Self/Home defense loading

[HELLSING]

Just out of random curiosity, does anyone have a few hundred rounds loaded up for a SHTF scenario, or for personal/home defense?

I've been sick the last 2 weeks with the flu and have been going crazy being house-bound.... but I snuck out for a few hours. I went to about 5 different ranges from a few miles away to an hour away picking up brass. I ended up with about 400 .223/5.56 cases that I can use.

I was thinking about loading about 200 heavy hitters for defense purposes. What grain do ya suggest? I have a 1 / 7 twist on the barrel.

 

[Wee Hooker]

It's generally thought that loading for PD is not a good idea.
First, nothing is as reliable as premium factory ammo.
Second, the lawyers will have a field day with you for premeditating the shooting by researching, planning and making your own ammo with the intent of doing maximum damage to his poor innocent client.

 

[murphydog]

I have read the pro and con arguments regarding handloading self-defense ammo, and I think unless you have very sophisticated LEOs (and trial lawyers) you are unlikely to have a problem should you decide to do so. However, you are have a near-zero chance of encountering legal trouble if you simply buy a few boxes of whatever .223/5.56 load your local police/sheriff's department uses.

 

[kwselke]

Honestly sir... all I had on hand was the .223 load I use for hunting feral hogs, a 64 grain Win. Power Point over 24.9 grains of Win-748. They're going to take your gun, and your life will be hell if you shoot a person so why worry if the ammo is store bought or home grown. Just be happy to be alive. By the way many hunting bullets have no cannelure and the bullet will set back under recoil if used in high cap magazines. Crimp well.

 

[Skip Sackett]

HOGWASH! HOGWASH! HOGWASH!

The liberals only have to start a rumor and some of us gladly lay down our rights! NOT ME!

Every round I carry is a hand load. They are loaded to normal for caliber stuff.
Check the laws in your state. Mine has no restriction. Yours may. Abide by WRITTEN LAWS FOR YOUR AREA!
But, never let fear of what might be keep you from exercising your rights.

Let me ask you this: on the day after the second amendment was ratified, how did the framers load their personal protection firearms? BY HAND! Case closed.....

 

[crofoot629]

I stacked IMI M193 pretty deep so I'm of no use to you

Emory

 

[Cdog]

Yes I do. A few hundred is about right.

Who handloads and believes factory rounds are better?

If I believed that, I'd be scared to squeeze the trigger.

Hogwash ain't the term I'd use, but it'll do.

 

[SMSgt]

Nothing in the Florida statutes restricts me to what kind of ammunition I have to use for self defense.

Commercial ammo more reliable? Have you seen the number of "commercial" ammos recalled in the last few years? Since I started reloading in 1975, I've had exactly two (2) bad rounds, both from the same box of primers.

Which do you want the DA to question you on; Black Talons, Hydra-Shoks, Zombie Killers, or would you prefer him to address your mid-power LRN target and range handloads.

 

[Titegroups]

Nobody will dictate how I will defend myself period.

 

[Rule3]

There is about a gazillon (i counted them) threads on the factory vs handload scenario.

There is not one case that anyone can cite that found a person at fault based only on using handloads. Maybe for some other technical term but not solely for using hand loaded ammo.

As to keep a stash of ammo around, sure. A 223 in the home would not be my choice however, too much penetration through walls unless you have no one in the home and live with no neighbors.

But for your question any heavier HP bullet or HP match bullet. A 1:7 will take a 80 to 90 gr bullet

I prefer a handgun in close quarters, even a 12 gauge is too much to swing around and blast for me in the middle of the night half awake. But whatever you feel is right for you.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Now if you strart drilling holes, wacking a HP with a phillips screw driver or start cutting "X's" or lines across the "Factory bullets" there could be problems..................

 

[sps282]

Use what shoots best in your gun.....if you can't hit what you are shooting at what difference does it make factory/handload.

 

[redlevel]

Just out of random curiosity, does anyone have a few hundred rounds loaded up for a SHTF scenario

No. I guess I have a few thousand rounds loaded. My three shtf assault rifles are of the redneck variety, two .357 Trappers and a .45 Colt Trapper. My load is 9-ish grains of Unique behind a 250 grain swc or rnfp bullet in the .45 and 6 point something grains of Unique behind a 158 grain swc in the .357s. Just some good old plinking rounds I can use in the carbines or my handguns.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

First, nothing is as reliable as premium factory ammo.

That is one big load of bull! My ammo is more reliable and more accurate than anything you can buy anywhere. I would and do stake my life on the ammo I load and wouldn't trade what I load for any factory ammo no matter which factory loads it!

(well, maybe I would trade some for factory Lapua ammo so I can load their excellent brass after I shoot their ammo while I PRACTICE LOL)

 

[rwsmith]

PD load

Depleted uranium bullet on 8.2 grains of Unique.

 

[blujax01]

It's generally thought that loading for PD is not a good idea.
First, nothing is as reliable as premium factory ammo.
Second, the lawyers will have a field day with you for premeditating the shooting by researching, planning and making your own ammo with the intent of doing maximum damage to his poor innocent client.

Really? Generally? By whom exactly?

Wee Hooker do you reload? Because if you did you would know that your statement about the reliability of purchased ammunition versus handcrafted loads tailored to your firearm is

All.

Wrong.


As far as your lawyer statement -

This.
Has.
Never.
Happened.

That being said, if anyone is more comfortable purchasing ammunition for SD, please do so. I'm just some dude with an opinion that is just as valid or invalid as yours.

 

[mikld]

It's generally thought that loading for PD is not a good idea.
First, nothing is as reliable as premium factory ammo.
Second, the lawyers will have a field day with you for premeditating the shooting by researching, planning and making your own ammo with the intent of doing maximum damage to his poor innocent client.

Handloading for defence is a much talked about subject. Some say don't because you could be prosecuted for loading "killer ammo". In that case even the use of commercial "self defence" ammo would be subject to prosecution because it was designed and purchased for the sole intent of killing and maiming. Others say there hasn't ever been a case against a home owner using handloads in self defence. I haven't seen reliable refrence to any such prosecution of a person using handloads. But the debate rages on...

BTW; I load my house gun with 150 gr. wadcutters over a stiff loading of W231, large meplat for shock and tissue damage, and no over penetration. My personal ammo stash usually consists of 200-500 reloaded rounds for each gun (I can reload a lot more than I shoot!)...

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

Not really sure,,, break into my house and lets find out .

10 Spot

 

[mtgianni]

I load for accuracy. None of my loads were loaded to the intent to harm another person. If I have to use them in self defense it will be because that was what was in the gun at the time I needed it. I have full faith that they will go off and do the same as they would on a four legged target.

 

[dcxplant]

Lawyers will not have a field day with anyone that uses handloads for personal protection. There is a lot of case history for that.

Me? I use premium factory loads for carry. The odds of a misfire are lower, and my life is worth a few bucks on ammo thank you very much.

For the unrealistic SHTF scenario that we love to fantasize about, my reloaded stuff is just fine.