What to do with someone else's handloads

M

Michael94

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
87   0   0
Location
GTA
I mistakenly bought some ammo online that I thought was factory reloads, but apparently it was someone's handloads. My fault for not reading the ad properly. I'm hesitant to shoot them since 1; they are someone else's handloads, and 2, they are at the top end of load data or I couldn't find any information on them.

I will include the load formulas below
150gr lead SWC
6.3gr Bullseye
Federal Magnum SP primers

158gr lead SWC
4.7gr HP 38
Unknown Magnum SP primers

125gr JHP Montana gold
4.2gr 700x
Federal SP premier

158gr JSP
7gr win 231
Unknown primers

I have a reloading press for 223 and 9mm that I haven't used or learned too yet. Would it be possible to remove the bullets and reload them with the same powder or new powder?

There are about 1000 rounds in total.

Yes, these are 357, sorry for missing that key point.
 
Last edited:
General rule of thumb is not to use anyone else’s hand loads. I would dismantle them and reload what I could. I’ve given people hand loads to shoot, but they all know my process, they are nowhere near top end of the load data, and I’m with them when we shoot them.
 
I assume they are 357?

I assume he got his load data from an older manual. As I just checked W231/HP38 data for 38 plus P and 357 and they're over max.

You can get a bullet puller hammer, stick a ear plug in the bottom and pull them.
 
A collet type bullet puller would make dismantling those 1000 rounds a reasonable task. Then you could reassemble them, ensuring you were happy with the charge and quality.

Option #2: Tear down a few to make sure the charges are consistent, and look a bunch over for signs of obvious quality problems. If all is good, shoot them in a Ruger.
 
I would pull them all, the primed brass and projectiles should still be good. It's not worth the risk of blowing up a gun which are now irreplaceable. As well as there's the risk of injury eyes, ears, fingers and other body parts that are not replaceable either... I would throw the powder out as well. I'm not experienced enough to tell if the powder is actually what the seller said it was and for the 4 or 5 cents it costs to use my own powder it's worth the peace of mind.
 
I agree with what many have already said - pull them and salvage what you can. Shooting someone else's handloads (and possibly paying for a mistake they made) is not worth the risk.
 
Michael94 said:
Will the lead bullets be reusable, and will pulling them cause any damage to the casings?
Click to expand...
Yes, they will be usable if you put a foam plug on the bottom to soften the blow with a kinetic hammer puller. I do that often to reuse the same bullet and case for setting up my dies.

No wont damage the cases. Just pull the decapping rod when you go load them, so doesn't pop the useable primer out. Load them like you normally would.
 
Make your life easy and get a collet bullet puller.

1000 rounds with a hammer and an earplug seems unrefined.

s6hHOvT.jpg
 
I found all those loads in various manuals of mine, so they appear to be within spec. and the M92 is one of the strongest action .357 rifles made. It is a good idea to verify a few of each by pulling some and verifying the charge of powder is correct as labelled. Pulling all those lead bullets will be frustrating and you will damage a bunch. But it's your choice. I know what mine would be. I'd shoot them all if I also had a Chiappa lever gun.
 
I would only shoot reloads from someone I knew, and only if it was their rifle I was shooting it in. The potential to damage myself or my gun is too high for me to trust some rando.

I wouldn't trust what buddy guy says the loads are either. How do you know his scale isn't off, or he had the wrong powder in the dispenser?...
 
Suther said:
I would only shoot reloads from someone I knew, and only if it was their rifle I was shooting it in. The potential to damage myself or my gun is too high for me to trust some rando.

I wouldn't trust what buddy guy says the loads are either. How do you know his scale isn't off, or he had the wrong powder in the dispenser?...
Click to expand...


Exactly! Just because he says it's Whizbang #2 powder, doesn't mean it is. He could have bought the powder second-hand online or at a gunshow, and not know if it is Whizbang #2, or the more powerful Whizbang #4, which looks pretty much the same sitting in a pan, in a re-used bottle. Even if it doesn't disassemble your revolver, it could slam the guts out of it over the course of a 1000 over-pressure loads and turn it into a toolbox gun. Pull the bullets and ditch the powder (there's only about a pound of powder in the whole 1000 rounds, and that's peanuts compared to your price of your revolver). If you decide to shoot them, reload with known powder. If you're not going to fire them yourself, don't reload them and create the same dilemma for someone else later. Just sell the components. You might turn a profit.
 
I as well would not trust reloads from anyone. A few years back, I was at a gun range and a member had purchased some reloads for his lever action. The loads were too hot for his rifle and all it took was one shot. Guy didn't get hurt but the rifle was done.
 
As for pulling the bullets; if they have a good roll crimp it will be a h3ll of a job with a kinetic/hammer puller.
A collet puller will likely ruin most of the bullets unless the crimp isn't too strong and the lead super hard.

how about list them for sale explicitly stating that they are for components and are reloads? take a loss on it and consider it a lesson learned.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom