I don't want to start any legal opinions on this.
I just want to know how many others use reloads only for their carry guns?

A reload is better than a sharp stick to the eye...however...I wouldn't use them.

Why add a "possible" complication to an issue that will be the most life changing thing in your life...should it ever come to pass?

Just doesn't make sense.

However...if I didn't "have" any factory loads...I'd use them.

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G.P. Charlie

Well, at the risk of beating this dead horse, most people aren't going to answer this. There has been so much invective thrown back and forth already.

Most people never get in a gunfight, and most shooters don't get charged or sued after the investigation. For those that do, EVERYTHING will be picked at beyond all reason.

"Back in the day" handloads may have been superior to much of the commercially available ammunition. Now, I just buy a box of Gold Dots (pick your own favorite defense load) and don't worry about it.

I don't use them "only," but I use handloads only in my .38s all the time (right now, in fact) and in my .357s/.41/.45s on hikes. And some other times.

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Now go make God proud...

Strictly factory ammo in carry guns: Winchester Ranger T series in my 1911s and in the Glock 19 truck gun. My J frames get Speer Gold Dot +P 135 grainers.

For plinkers and paper punching, happy to use handloads/commercial reloads.

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NRA Benefactor Member

I pack a lot of different guns depending upon the occasion. I use factory only in the .22s; the others get what is at hand which is usually hand loads. Have not had to shoot any humans or sub humans but have knocked off some pretty robust 4 legged critters. What was in the gun at the moment seemed to work very well.

I've had FTF's with reloads. Seems that the primers aren't quite the same quality as used in carry ammo or there's something wrong with my reloading process. Never had an FTF with premium carry ammo.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

I do use reloads as my carry ammo and here is the reason why:

I am carrying a S&W model 13 and I don't like the blast and recoil I find with factory .357 Magnum ammunition. However, I want something with a bit more "oomph" than .38 Special +p loads. Therefore, I hand load a 158gr mid-level magnum to about 1100fps.

I believe if it is a righteous shooting then the type of ammunition will be moot. I understand the opposing viewpoint and respect it as well.

I use only factory ammo in a carry gun. One exception: when I go into the woods huckleberry-picking I carry a 4" 500S&W, and it is loaded with my heavy handloads. If I should ever have to draw down on an errant griz I will simply have to pray that his/her family-members don't sue me.

With ridiculously high prices, less than impressive quality control and potentially spotty availability, I'm done with factory ammo. When the last of mine is gone, I will carry handloads in all of my centerfire weapons.

I have a lot of confidence in my handloads...but I still load factory ammo in my carry guns.

I never carry reloads. They create too many forensic ambiguities, even in a good shoot.

Reloading makes it affordable for me to practice.

While I try to only carry factory loadings in practice I carry both, depending on which firearms I'm carrying. If I'm carrying a 38 Special it's going to be reloads because I do not buy factory 38 Special loads. 9x19, 9x18 32 ACP will always be factory, assuming I can FIND ammo in the stores. 38 S&W will be factory only because I still have some 380 Z2 ammo left, 32 Long and 45 ACP is a toss up.

I've heard the argument about reloads but I've also heard the same argument used against carrying hollow points because that could alsol be brought up by a prosecutor. Heck, if I was a prosecutor trying to get a self defense shooting turned into a manslaughter charge I'd try to find out what kind of targets the defendant used. You think if I found out they regularly practiced on silhouette targets I wouldn't bring that up saying the defendant was planning on shooting someone and the targets were proof?

I use handloads in every gun I carry.

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USPSA CRO
Patriot Guard rider

I use hand loads for everything from big game hunting to my house gun, when I carry I use premium factory ammo. Not because it is more dependable, my reason if it ever came down to a court issue I bought what was recommended by the retailer for the gun. An issue I hope I never have but something to be prepared for.

Len

You can get this exact load as factory ammo - see Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash 357 Magnum Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Aloha,

A good friend is a family court judge, NRA member, FFL holder etc.

We have discussed this issue and he said that it has Not come up so far in shootings in Hawaii.

He did say that using "factory" ammo wouldn't hurt......

