[Bacchus]

Just got back from a nice visit at an outdoor public range. While I was there, I met this other guy. We start chatting, and he offered to let me shoot a few of his guns (I never asked to shoot them or even hinted at it). So I did. Real nice and friendly guy. Even invites me as his guest to a private range.

Here's my question: He saw that I was shooting a 1911 and gave me about a dozen of his handloads. I don't reload, so I don't know what to look for or how to evaluate them. Should I shoot them? Would you?

 

[shane45-1911]

Unless I knew this guy VERY well, or saw him shooting those same reloads in his own guns, I probably would not shoot them.

There probably would be no harm, but why take the chance? I think you did the right thing by taking them, as I'm sure his intentions and generousity were genuine, but I still don't think I would shoot them. At least you did not hurt his feelings or insult his ego. Sounds like you've found a good friend, so he need not know if you decide not to shoot them.

 

[Walking Point]

I don't shoot anyone else's reloads no matter what.

Some people have a different idea of what's safe and everyone has the ability to screw up in a major way. I see no reason to take the chance.

Ayone touting their loads as "extra powerful" is obviously very suspect, which is scary since I know of several non-reloaders who actually look for those people for their ammo.

I sometimes use a stamp pad to blacked the tips of some test loads. I have to nearly beat people off with a stick at the range as they appear to think that black tipped ammo is always AP. I did sell 100 rounds of black tipped .308 Win. ammo to a couple of idiots for $100. What was so funny about this was that the bullets were black tipped CAST bullets and obviously not jacketed. I explained that these were cast bullets but this information must have gone right over their heads.

To answer yoru question, there's no way to tell if another person's reloads are safe to shoot. The trash bin is the best place for them.

 

[pxchang0]

Even if I saw him shoot them in his guns, I still would shoot them in mine. Who knows what kind of quality control he has? In addition, how do you know that he doesn't load them beyond max? I know a number of reloaders who think more is better, and that beyond max is way cool.

 

[Andy J]

Shooting someone else's reloads can have bad results even if they are a lifelong friend. They may have the sweatest loads around but accidents happen. Thay may have done all their homework and have found a very safe load. What if they were distracted for a moment during their reloading process and a double charge got by without being noticed. IF they shot it out of their gun and no one got hurt except for the gun, they have no one to blame except themselves. If you happen to shoot the round out of your pistol, is your friend going to offer to replace your pistol for you? I doubt it. A friend will understand when you say no thank you to their reloads. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Wit]

I think we all agree that it's a good practice to be cautious about shooting someone's reload. I bought reloads from the shows before I start reloading my own. Luckily, there were no incidents.

What do you think if someone's offering you to shoot his gun with his reloads. I always do that. It's a way to get acquainted at my shooing club.

 

[Genghis]

I'll fire reloads from someone I know, and when I know how they reload. If someone is sighting in a rifle or "fire forming" cases and otherwise seems to know what is going on, I'll shoot their ammo.

Lots of this is intuition, but it's fairly simple to separate the nutz from the people who know what's going on. You can usually tell by talking to them. The nutz act nutzo. The knowledgeable people talk about things like OAL and weighing charges, trimming brass, neck tension, MOA, fire forming cases.

The nutz have one gun and a box of ammo. The shooters have a small tool chest full of range gear and a notebook with data.

I'd hesitate to shoot something that someone just handed to me. If they're shooting the ammo and discussing it, getting good groups, consistent loads and offer me a mag full, I'll go for it if it seems like decent ammo and not some "hot" work up that they're developing.

I can always buy more ammo. I ain't never seen fingers and eyeballs for sale.




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[jpwright]

I would never fire reloads by an individual unless I watched them build them. Not everyone is as careful as I am in their reloading.

Nor is everyone entirely sane. Who knows when some nut will compress a caseful of Bullseye and give it to me? (How's THAT for paranoia?)

What really gives me pause is the semi-pro reloaders you see at gun shows. So-and-So Ammo Mill over in Podunk, selling cartridges in Ziplock baggies. They've been selling ammo at the last 50 gun shows. Can you trust them? I am never easy doing so, but I have.


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If God didn't want us to own guns, why did He make the 1911?

 

[Houston1944]

I agree with the others in that there are very, very few individuals that I will shoot their reloads. However I think we are only covering half of the issue. We should also be very careful who we let shoot our own reloads. I usually carry a few factory rounds when I am taking non-reloading friends out to the range. I only want my reloads to be fired by experienced shooters that know to pay attention in case of squib loads, feeding problems, ect.

 

[AKM]

Originally posted by Houston1944:
I only want my reloads to be fired by experienced shooters that know to pay attention in case of squib loads, feeding problems, ect.

A good point. Anything unusual causes me to stop and examine. Having someone fire a squib and then just jack a fresh round in and keep going can ruin your day.

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No Second Place Winner

 

[HazMat]

Just call me anal or paranoid - that's okay because I'm not going to blow my firearms up just because I won't shoot someone's reloads. I'm very particular and merticulous about my reloading and I know everyone else isn't necessarily the same.

 

[Walking Point]

I'm not so sure about nutty people looking nuts.

How many friends has anyone ever taken hunting/shooting for the first time who did things that were horribly unsafe? Other than that they seemed perfectly normal. Only when you find a loaded gun pointed at your back do you find out otherwise.