.45ACP Defence Load...can you do better than this???
- Thread starter Pietro Beretta
- Start date
I've had factory ammo not go bang. Fortunately, it's never happened in a dangerous situation.
You can seal handloads if you want, too. And if I was storing handloads for a long time in uncertain conditions, I'd probably seal them, too. As it is, I've left handloads submerged for over a week (no sealant) and they went BOOM!
No, which is why when I make ammo for situations that "matter" I make sure they are perfect.
Usually only one or 2 at a time.
So do handloads, if you make them correctly.
I've heard about this, but I expect that I will be okay as I am far more likely to encounter 4 legged threats than have to shoot someone.
Bottom line is that if you take care with making your ammunition, it will be every bit as reliable as factory ammo. Not all factory ammo is perfect. I've had factory ammo misfire, be too hot and blow primers, lock up the action due to excess pressure and split necks on brass.
My last 2 boxes of 300 win mag Winchester 180 gr pp were a bloody prize. The first box actually sounded different on some of the shots, it gave me 4" patterns out of my custom 98 win mag. (Factory fed's on the other hand gave me 1" groups) I took the second box, pulled the bullets and weighed the charges, there was a 6.4 gr variation from the lightest to the heaviest, and 2 noticeably different styles of bullets in the batch. If I have to go after anything 4 legged and furious, I will be loading my own, no questions asked.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I agree with Gatehouse here.
One can even add that perhaps single stage reloading, under good conditions, may be the most careful additional process in handloading. Mass manufacturing for hunters, by Win/Remington/Federal, etc, does not have the time or inclination to do this.
The US Army Markmanship Training Unit, all of thier match ammunition is loaded in this manner.
One can even add that perhaps single stage reloading, under good conditions, may be the most careful additional process in handloading. Mass manufacturing for hunters, by Win/Remington/Federal, etc, does not have the time or inclination to do this.
The US Army Markmanship Training Unit, all of thier match ammunition is loaded in this manner.
over the years i've found the OPPOSITE to be true- i can trust my handloads far more than factory- i've had more than one case where the FLASHOLE WAS NOT DRILLED - esp federal and remington- with handloads , that possibility is eliminated- as for
going click, you get dud primers in factory ammo too
as far as the 260 grain bullet is concerned, i've got a listing for them, but awful- both in terms of battering your frame and accuracy- i've only put through 5 rounds, pulled the rest and loaded them into 45 colt, where they belong
That is a very polite way of calling the man a liar I suppose. FWIW I have had the same experience as B. The only ammo that has ever failed on me was factory.
I would carry my loads if I had the option. I don't care what Ayoob says about the legal ramifications. I've looked for court cases bearing out his theory, but have been unable to find any. Seems to be a non-issue. Better judged by 12 than carried by 6 anyway...
gushulak
CGN frequent flyer
Using reloads in a self defense situation? Hope you have one hell of a good lawyer. You hold a lot of trust in your reloads to perform when needed....will they?
I've reloaded thousands of rounds and it is very easy to miss a primer, have a low charge etc. Way too many variables that I could ever say that my reloads were 100%. Not that factory is much better, but using milspec loads I expect a bang.
Having shot IPSC for many years, I have learned that even the most precicely loaded ammo doesn't work at some time. I have seen every competitor having to perform tap-rack-bangs to clean away bad reloads. Every single one of them, and they are some of the world's best shooters, even they are not 100% sure of their loads.
I've reloaded thousands of rounds and it is very easy to miss a primer, have a low charge etc. Way too many variables that I could ever say that my reloads were 100%. Not that factory is much better, but using milspec loads I expect a bang.
Having shot IPSC for many years, I have learned that even the most precicely loaded ammo doesn't work at some time. I have seen every competitor having to perform tap-rack-bangs to clean away bad reloads. Every single one of them, and they are some of the world's best shooters, even they are not 100% sure of their loads.
Missing primers, low charges, etc means that you aren't taking care and making the most reliable ammo you can.
Reloading for when your life depends on it (or something almost important, like an expensive hunting trip
) means taking certain steps to ensure your ammo is perfect.Since this ammo is going to be used sparingly, you aren't going to be loading it on a progressive press, and you are going to pay attention.
Double checking primers, flasholes, powder levels,bullets seated to proper depths, a final weigh in to make sure all loaded cartridges have powder and finally making sure all your ammo will feed and chamber in your firearm PRIOR to when you NEED to use it.
The factory isn't going to double check your flasholes or powder charge or make sure the primer isn't too high/low.
For my Shizze and giggles practice shooting 45acp ammo, I've not always had perfect experience. I tend to use the cheapest bullets I can find, which "usually" work really well. For the Gold Dots loaded in to the mags in my safe, I took about 3 hours to load 100 on the single stage. I've tested them, fired about 300 in total, never had a single one fail to feed, eject, fire, anything. I know they are 100%. I also never unload or reload those mags, I used them to help break the pistol in, but now they just sit and wait, hopefully forever. I have other mags to take to the range for practice. As it is, all the defense rounds I've ever loaded, have cost approx $150. If I were to have purchased loaded rounds, for the same number, it'd be closer to $500 or more, and who knows if there is powder in the case, or a flashhole drilled. Those are two problems I can guarantee with my life, that my rounds will not have.
Even Massad Ayoob, will conceed that reloaded ammunition vs loaded ammunition will not be the factor between a "Good" shooting or a "Bad" one. It'd certainly open you to liability in civil court, but you need to survive to get to that point. Even then, if you were justified, and had a lawyer that was worth the $$$, justice should prevail.
Even Massad Ayoob, will conceed that reloaded ammunition vs loaded ammunition will not be the factor between a "Good" shooting or a "Bad" one. It'd certainly open you to liability in civil court, but you need to survive to get to that point. Even then, if you were justified, and had a lawyer that was worth the $$$, justice should prevail.
Exactly. I am very confident about my reloads. More so than any factory ammo. I make my PP\SHTF rounds on a single stage press and take my time. I seal the ammo and everything. It is absolutely without a doubt going to go bang unless the stars and planets align and say otherwise. If I were blindly pumping out rounds on a progressive I wouldn't be so trusting...
Pietro Beretta
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Ontario (G.T.A.)
Price for the Hornady is $30.00 for a box of 20, which is fine because this ammo is not for blasting 300 rounds at the range, this is "rainy day" ammo.
And HELL YA I still got my Government Model .45, it's my pride'N'joy
In my eyes, nothing is more classy than a BLUE BOX Colt, a Series 70 Reproduction in polished blue steel. What a classic...like CocaCola
- Location
- In the Land of Lies Being Exposed!
Here is an article on the subject from John Ross, author of Unintended Consequences:
http://john-ross.net/comments.php
A more likely potential issue is that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to identify the range at which the shooting occurred.
That said, if you're going to roll your own, take extra caution to make sure you follow proper reloading practices. Slow down and inspect every round you load for serious use; both visually and with a case gauge.
http://john-ross.net/comments.php
A more likely potential issue is that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to identify the range at which the shooting occurred.
That said, if you're going to roll your own, take extra caution to make sure you follow proper reloading practices. Slow down and inspect every round you load for serious use; both visually and with a case gauge.
Pietro Beretta
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Ontario (G.T.A.)
Factory ammo is the BEST, I dont care how well you reload, nothing is better than quality factory +P "HOT" jacketed hollow point ammunition. Reliable, quality, and goes BANG everytime . I'd trust my life ANYDAY to quality factory HP's over some dudes crappy reloads (even my own reloads/if I reloaded)
. I'd trust my life ANYDAY to quality factory HP's over some dudes crappy reloads (even my own reloads/if I reloaded)
