Author Topic: Curious: Do You Shoot Other's Reloads??? (Read 965 times)

zipperzap · « **on:** August 14, 2006, 07:37:06 AM »

I've wondered about this for some time.

Have you ever used/had a problem with somebody else's reloads?

I was shooting with a few Border Patrol friends yesterday at their qualifying shoot.

My son works at - what I think is the best - a San Diego Indoor range [ San Diego American Shooting Center }. Later, while we were shooting some of the off duty 1911's, one of the fellas gave another a hand full of his reloads. Within a minute or so, a Kimber flew out of the hand of it's owner. Seems like one of the reloads released the Magic Genie of BLAM!

Chainfired a round in the magazine doing some undertermined damage to it, as well, and cracked the (expensive) grips.

The Kimber owner swore, "Never again!"

Sorry for the bad photos - I had to use my cellphone camera.

Zip

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2006, 08:31:05 AM »

It depends on whose doing the reloading. I won't use the reloads of someone I don't know.

My only experience with using somebody else's reloads was a bad one. Fortunately the loads were supposed to be reduced and that I was shooting a strong gun. The guy had been a national pistol champion and was a lifelong enthusiast in all aspects of shooting. He did a bad job on some 44 magnum light loads, and there was at least one double charge in the batch of 50 rounds.

I know a guy who reloads shotgun in a manner that is considered unacceptable for safety reasons: He loads all hulls with the same load, regardless of the hull brand and type. I won't shoot his ammo either.

DWTim · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2006, 09:26:15 AM »

Yes, I do. I've shot my uncle's reloaded shotshells without incident. I've shot plenty of reloads from my brother's progressive press. I've also shot commercial reloads, but they don't approach the quality of the home-grown stuff.

I suppose knowing a little something about how the other's procedures helps. My uncles have been shooting for over half a decade, and as far as I know, they've never blown up a gun. My brother inspects primers individually and has a powder alarm.

I hate to say this, but... Considering that the problem was likely caused by a protruding primer, I question the judgement of both the reloader and the Kimber owner. I don't see how anyone could miss that when it's as simple as running your finger over the case head. I would do this with commercial ammo, as well.

skb2706 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2006, 09:35:50 AM »

One of my major points of handloading would be to tailor make ammo for my guns.........no one else gets to do this for me. There is not a chance in hxll I am shooting anyones handloads.....I just don't trust anyone that much.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2006, 10:03:13 AM »

Not on your life. I have an ABSOLUTE and UNBREAKABLE rule to NEVER EVER under any circumstances shoot reloads made by someone else. I've seen too many problems with them and just will not do it.

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2006, 10:33:16 AM »

On reflection, this doesn't make the rest of us look very good, does it? The next step is to say "heck, I wouldn't even use my own reloads!"

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2006, 11:06:52 AM »

Handloads are like underwear, be carefull who you swap with.

bubba · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2006, 11:18:40 AM »

No I do not shoot others reloads. On the other hand I reload for a good friend of mine. We hunt together all the time shoot together every weekend and we are working up loads for his savage 308 for deer season. I am very meticulous in my loading and am very safe. However I would not offer to load for anyone else. The only time I ever used someone elses reloads it cost me a nice deer and broke parts in my gun when one of the reloads jammed in my Remington 742 30-06. He had not full length sized and it jammed hard and broke my ejector. We had to take a steel rod and a hammer to break it free. The bullet was totally in the casing before it broke free. As far as the deer goes lets just say it was the only time a very nice buck was 10 feet away looking at me while my gun was jammed. Live and learn and that is why I got into reloading.

longwinters · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2006, 02:31:52 PM »

I have tried others reloads a few times. It was not uncommon for the cartridges to have an occaisional problem in not allowing the action to close (this is in rifles). This makes me wonder about how much attention they were paying when doing the work. I do reload for others if asked. But would not shoot anyone else's reloads again.

