Dangerous reloads

[GunnyGene]

My daughter just told me about a friend of her husbands that suffered severe hand injury recently when his pistol blew up. Apparently he had bought some reloads from a college student who was reloading & selling and who didn't get it right.

Her point was that this was becoming a popular way for students to make some extra money for college.

I'm not badmouthing all those who reload for profit, but do want to make it known that this might be a growing hazard for obvious reasons.

I don't reload or buy reloads, but I know enough about it to know it's a meticulous process, requiring proper equipment and knowledge. I'm not so sure that a young college student just looking to make a few bucks is going have either one.

 

[sliclee]

GOOD POST hope all read it and follow-Lee

 

[NikA]

Well, I suppose it's better than making or selling drugs... but it's still illegal and a really bad idea in terms of future liability.

The licensing for ammunition manufacturers (i.e., anyone who reloads with the intent to profit) falls under the FFL section of the 1968 GCA if I recall correctly.

 

[GunnyGene]

Well, I suppose it's better than making or selling drugs... but it's still illegal and a really bad idea in terms of future liability.

The licensing for ammunition manufacturers (i.e., anyone who reloads with the intent to profit) falls under the FFL section of the 1968 GCA if I recall correctly.

I also doubt that some 19 or 20 yo college kid is going to even know about the legalities; or give a damn about them. :roll:

 

[powder smoke]

Thats sad news for sure. Reloads from unknown origin it is prudent to pull
the bullets discard the powder and reuse metallic components. ps

 

[Bucks Owin]

Well, I suppose it's better than making or selling drugs... but it's still illegal and a really bad idea in terms of future liability.

The licensing for ammunition manufacturers (i.e., anyone who reloads with the intent to profit) falls under the FFL section of the 1968 GCA if I recall correctly.

I also doubt that some 19 or 20 yo college kid is going to even know about the legalities; or give a damn about them. :roll:

10X Gunny... :roll:

Maybe it should be labeled "Feel the BURN!!!"... :shock:

 

[gtxmonte]

This is always a touchy subject and can indeed be dangerous. But I am NOT in the NEVER buy reloads camp. I buy reloads from guys all the time, as well as do some loading for friends. The difference, I KNOW them and the ones who buy from me, KNOW me. I trust them as much as I trust myself, or I wouldn't shoot them.

Most people were taught by someone to reload. So would the "never use anothers reloads" theory apply to the person who actually taught YOU........probably not. Its like anything else. KNOW the source.

As for college kids loading ammo...........age has nothing to do with it. My dad taught me when I was 10 and I was rolling my own totally unsupervised not long after that. That was over 40 years ago and to this day, NEVER had a squib, NEVER double charged a case and NEVER blew anything up

 

[NikA]

Any information on the caliber and weapon in this situation? I really have to wonder what sort of cartridge someone would be too cheap to buy but would fire a stranger's reloads in. WAG: .357M in a lightweight alloy revolver.

 

[GunnyGene]

Any information on the caliber and weapon in this situation? I really have to wonder what sort of cartridge someone would be too cheap to buy but would fire a stranger's reloads in. WAG: .357M in a lightweight alloy revolver.

No idea.

 

[Rodfac]

Said it before...I don't shoot anyone's reloads but my own...not friends, not family, just my own. I prefer to make my own mistakes, doncha know. And when I'm in the shop, there's no music, no radio, no talking unless I stop the load in progress. I teach from time to time, and that's the rule. Same goes for my wood shop.

Rod

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I used to buy reloads from a couple gun stores in tucson , but after having a few squids and one over charged I quit buying reloads.
I don't reload so I will only buy and shoot new ammo now.

 

[Poco Oso]

I just shoot my own reloads. I have bought some factory reloads (MagTech, I think) a long time back. My wife shoots them too, but unless my daughter and her husband visit, that's pretty much it.

 

[mikld]

Reloading 101, rule no. 2; never shoot reloads made by another.

 

[Tom W]

Up until my buddy died of cancer I'd load a box or two of 30/30s and a box of .44 mags every deer season for him. I put a dummy round of each in his coffin for a sendoff.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

My reloads are better than factory ammo.

 

[Don Lovel]

I have officially had more problem rounds from boxes of factory ammo than any handloads I have ever done.
I have had probably 3 squib loads in autoloading pistols was just lucky that I heard a weak pop and took time to look and find an obstructed bore. I only did that to myself with a handload once, running a 180 gr silhouette FMJ through a .357 Rossi carbine without enough powder in the load.
I have seen a few Ruger single actions with blown up cylinders, usually from wrong or too much powder in 44 Mag loads. I saw one 30 carbine that had a squip in the barrel and two more stacked behind it until the cylinder would not turn.

 

[flyerdoc]

Just started rolling my own, it is fun, challenging. At this point I would have to say, with all the variables involved, I'd rather not trust anyone else's reloads. I barely trust my own, but if I do run into a problem at least its MY problem. YMMV

 

[Biggfoot44]

As far as that goes, I know I made decent handloads when I was in college, and plenty of people start reloading later in life.

As far as legality, the FFL's are the minor part, its the ITAR that makes small scale commercial reloading prohibitive.

I'd tell anyone who had to ask to not shoot anyone elses reloads ( not speaking of legit comercial reloads). However there are people who I load wi 99th h s nd develope loads with that I would trust. But there are only two of them over the last 35 or so years.

 

[Rook]

Most people were taught by someone to reload. So would the "never use anothers reloads" theory apply to the person who actually taught YOU........probably not. Its like anything else. KNOW the source.

I wouldn't because he'd be 112 years old now if he were still alive. :lol:

 

[5of7]

I always tell people who are contemplating getting into handloading, to buy a good reliable reloading manual and take the time to read the text before actually starting to produce their own ammo.

When I started, something like 62 years ago, I bought a Lyman manual and read the dos and don'ts section very carefully.
Now Lyman, at least at that time, took a very conservative approach to the subject and I followed their prescriptions to the letter.
It was only after a decade that I felt experienced enough to ''go beyond the book'' so to speak.

I have never damaged a gun with my handloads, although I have blown a primer or two in bolt action rifles like the Rem. 700 and the Win. model 70.

What experience bestows on a handloader (if he is thinking) is the knowledge that once top pressure has been reached, the pressures rise exponentially with each small increase of propellant.

Another thing experience bestows is than there is very little, (or no) difference--in the performance in the field--between a bullet that is going 3000 fps at the muzzle, and one going 3200 fps. It is what Lyman referred to as the ''area of diminishing returns.'' 8)