. Maybe will just break them down and sell the brass and bullets.

Patrick

For the guys saying, "give it to the local Police department".

Not in my place.... We couldn't get rid of it either.

And.... I don't know anyone brave enough to fire someone else's mystery reloads.

I keep ammo in case I run into a good deal even if I plan on using it for trade fodder. I can then test the gun in question to make sure it functions properly. I will not knowingly pass along a nonfunctioning gun. I had rather take a loss....

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Randy

FYI the ORM-D sticker has been obsolete for years...now it's:



New Diamond-Shaped Ammo Shipping Labels Replace “ORM-D” << Daily Bulletin

I once shipped some fired brass in its original cartons. It was opened and inspected. Bulk once-fired brass never seems to be though.

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You are correct that you cannot mail loaded ammunition, but you also cannot mail primers or powder. They all must go by common carrier, UPS or Fedex. Primers and powder require a Hazmat fee, ammunition does not.

Keep the ammo, you never know when your next .357 will come along.

Break them down and give the components away but for the powder.

Leave them in a box at the range with a note stating to be used as components only.

There are 3 good options IMO.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Glue "em" to a board and nail it on the wall.

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S&W Accumulator

check with your local PD to see if they can help.

I have two 357's but I never load it anymore at the normal 357 velocity. I use the brass and load it for about 800 fps with shotgun powder. Those are known as cowboy loads on the Alliant website. That doesn't solve you problem however.

The only thing you can do is buy another 357 and don't make that fool mistake again.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I stand corrected. I actually knew that about the primers and powder, but meant to only say Brass and Projectiles were Ok through USPS.

Bob

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Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

LOL

I did not have a 357 for 35+ years. But over the years I have acquired about 1200 .357 cases from range pickup and 3 times that of 38spl. I pulled out the old 38/357 dies after I bought a LEO trade-in model 65. I have a 38+p 124gr target load and I am close to getting a 158gr low end 357mag load. After I nail down the 158gr load I will work on a 158 JHP load.

I had forgotten how versatile and fun a 357 can be. The Model 65 will become the "truck gun" once I have the JHP load.

I wish I lived closer.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

as soon as get rid of them you'll find a 357 mag, been there done that. safe them!

I was in the same situation so I ended up getting Pro Series 686 and 627. Don't know how I happened to end up with zero 357's.