Long

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2006, 03:04:52 PM »

I have on occasion used someone elses reloads but it's rare, and I really trust the guy that loaded them. As I said it's rare, I also make it a point to never give anyone else ammo I've reloaded. Even though I think I'm very careful, I could never forgive myself if someone I knew or anyone else for that matter got hurt.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2006, 03:26:58 PM »

Quote from: krochus on August 14, 2006, 11:06:52 AM

Handloads are like underwear, be carefull who you swap with.

That pretty much sums it up for me! LOL!!!

Although I definately couldn't see me wearing another fellows underwear, I do occasionally shoot re-loads that are loaded by a good friend of mine. I'm about as picky, and obsessive about loading as anybody in the world, but he's even pickier than I am.

TreyAzagthoth · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2006, 03:43:00 PM »

the only reloaders i trust are me and my dad, i wont shoot anybody elses except factory ammo.

str8shooter48 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2006, 07:52:08 PM »

Shotshells on the skeet field occasionally. We basically all shoot the same reloads.As far as rifles go I make it a point not to load for others or shoot others reloads. My brother and I both reload and I planned to keep it that way. When he bought his varmint rifle he bought a . 243. I bought a 6mm rem. For deer he uses a 30-06. I use a .308. Get the picture?

He's not as meticulous as I am. Not to the point of being dangerous, but none the less I'll load and shoot my own.

KYsquirrelsniper · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2006, 08:58:57 PM »

The only other reloads I'll use are my father's. Since he was reloading 15yrs before I was born and is the one that taught me how to reload, I tend to trust his loading more than most people's

Tn Jim · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2006, 09:33:34 PM »

In a word," NO!".

encore3006 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2006, 04:17:20 AM »

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #16 on:** August 15, 2006, 04:18:25 AM »

My reloads are among the very best on planet earth

but I found out long ago that distraction must be avoided at all cost.

Case example one was when I was priming some cases and the wife came down to talk for abit. When I was done, I found that I had four extra primers in the autoprime

Talk about something getting your attention! I had to play the old find the pea under the shell game with this lot of 100 cases.

Case example two was when I was charging powder to pistol cases. My son came down to talk a minuet and four cases later my scale showed that a dble charge had been thrown.

I had four of these total and the "1 in 10" scale check did catch it although I had a safety net as I had implemented a Jim Carmichael practice of shining a flashlight over powder charged cases when done with this task and I do it with both rifle & pistol.

Both of the above were due to Distraction and happened within a week of each other. Is quite a sobering & humbling experience. Needless to say, If Anyone Visits for Any reason I will Stop All Operations.

A crime just as bad IMO is poor house keeping (industrial term)
Always make sure to put everything away before starting, and get out ONLY what you need.

I will gladly show you how to reload and we wont miss a lick. We are probably NOT LIKELY to shoot each others reloads until we get to know each others practices, attidudes, and how consience we
are. This is not rocket science but there is No Room for bad practices as they will catch up to you.

Chuck White · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2006, 11:02:42 AM »

There are only a couple of friends that reload ammo that I'd shoot!

BUT, If it's something new, then I'll see them shoot several rounds first!

Generally speaking though I don't shoot others reloads!

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2006, 11:53:14 AM »

captkev · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2006, 12:21:43 PM »

Not to get side tracked, but I saw a guy who would shoot sporting clays and never bring enough shell, one of his friends got sick of it and laoded some with a Little Black powder

When his friend helped himself, it was very clear who was getting free shells, or should I say smoky

Questor · « **Reply #20 on:** August 15, 2006, 01:29:13 PM »

That's funny! I wonder if he mixed any corrosive salts in with the powder.

