Reloading BS thread

You really shouldn't reload for home defense, God forbid some attorney get ahold of that info (in the event you used the rounds). He'd make you out as constructing some type of super duper mass destruction shells, and you just jumping at the chance to try them out!!

 

Sooooo based on that theory you shouldn't reload FMJ rounds either because of the same reason........god forbid you find yourself in that situation, you can easily provide your loading information if you properly document it. FMJ rounds are just as deadly as JHP if shot placement is correct, and I guarantee I can show 100 rounds of my loads and 100 rounds of factory ammo and you can't tell the difference (both looks and performance). Just don't load max powder charges and keep the chrono results in the same range as factory ammo.

 

Correct, I was referring to any ammo to be used for home/self defense. Do you think the "average" juror knows anything about load data? This was found with 10 seconds of a Google search.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/reloading/94880-reloading-home-defense.html

 

CCW holders are cautioned never to use home brewed rounds for defense. Ive taken the classes in 4states, and all have keyed on that.
While it may well be proven that your own loads are less than equal to a factory load, I simply don't like the idea of paying an attorney good money just to argue the point.

 

Being a law enforcement officer myself I know first hand that ANYTIME a cases outcome is put in the hands of twelve strangers anything can happen and no the average potential juror probably doesn't have much if any knowledge about reloading data, but they usually don't have much knowledge about how narcotics are manufactured either but with a good DA by the time the trial is over they have a pretty good idea of the process. That is where proper data documentation of your reloading comes in place, plus you will most likely have to educate your defense attorney on the subject as well.

Anywho, sorry for kind of jacking the thread. I guess I should've just said from the get go that I would not hesitate to carry any of my reloads (JHP or FMJ), especially during a home invasion situation. But I am in Tennessee which is a southern gun friendly state and I am very comfortable with my reloading and data documentation.

 

I am, in no way questioning your reloading or data keeping abilities. I just know for years the general consensus is not to use hand loads for home defense. I'm in Alabama, so I get the "gun friendly" thing as well. Just curious, does your department allow you to carry your hand loads while on duty?

 

Guys, I have heard the exact opposite or at least the use of Hand loads does not matter one bit if the shooting was justified. On a gun forum there was a real lawyer that worked these types of cases. He said in all his years of being a lawyer he has NEVER heard the hand load vs. commercial debate come up in a shooting trial. Now if the shooting was NOT justified, that may come up. But if the shooting was justified it doesn't matter what type of rounds were used to stop the action. Just my .02 cents on the subject. But to please any of the trial lawyers out there I make sure my Glock 45's are loaded with Black Talons. BT's are NOT illegal to own, they just stopped production due to public outcry. And now they go for about $5 each! The Ranger SX rounds are very similar, just don't have the talons on the end of the petals.

 

Yeah, I'm not worried too much about the debate of hand load vs. factory load for home defense. I'm in Texas, so I completely understand the gun friendly state aspect.

But none the less, I have a box of Federal Hydra-Shoks that I load back into the clip after I go to the range.

I'd likely only hand load HP rounds if I found a deal on them for cheaper than FMJ.

So back on topic, does the 9mm w/ taper crimp work on 9mm luger? it seems like it would, but I'm new at this so I'd rather ask than take that chance.

 

I run T-series Ranger in my carry gun and will move to PDX1 when/if it ever becomes widely available again & I cycle through my stock of Ranger. That whole line of Talon/SXT/T-Series/PDX1 has gone through a lot of iterations and is trusted by a lot of LE out there. It's good stuff.

 

I use a Lee FCD (Factory crimp die). It produces a crimp similar to the factory loaded ammo and is so worth the time it takes to run your reloads through one of them.

 

Hey 45LC, I just bought a Dan Wesson chambered in 45 Long Colt. Any suggestions for reloading for it? I picked up a set of Lee carbide dies already. Anything special to pay attention too, or just go for it like the rest of my straight walled revolver cartridges?

I'm planning on using 2400 and will be picking up 255 gr SWC from a local source.

Thanks

 

I actually use a lube pad even with my carbide dies. Do just a ring around the top of the case 1/16" wide. It makes it resize like hot butter. Worth the effort it takes to wipe them off. If you disassemble the expander die and slightly polish the expander sides it lessens the "ka-chunk" on the upstroke of the handle.

I use 2400 also for the 45LC. I use 300 grain jacketed bullets only though, just a choice to keep my POA and POI the same. Belt Mountain has some awesome 320 grain brass bullets with a lead core for legality and weight. Expensive but they will stop anything that walks or rolls on the continent.

Nice catch on the Dan Wesson!

 

I personally do not worry about the lube pad with the carbide dies for .45 colt if you are loading lower pressure target loads, I find that mine are easy to load regardless. Any of the cases that I have loaded a bit hotter are a bit more difficult to resize, so I am going to have to try the lube trick on them.

On the topic of hot loads, I've got a 50 round box of 300 grain jacketed soft points sitting over 13.8 grains of blue dot and a cci 350 magnum primer (I shoot a new model black hawk). I'm wanting to go test them with water jugs or 2 liters, but my local range is closed since it is a national forest range.


Also, can the Dan wessons take the high pressure loads like the rugers can?

 

NO on the same as Rugers. You might want to back down some on that one. I run 18.5 grains of 2400 with a 300 grain jacketed bullet, WLP primers. But mine is a 4" RedHawk.

 

Good advice guys. The Dans can take the same abuse as the Rugers so I'm not worried about the hot loads. I'll see what I can find in the way of higher grain bullets.

I have a box of 360 grain rounds coming from Doubletap. We'll see what they can do.

 

The load is still within my loading manual, and I am not using a powder measure for that load (I am measuring each one out indivudually). If I get any over pressure signs I will be pulling the bullets and reloading them

 

The very first time I started using 2400 powder I balanced out the scale and dialed in 18 grains. I then bumped the scale accidentally and stopped to make sure all was OK and where I had set it. I did not notice but the 10 grain slider had jumped to the top of the next tier, but visually it looked OK. I loaded up a few test rounds and I noticed the powder volume in the case seemed high but being this was the first time I had used 2400 in 45 Colt I had no visual reference in my brain where the level should be in the case. OMG, it added about 5-6 grains to that load. I had no idea this had happened until I fired that first round from a rest. The video link below shows what happened. It just about twisted out of my hands. Too bad I did not have the chrono set up that day to see how fast that 300 grain bullet was going because I sure will not repeat that stunt ever again if I can help it. I consider my revolver "proofed" now. It survived the ordeal just fine as I have shot hundreds of those 18.5 2400 loads thereafter.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10728824/GunStuff/twist.wmv

 

I used a balance beam scale for many years, and they work and still do. But I finally gave in according to my Midway USA order history on Aug. 5, 2007 and got this:

And love it but still have my beam scale and check\standards weights to verify both. Glad things worked out OK for you!

 

That is why I have a digital scale. I'd really like to get one of the chemistry scales that the college uses, much more accurate than what I am using lol. I haven't had any trouble with it yet though. I'm very glad I didn't get a balance scale because when I load target loads I still measure each out (don't have a powder measure yet). The digital gives me the reading a bit faster. Still takes me a while to load 50 rounds....I hope to knock the time down a lot whenever I get a powder measure

 

so i got all my cleaning stuff in...

tumbler, media, polish.. brass.... ive search google for some tips and what not.. some good info

Any pointers, advice, recommendations would be appreciated

1st time cleaning brass