Why Is It Taught Not To Use Reloads For Self Defense?

[Walkingwolf]

I would think that a prosecutor would have no problem getting into evidence the destructive advertising of extreme defense ammo. Critical defense, yea I can see that being used against a shooter in a questionable shooting. Any clear cut self defense shooting the ammo will not be an issue.

I carry handloads except for rimfire ammo, and thumb my nose at those people who are fixated on tactikewl rumors.

 

[Walkingwolf]

Massad Ayoob recommended finding out what your local PD uses and using the civilian legal version of that.

Ohh yea that would work out real good.

Prosecutor~~Why did you choose the ammo in your firearm?

You~~~~~~Because that is what the police carry?

Prosecutor~~Do fancy yourself as a cop?

 

[Gunhacker]

And yet someone like Skeeter Skelton had no qualms about using his own hand loaded ammo in his guns during his LE career (as a Sheriff, Border and DEA agent). The guns and the loads used, were routinely mentioned in or were the basis of many of his articles.

Also, how do you reconcile that someone like Jerry Miculek (who can shoot more ammo in a week of practicing than what many will shoot in a lifetime) uses and trusts his own hand loaded target ammo in competition where a FTF would cost him big time money in losing a match?

As previously mentioned, I too have experienced more FTF issues with off the shelf ammo than with my own hand loaded ammo, in my 40+ years of shooting and reloading.

I would never use cases that had already been reloaded multiple times for anything other than range use. Once fired or virgin brass for ammo that is for SD purposes, is my rule.

I totally agree with the OP, that when done judiciously, hand loaded ammo is as reliable as factory loaded. And this belief is backed up by the thousands of hand loaded rounds I've shot without incident, when I used to regularly compete in Cowboy Action Shooting.

 

[dla]

The mind abhors a vacuum.
Noobs read it on a forum, have no information to counter, and then pass it on in forums like gospel. That's pretty much the life cycle of this mental parasite.

Break the cycle. Nobody anywhere cares whether or not you use reloads.

 

[dougb1946]

If you are in trouble because they think your ammo was too lethal, it means you were 1)attacked, 2) responded, 3) and you won. A legal defense is a legal defense. Publish the recipe for others to use.

 

[Maddog 521]

If the SHTF it isn't going to matter what you are defending yourself or your family with. I have no problem with either.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

If anything my reloads would reveal to the prosecutor that I obviously had intentions on stopping a deadly threat. Guilty as charged.

 

[sigp220.45]

One day a reserve officer from a one stoplight town of 2500 people needed a topic for his real job of gun writer and ammo shill.

On that day, a million gun forum threads were launched.

 

[gen3guy]

Reliability. Plain and simple.

 

[growr]

I got this ammo at a gunshow....have NO idea where it came from before that.

Odds of winning the lottery are 10 million to one.....substantially higher if you don't play!

Randy

 

[Pisgah]

There has been exactly one -- one -- case where handloaded ammo was attempted to be used by the prosecution as evidence that a shooting was premeditated murder. The accused claimed that the decedent had attacked him, and that he had fired at close range in a pure case of self-defense. The prosecution alleged he had fired from a distance and in cold blood. Since there was no other ammo proven to be from the same lot that could be used for comparison testing, definitive tests showing from what range the fatal shots had been fired were inconclusive . Had the ammo been commercially loaded, in theory comparable ammo would have been easily obtained.

In the end, the accused was acquitted anyway.

The "handloaded to be more deadly" argument has never been used, nor is it likely to be by any prosecutor with an IQ over 50. Jurors pretty readily recognize that lethal is lethal, and ALL ammo is potentially lethal. They also recognize that if a prosecutor is going to get all worked up over what ammo was used, he really must not have much of a case.

 

[andy52]

Much of the thinking on reloads stems from well before the internet.
At that time not to many states had the type of conceal carry laws that are now on the books. Here in Missouri getting a concealed carry permit was extremely difficult before 2007. At that time we also got the castle doctrine law which essentially means if your shooting is ruled justifiable no civil action can be taken against you, so what ammo you used really doesn't matter. This state went even further, if you can legally buy a gun you can carry it no permit needed.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Missouri got concealed carry in 2003 and Castle Doctrine in 2017 . . .

Much of the thinking on reloads stems from well before the internet.
At that time not to many states had the type of conceal carry laws that are now on the books. Here in Missouri getting a concealed carry permit was extremely difficult before 2007. At that time we also got the castle doctrine law which essentially means if your shooting is ruled justifiable no civil action can be taken against you, so what ammo you used really doesn't matter. This state went even further, if you can legally buy a gun you can carry it no permit needed.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

Thank you all for the help.

 

[78bagger]

Much to consider. Not really worried about the legal aspects. I carry factory SD ammo because I've only been reloading for 6 or 7 years and I had a squib once. Once.

 

[Engineer1911]

Just how do you identify that more deadly reloaded cartridge compared to that superb one shot-one kill factory cartridge?

During casual conversations with various police officers, I have found out that most know more about the personal computer / laptop in their squad car than the firearm on their belt that might save their life sometime.

 

[rwsmith]

In my state....

In my state there are laws that generally favor the defender, but I have no use to use reloads, since I have a few brands picked out that I really trust that is reasonable and not 'boutique'ammo

I can practice with my reloads and save $$$.

 

[alwslate]

For SD ammo I use factory ammo in the calibers that I don't handload
like the .32 acp and .380. In the calibers that I do load like the .38 spl
and .357 mag I use my own handloads. I can't imagine that it would
make any difference in a justified SD shooting.

 

[andy52]

Missouri got concealed carry in 2003 and Castle Doctrine in 2017 . . .

Muss you may be correct on the 2003 date but 2017 was the constitutional carry law I think the Castle Doctrine preceded that.

 

[biku324]

One day a reserve officer from a one stoplight town of 2500 people needed a topic for his real job of gun writer and ammo shill.

On that day, a million gun forum threads were launched.

Precisely. When I need advice from a guy who played at part-time policing in a village that still doesn't have 3,000 people in it, then I'll ask Massad. Where I've worked part-time police can't serve warrants (search or arrest) or even write traffic citations - that's for full-time, salaried officers.

I also prefer college classes taught by folks with in-discipline success practicing in their fields on their resumes.