LAH · « **Reply #21 on:** August 15, 2006, 03:28:28 PM »

I've shot lots of loads put together by others. Never a problem...........Creeker

Buckskin · « **Reply #22 on:** August 16, 2006, 10:31:36 AM »

You bet. I have reloaded for my entire trap team for a couple seasons. And have used many others reloads if I'm low or forgot mine. Not a big deall if the guy has a progressive. The worst that I've seen is a missed bird and watching the shot spoo out like you thru it by hand. Gotta watch your powder bin. I've also shot my neighbors handstinger 44 mags loads. Rifle is a little more unlikely because you load for your gun only.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #23 on:** August 17, 2006, 03:13:16 AM »

For the most part, "No" and "HE11 no".

That said, I taught my hunting buddy to reload and I do shoot one or two of his reloads on rare occasion - in his rifles, the ones they were developed for. He reloads his own now, but new loads still get developed together - he reloads then at his house and we take them to my club and shoot them over my chrono. I know EXACTLY what went into the loads before either of us shoot any.

hunt127588 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 19, 2006, 08:08:07 AM »

I had shot a buddy's reloads in his 25 WSSM until I learned what kind of attention is needed to reload and started rolling my own by researching and reading. I also learned that his reloading practices aren't as "diligent" as mine. He's into changing components (brass and primers) during a loading session which scares the poo-poo out of me. He will also accept brass from people (i.e. her deceased husband left a bunch in the garage) which to me looked like it had been reloaded a few times already.

My practices go further in that I only use brass I originally purchased and only use one type of component at a time. I don't like people shooting my reloads but have let my father-in-law and a couple friends.

dw06 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 19, 2006, 08:25:23 AM »

Never shot any reloads but my own.Am very selective about who i reload for,to date after 26 years of loading there was only two people I've loaded for,my dad who is now gone,and a very good hunting buddy that I load for four of his rifles.I'm just the 2nd person to reload for him as he is very selective of shells he will shoot.Humm,guess maybe thats why they gave me funny looks,or maybe just keeping a eye on me?

LAH · « **Reply #26 on:** August 19, 2006, 10:20:42 AM »

Not trying to change anyones mind here but a few years ago in a gathrering of sixgunners I shot reloads/handloads from probably 15 different people. In the 3 years I've attended these events [Noreaster] I've fired many rounds and while I couldn't say for sure the number I'd guess over a 1000..........Never a problem. These guys are like me........a sixgunner. They love the game and of course always roll their own.

I visited Sixgunner Jim Taylor at his home in Mo. I shot a couple hundred of his 38 waddcutter loads through his wives heavy barrel M-10. No problem. I groundhog hunted for years with a friend and we shared loads.........No problem. I visited a sixgunner this summer in Ne. and shot his loads in a 586 S&W............ No problems.

I couldn't imagine visiting John Taffin or Elmer Keith, which I have, and saying sorry, I don't shoot other people's loads.

The same with the guys I know who load with greater pains than I. I'm not saying shoot any load someone hands you, I'm no fool. But let's face it, loading ammo doesn't require the sharpest knife in the drawer. It's a very simple and straight forward process. Most people who can read and cut their toe nails properly can do it. Certainly just as some people should never pick up a firearm or get behind the wheel of an automobile, there are those who should never pull the handle of a loading press. Most of these stand out like a sore thumb.

The things said in the posts above are true, you need to pay attention and follow known data, but with that said I've watched my girls load in their pre-teen years and do just fine. Of course it was done under my watchful eye. I'm not writing this to step on anyones toes here

, no way, no how, but I feel just fine shooting ammo loaded by the common/simple man such as I..................Creeker

Buckskin · « **Reply #27 on:** August 24, 2006, 09:56:56 AM »

We all do much riskier things in everyday life than shoot others reloads.

kyote · « **Reply #28 on:** August 24, 2006, 04:56:17 PM »

I have no need to shoot any one else's reloads.I make way more then enough for me.and I take way to much with me when I head out with a firearm.never want to run out.But some sound advice for the new be's and the old fossils don't use other folks reloads.as others have said.I have seen way to many problems with other folks ammo in other folks guns.