Reloading for a buddy???

[Blucollar]

Need some advice, now that I've started loading I'm starting to get asked alot of questions that I'm sure will lead up to loading some ammo for some friends and coworkers.
I don't mind helping anyone but I wonder about the precautions like looking for excessive pressure, etc.
I know alot of you have had this happen and just wanted some good advice on the subject.

[wareagleguy]

After loading for YEARS and loading for every Tom, Dick and Harry in the northern part of Alabama I can give the best advice in one line.

Don't start loading for anyone.

It will turn into a nightmare because before you know it you are not going to have time to do it for yourself.

[drdougrx]

Ditto here...except my issue is liability and friendship.  Generally, no one is happy with your loads and God forbid something happens.

[Questor]

I take the sensible precaution of not loading ammo for anyone but me and my immediate family. For one thing, reloading is work. If you're using a single stage press it's lots of work. Work means time lost that can't be spent on other things. Then there's the matter of what the others are really expecting from you. Can't they afford their own ammo? Do they think you've got unlimited time to spend on their personal project? Finally there's the concept that most people don't know what they want from ammo, and typically consider reloads as a cheap and low quality alternative to much more desirable factory ammo.

There is one reason and one reason only for me to share my time and resources at the reloading bench with another person: To teach him how to reload carefully, safely, productively, and enjoyably.   

[Savage]

Good advice so far. NEVER get started reloading for friends!! It's a great way to lose friends and possibly get sued. If they are interested in reloading, give them all the advice and support you can. Nothing more.
Savage

[stimpylu32]

blucollar

There are a few and i do mean few times that i will load for other people , the last being about 3 weeks ago . a friend asked me to load him a 100 , 270 rounds for his new rifle . He covered the bullets , powder and primers . This was done with the understanding that he would bring the rifle to me to have for 2 full weeks .

After doing 2 days in the loading room , 1 day doing research and 1 day loading test rounds , then another full day at the range i found a load that shot very well in his rifle , ( 1/2" @ 100 )

A couple of things happened , one i got to keep a 1/2 pound of powder that in most cases i would not have bought and second i got to shoot a very sweet custom Ruger M77 . 

I had been loading for over 10 years before i loaded my first round for anyone but myself , just too many things that can go wrong as some of the others have said .  Why take the chance when you are just starting out . 

stimpy

[Hairtrigger]

I load varmint ammo for a few close friends. These are guys that would loan me their truck for a week or more.
I like to think they have me load ammo for them because they like what they see when they see me shoot paper targets. In all reality they are probably cheep

[dw06]

Since you have just started reloading,my advise is to only load for yourself.Learn all you can for a few years,then when you are more knowledgeable about the whole subject then only you can consider if you want to take the risk of loading for friends and coworkers.I've only loaded for three people over the last 30 years,Me,Dad and a very close friend and hunting partner.Sad to say but now its down to just me.
I have helped many new reloaders get started and helped with problems they run into.The biggest risk when reloading for others is you could get sued for not only any mistake you make,but even one they make while using your handloads.Even if a gun comes unglued from say dirt or snow in the barrel while hunting,of course your handloads could be blamed.
Best advice for you while starting out,buy at least four manuals and read them cover to cover untill you have a good understanding of everything involved.I've lost count of how may I now have,around 10-12 and ones I don't have I've borrowed from friends and read.
Good luck to you and enjoy loading,it is a great hobby!

[OLDHandgunner]

Reloading for your friends is not a good idea. Over the past 35+ years of reloading I have reloaded for only my Dad, my boys and few really close friends. The reloading for friends was done because they wanted a special load for a gun or they were having a problem with a certain gun shooting right. These loads were tested in that gun by me before I let them use it.
Now 2 of my sons are doing there own reloading and calling me when they have a problem or need some of my pet load info.

[jhalcott]

  Blucollar, there are LEGAL issues when you load ammo for some one else. BATF says you need a license and so do MANY localities. God forbid one of these "friends" shoots or gets shot by some one using YOUR ammo. I will HELP any one to load their own ammo, but I will not do it for them!

[corbanzo]

The only reason that I load for anyone outside my family is if it is a really close friend, and they don't reload and need a cartridge that is commercially unavailable.  If they want -06 rounds, they can go to the store. 

An example is my girls dad has a 10.75x68 mauser which is very difficult to get ammo for, so he asked me if I could reload some ammo for him.  In this case, since it is a low volume of reloading, maybe 50 cartridges, sure why not? 

I think 50 cartridges would last him about five years anyways, he doesn't shoot it all that much. 

But if there is factory ammo available...  them going to the store is going to take a lot less time then me reloading for them. 


One thing I would do though, is if a friend got interested in having some hand loaded ammo, they could buy their own components, come over and use my setup, and I would supervise as they tried out and saw if they liked reloading or not.  -Just don't let them think it's an open invitation to take over your reloading station whenever they want. 

[Blucollar]

Thanks for all the replies, alot of good thoughts and angles I haven't thought about.
                                              Blu

[bulzaye]

the only reason people want to get you to reload fo rthem is to save them money and hassle. You do the work and they reap the benefits. I have one buddy I load for and that is because he is right here when I do and I am with him when we test loads. I do the work simply because I dont want him messing with my stuff. He buys all the stuff including my powder and bullets.  He is planning to purchase his own equipment and I will help him get it set up.  Otherwise as stated you are taking on a lot of responsibility getting into loading for others. If something went wrong and they got hurt or killed , how do you look the family in the eye esp in court when they sue you.

[Drilling Man]

If something went wrong and they got hurt or killed , how do you look the family in the eye esp in court when they sue you.

  You mean, when they sue you and WIN, because it was against the law for you to do it in the first place...  You can't even load for a family member, for free or otherwise!

  DM

[Coyote Hunter]

I take the sensible precaution of not loading ammo for anyone but me and my immediate family.  ...

There is one reason and one reason only for me to share my time and resources at the reloading bench with another person: To teach him how to reload carefully, safely, productively, and enjoyably.   

I don't even load for family.  Someone wants to join me at the bench and learn by doing, that's one thing.  For me to sit there and load for someone else is another.

[Jerry Lester]

blucollar

There are a few and i do mean few times that i will load for other people , the last being about 3 weeks ago . a friend asked me to load him a 100 , 270 rounds for his new rifle . He covered the bullets , powder and primers . This was done with the understanding that he would bring the rifle to me to have for 2 full weeks .

After doing 2 days in the loading room , 1 day doing research and 1 day loading test rounds , then another full day at the range i found a load that shot very well in his rifle , ( 1/2" @ 100 )

A couple of things happened , one i got to keep a 1/2 pound of powder that in most cases i would not have bought and second i got to shoot a very sweet custom Ruger M77 . 

I had been loading for over 10 years before i loaded my first round for anyone but myself , just too many things that can go wrong as some of the others have said .  Why take the chance when you are just starting out . 

stimpy

This is pretty much how I do it too. I load only for a very few friends, and family members. In most of these cases it's more because they want better than premium ammo that's custom made for their gun, and of course you can't run out, and buy it. Most of these guys only require a box or two a year, and the rest(like one uncle) will shoot on 50 rounds of centerfire for 3 or more years.

[Lloyd Smale]

I dont specificaly load for anyone. Ive got a few freinds that ive given ammo too. Mostly to burn up ammo i dont have time to shoot so i can get my brass back. Ill give about anyone i know cast bullets to load but the loading part of it is there own responsibility.

[qajaq59]

In a word....... Don't do it. If they have a defective rifle you may end up with a lawsuit. Just say no right now, and save yourself a lot of work, and maybe some grief.  It's just easier.