More of a problem here is in getting your gun Back from the local PD. The hoops they make you jump thru is worse than clowns in a circus.
Which is why I choose to use inexpensive M-10s and M-13s.

cowart, thank you for that link. That is exactly what I want in a factory load.

Factory all the way with CC...I always thought it was interesting that so many handloaders talk about how conscientious & precise they are with their ammo, BUT swear they would never use anyone else's even if given the load specifications????
Actually, my point has to do with the OP's concerns...The distrust of one making a mistake or someone else's.

I wouldn't have anyone else pack my parachute, either - what's your point?

I don't think it's a good argument you make, though, neighbor. In truth, there are a number of friends whose handloads I'd carry without a second's concern. I know what I've tailored mine to do, though, and I know what they do out of my guns.

I don't just buy a suit off the rack, put it on, and go to court . . . first I make have it tailored to fit me.

My bad, though - this wasn't supposed to be an argument thread, just a who-carries-handloads thread.

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Now go make God proud...

I've loaded thousands of rounds and never had a ammo related malfunction, certainly not a primer issue. Primers are primers, Winchester (Orlin) doesn't use one type in their ammo and sell another type to us.

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- Change it back -

I don't carry in the city but for home defence my first six are factory just to avoid any legal ramifications should they arise. If I need more than six I use my box of 100 hot hunting handloads. By that point I'm already somewhere I don't want to be and I'm in over my head, which means it's time to unleash the big dogs.

For carry in the woods it's handloads all the way.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

After having my first 'Crimp jump' with a reloaded .44 magnum round, I have changed my attitude, The reloads are fine for the range, but not for field use.

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Hook686

handloads in all my carry guns

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17-2, 65-5, 442-2, 10-5

The right to remain silent includes not mentioning WHOSE factory loaded your ammo. Nobody can prove that you loaded it if you don't say anything.

Dave Sinko

No problem!
With the exception of only one poster on this thread, you and everyone else understood it was just a poll on who carried handloads.

The only person thinking this thread had anything to do with the legal ramifications of handloads in self defence didn't understand the question that was asked. (as usual)
So we get the- beating the dead horse icon -so we can all have a good laugh ,,,at him!

I don't trust reloads but I did make my own carry gun.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Classic!

Thanks Erich...and I still think I still have a lawsuit against Thompson Contender...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I'm willing to carry handloads. I haven't made up my mind about carrying Sip's gun.

At the risk of getting legalistic......if the crime lab comes up with comparison residue patterns (requires a very close range shooting) with exemplar factory ammo that don't support your version of the incident, you're now in documented deep do-do and presumed to have lied. And yes, this has been beaten beyond death on several forums in several threads.

I have always made it a point to carry factory when I carry in urban environments, but in the rural setting where I live 'carry' isn't always for 2 legged predators. I guess I've been somewhat 'programed' to do so, by all the flogging of the topic. But, really I don't think the odds are all that great that it'll become an issue (it could, but it's not automatic). I often carry handloads when knocking around my property, or on the local tracts of public and private land, especially in .44 caliber.

I only carry factory loads in my CC guns, and the reason is that I'm just not set up to reload. Not to hijack this thread, but another reason I like the factory ammo is that it seems to hold up longer after being loaded, unloaded, etc. Does factory ammo seal their primers or anything that makes it more water resistant? If I recall the military does this with their ammo don't they?

I will and have carried both. I tailor the loadout to fit the need.

I will only carry factory ammo, primarily to avoid possible legal issues should the unthinkable happen. BUT I want practice ammo that feels like what I carry and doesn't break the bank, so my practice ammo is hand-loads loaded as close as I can get to the Gold Dots I carry.

Not only do I only carry factory, I carry only what police depts issue...no exotic loads...one less argument for your lawyer...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I carry with my hand loads all the time... though I do admit modern factory ammo is probably as good quality as my hand loads

I won't carry just anyone's hand loads... but Erich is on the short list of those whose hand loads I will carry...

Like anything else, the quality of hand loaded ammo is directly related to the knowledge, skill and care the hand loader uses.

I don't worry about the possibility of hand loaded ammo being questioned... a good shoot is a good shoot... and you can use a .22 or a sturmgeschutz or anything in between (if yours is legal where you live) and a justified shooting is justified... though it is probably better not to use a sub machine gun if you have a choice....

Chuck