What to do with .357 handloads I no longer can use?

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psween

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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.
 
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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.
 
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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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.
 
Dirty Harry Callahan said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
tlawler said:
Would that remove any liability?
Click to expand...

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.
 
Rental Gun?

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.
 
Dirty Harry Callahan said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
Sevens said:
Can't mail ammo. ORM-D. I'm not sure what the process is for a regular Joe to ship it UPS/FedEx.
Click to expand...

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 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.
 
andyo5 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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