Loading your own carry / self defense ammo

wirehairfan · Apr 11, 2025

You already know the answer. Don't do it. Also, don't use ammo with cute/edgy names (eg zombie max).

Use factory hollow point ammo because hollow point won't overpenetrate. Safer for innocent bystanders.

tirwin1 · Apr 11, 2025

When I first joined a gun range we had to go through orientation on the range and show some very small level of knowledge about our gun. At the orientation one of the members said that if you were to get involved in a self defense shooting there would be lawsuits filed against:

1) You
2) the gun manufacturer
3) the store you purchased the gun from

He said if you modified the pistol in any meaningful way (trigger in particular) the lawyers would paint you as some sort of death seeking rambo and look to crucify you at trial. He also said this would get the manufacturer and store off the hook because you took a standard item and made it into a more lethal instrument. He didn't mention anything specifically about ammo that I recall but I expect the same concept applies. Modifying your pistol or making your own ammo will be used against you at trial.

Is he correct? I'm not a lawyer but my guess would be he's more right than not. The defense lawyers for the manufacturer and the store would love to argue that you modified their perfectly legal tool into an innocent-slaughtering instrument of death and make you the sole defendant.

Oddly enough the recommendation for ammo was just like wirehairfan said - use hollow point ammo since that is much less likely to overpenetrate. It will do more damage but you can argue that you were only looking to prevent collateral damage to others.

dwa12479 · Apr 11, 2025

Itll 100% be used against you.

"The defendant loaded his own special reciple to ENSURE the victim would meet his doom."

repete · Apr 11, 2025

I'd really like to see someone post info where handloads were brought up in court, never heard of it actually happening.

FP1201 · Apr 11, 2025

Handloads/Reloads are to Play, FACTORY Ammo is to make them pay.
Decades back I believe it was Ayoob that admonished that the use of non-factory ammunition could be used against you in Court, and face it, if you shoot someone, justified on its face or not, you will be going to Court, of for nothing else that the Grand Jury to find no Bill....nothing like pulling the trigger on a critical shot to find out the ammo your cheap-ass made didn't work.

Jmac00 · Apr 11, 2025

I have been reloading for 20+YEARS. I have been a IPSC shooter for years as well. I stopped IPSC shooting when I sold all my reloading equipment to my BIL, 5 years ago and moved out of NY. I carry my own reloads for years. In 20 plus years of reloading I had ONE.........THATS RIGHT, ONE miss fire.
I am supremely confident in my ammo. However, my EDC gun has factory Hydro-shok's, all my other firearms have my reloads

repete · Apr 11, 2025

FP1201 said:
Handloads/Reloads are to Play, FACTORY Ammo is to make them pay.
Decades back I believe it was Ayoob that admonished that the use of non-factory ammunition could be used against you in Court, and face it, if you shoot someone, justified on its face or not, you will be going to Court, of for nothing else that the Grand Jury to find no Bill....nothing like pulling the trigger on a critical shot to find out the ammo your cheap-ass made didn't work.

Yes, Ayoob has talked about it at length, but never shown any proof.

Tisto · Apr 12, 2025

These guys have a ton of useful videos.

Tisto · Apr 12, 2025

Having loaded tens of thousands of rounds in my lifetime, I can honestly say that I have had only a few rounds fail to go boom. One batch had a few because part of the press got out of adjustment and I didn't notice soon enough. That, however, is often enough to convince me that only factory ammo should be used for defensive carry. Don't take even the smallest chances when your life is at stake. The relatively common failure of rimfire ammunition is also why it should never be relied upon for defense.

Now, when shit has hit the fan, the world is grinding to a halt and handloads are all you have, that's another story. Until then, stick with proven factory ammo in your carry gun.

I'm partial to Speer Gold Dot ammo in most of my carry guns, but find what works for you and your gun.

Podmonkey · Apr 12, 2025

Does defensive ammo have sealant on the bullets? For serious use type ammo I like sealed primers and bullets for better resistance against moisture and ideally crimped primers as well. If a hand loader were willing/able to make these type provisions then go for it I say. It's not like modern manufacturing QC is very good there days.

dsdmmat · Apr 12, 2025

Even if it is a good shoot you are likely going to be sued in civil court for wrongful death. The standards of evidence in civil court are far less stringent than in criminal court.

If you are in bear country carrying hand loads is not uncommon so if you shoot someone in self defense you can say you were carrying bear loads for defense in case of bear attack. This would take the lawyers argument away. You expected to defend yourself from bears not two legged vermin.
If you are carrying in two legged vermin country. Carry hand loads at your own peril.

thughes · Apr 12, 2025

Best advice I've received is to find out what brand and type ammo the local PD carry, and use that. Apparently it may be an advantage should you have to deal with the court system due to a self defense situation.

dwa12479 · Apr 14, 2025

repete said:
Yes, Ayoob has talked about it at length, but never shown any proof.

Yet why risk it though? What real advantages does one have with handloads rather than factory?

dwa12479 · Apr 14, 2025

thughes said:
Best advice I've received is to find out what brand and type ammo the local PD carry, and use that. Apparently it may be an advantage should you have to deal with the court system due to a self defense situation.

