Anyone Hand Load Self Defense Ammo?

[Lawful Larry]

I had really hoped you guys who handload defensive ammo would give me any tips you have to ensure that ammo is realiable.  Do you weight each loaded round to protect against squib rounds or double charges?

I depends on the type of press you use.  If you are using a progressive type press, it is very important to know you equipment and also to constantly check you powder loads.  It is so easy to get moving with this type of press and you could very well end up having a squip load or worse yet, a double charge.  

Good equipment helps in throwing good powder loads.  A single stage press is the easiest type of process to monitor.  As with anything, the easier the process the easier it is to monitor and maintain a safe product.

Also thanks for clearing up the uban legend on dangerous or destructive round or device!     :wink:

[PaulS]

With all the rounds sized, trimmed, primed and powdered and sitting in a loading block you visually inspect each round compared the those on either side of it for powder level. If one looks higher or lower than the others dump it out and recharge it. Then seat your bullets and crimp.

I load my important rounds this way - the progressive loader is fine for a day at the range or plinking in the "back yard" at the cabin but for hunting or self defense loads they are checked individually through each step of the loading process as though my life depends on each round. Funny, it might!

[Mainer]

PaulS:

I recently read Modern Reloading, Second Edition.  In it, Richard Lee advises against using a reloading block and intead recommends immediately seating a bullet after charging a case.  That's what I've been doing.  If I recall correctly, his logic is that you're less likely to forget to charge a case or to double charge a case.  I've been using that method since I again started loading for handguns back in December.

However, provided that one inspects each charged case against its neighbors as you suggest, I think the reloading block method you suggest is probably better, at least for catching charges that are somewhat off (rather than a no charge or a double charge, which are easy enough to catch using Richard Lee's method).

I've just started re-reading the ABC's of Reloading, Fith Edition (I read it before a about a decade ago, and then went for about 8 years without reloading).  One of the authors in ABC's suggest inspecting each primer.  Its very quick to do, so I've added it to my reloading process.

[papajohn428]

Given the fact that we have a gazillion times more lawyers than we ever needed, and they are willing to do nearly ANYTHING to win a case, ethical or not, I consider the use of factory ammo a good idea.  Overzealous prosecutors are a dime a dozen, trying to make a name for themselves, or for whatever reason.  If they think they can make you look like some psycho whose intent was to waste a BG, they'll stoop that low.  In a heartbeat.  Maybe it goes with their own political agenda, or that of the local politicians.  If the suitability of your ammo is called into question, the best defense is to be able to say you used that brand because the local PD does, or the FBI found it effective, or DOJ, or whoever.  But if they can make you look like a nut case to a jury of people who don't know diddly about guns, ammo, justifiable shootings, or anything else relevant, they will.

It's my bacon on the line, so I choose to use Speer Gold Dots and Hydra-Shoks.  I can defend its use easily.  One less thing to worry about.

Papajohn

[Swamp Yankee]

Mainer,
   Like Paul I use a loading block. I have actually sold my turrent press and gone back to a single stage press. I like to look down on a completed block and check all cases to make sure they all look the same. I also pick cases at random and check them.  I use a powder that almost fills a case so there is no chance of a double charge and a squib load could be seen right away. Blue Dot for my 357, IMR for all my rifle cal's. And now the exception.........I use 3.3 grains of Bullseye for wadcutters in my 357. [a 38 load in a 357 case].....Jim

[rickyp]

I put the empty cases in a plastic bin then once I put powder in it I put it in a loading block no chance of mistaking an empty case for one that is filled I always work from left to right