Topic: Handloads for CCW use?

[fj40mojo]

Opinions wanted.  What is your take as a reloader and CCW holder?  Would you carry handloads?  What do you feel are the legal implications should you be involved (God forbid) in a shooting?  Are you more liable to civil legal action by survivor/surviving family member by using handloads and if so how might you circumvent this vulnerability?

I got 200 .45 230grn Hornady XTPs for free and am considering attempting to duplicate Hornady's factory loaded ammo for this same bullet and using it as carry ammo.  I'm confident enough in my ability as a reloader to stake my life on my reloads, but am unsure about the legal implications of packing "roll your owns" for concealed carry.  I would think that if you documented the process you used to develop your load and show that it is a duplicate or near as possible duplicate of commercially available ammo and not an evil attempt to make some magic evil killer explosive poisoned death pill that would provide some defense against civil action by a survivor or family member.  What do you think?

[Jeff]

I wouldn't worry.  My ammo isn't any more deadly than that which I can buy.  It's just cheaper.

[TrooperBrian]

I posted an article about this a while ago where a man was charged and imprisoned for the death of his wife because he could not provide enough documentation for the handloads that killed her. I will try to find it.

I think the bottom line is that people reload for enjoyment of the hobby and for economical reasons, I would leave the production of self-defense ammunition to the professionals. I have no way of making cases nickel or black nickel, seating the bullet properly after thousands of test rounds, or picking a powder that has both low recoil and low muzzle flash while keeping the adequate velocity for the bullet weight.

[TrooperBrian]

Here is a similar one posted by Spiff:

http://www.boiseshooters.com/index.php/topic,1883.0.html

[Jeff]

Well, every round I own whether store bought or reloaded is essentially "self defense ammo."  If I end up in front of a jury I'll make sure I have a good lawyer that will explain that.  In any case ,I'll still shoot whatever is in the gun and worry about the ramifications after the fact.

[tgibson]

Well, every round I own whether store bought or reloaded is essentially "self defense ammo."  If I end up in front of a jury I'll make sure I have a good lawyer that will explain that.  In any case ,I'll still shoot whatever is in the gun and worry about the ramifications after the fact.

  What he said.
Adios,
TG