Chris Fry used to say that too when he was doing MDTS classes

dwa12479 · Apr 14, 2025

Jmac00 said:
I have been reloading for 20+YEARS. I have been a IPSC shooter for years as well. I stopped IPSC shooting when I sold all my reloading equipment to my BIL, 5 years ago and moved out of NY. I carry my own reloads for years. In 20 plus years of reloading I had ONE.........THATS RIGHT, ONE miss fire.
I am supremely confident in my ammo. However, my EDC gun has factory Hydro-shok's, all my other firearms have my reloads

I think the question is less about reliability and more about the legal ramifications after. Plenty of over-zealous DAs out there that would love to annihilate a gun owner over a successful self defense incident.

OwnTheRide · Apr 14, 2025

I think anything and everything will be used against you in court.

"He used hollow points to cause more damage" vs "he used FMJ rounds, this shows that he had no regard for the lives of people behind his target."

It's a crappy example, but you get the idea. Here, let me try again:

thughes said:
Best advice I've received is to find out what brand and type ammo the local PD carry, and use that. Apparently it may be an advantage should you have to deal with the court system due to a self defense situation.

"He used police rounds because he's a wannabe cop vigilante!"

That said, I think using non-sensationally-named factory rounds would be the wiser choice in this case. It might still be used against you, but I think it might be less effective.

Far king · Apr 14, 2025

dwa12479 said:
Itll 100% be used against you.

"The defendant loaded his own special reciple to ENSURE the victim would meet his doom."

The defendant has modified his gun with an excessory dot sight and carried two extra magazines loaded with expanding ammunition because he is looking for an opportunity take human lives!

l would be more concerned with the optics of going into battle to the prosecution and the jury than the the hand loads in my firearm.

Darth · Apr 14, 2025

I see both sides of this, but I tend to lean more in the "People have been too NYified" camp.

"I know a guy that got his permit yanked for carrying outside of restrictions. "

Do ya?

Acer-m14 · Apr 15, 2025

i run government ammo ..

:ROFL:

FP1201 · Apr 15, 2025

dwa12479 said:
Chris Fry used to say that too when he was doing MDTS classes

There's a name I haven't heard in a while...trained with him on several occasions...come to think of it, there's still some bruising.

thughes · Apr 15, 2025

Darth said:
I see both sides of this, but I tend to lean more in the "People have been too NYified" camp.

"I know a guy that got his permit yanked for carrying outside of restrictions. "

Do ya?

Agreed. There are a lot of states in Free America where self defense events are reviewed without a "victims first" mindset, facts examined, the shoot deemed justified, no charges are filed against the person defending themselves, and life goes on. Some free states even have laws that provide immunity against civil suits if the event is determined to be justified. Some of you residing behind enemy lines could use some serious deprogramming.

Darth · Apr 15, 2025

thughes said:
Agreed. There are a lot of states in Free America where self defense events are reviewed without a "victims first" mindset, facts examined, the shoot deemed justified, no charges are filed against the person defending themselves, and life goes on. Some free states even have laws that provide immunity against civil suits if the event is determined to be justified. Some of you residing behind enemy lines could use some serious deprogramming.

And, much as we don't like to admit it, NY isn't a conglomerate.

The fractured CCW process demonstrates this.

Robin · Apr 16, 2025

Darth said:
I see both sides of this, but I tend to lean more in the "People have been too NYified" camp.

I never had a conversation about this subject, I only know that when I finish a session with my hand loads i fill the mag with factory ammo, plain old ball ammo, and think to my self, I've been "NYified"!
How can you help it in this shit hole.
Robin

Robin · Apr 16, 2025

You can also figure on everything you have ever said on the Web will be used against you.
Robin

dwa12479 · Apr 16, 2025

FP1201 said:
There's a name I haven't heard in a while...trained with him on several occasions...come to think of it, there's still some bruising.

He left NY years ago for Arizona. Stand up guy, always liked his classes.

RooftopKorean · Apr 17, 2025

I carry with my own loaded 45 GAP JHP Barnes Tac-X bullets, zero fucks given. The way I see it, if I ever have to use my gun in this god forsaken state I'm fucked anyway.

They'll probably scrutinize that my slide cover says Problem Solver, that I stippled it, and have different color hardware.

Both the libtards and anti 2A RINOs can get fucked.

FP1201 · Apr 17, 2025

dwa12479 said:
He left NY years ago for Arizona. Stand up guy, always liked his classes.

I thought he went to Las Vegas?

Loading your own carry / self defense ammo

.308 Win

.40 S&W

.475 A&M Magnum

.308 Win

.338 Win Mag

.338 Win Mag

.338 Win Mag

.475 A&M Magnum

.338 Win Mag

.308 Win

.308 Win

.577 Tyrannosaur.

Donut Master

.308 Win

.44 mag

.338 Win Mag

.338 Win Mag

.338 Win Mag

.223 Rem

.357 mag

Bunny In Chief

20×102mm Vulcan

.338 Win Mag

.44 mag

Bunny In Chief

.577 Tyrannosaur.

.577 Tyrannosaur.

.338 Win Mag

6.5 Creedmoor

.338 Win Mag