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**Frank Ettin** · January 17, 2011, 12:05 AM

[1] The legal issues regarding the use of handloads for self defense have been discussed extensively here. See (in addition to those links provided by Peet):

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423771

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=391656

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394682

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=397127

[2] Just some high points --

Yes, a good shoot is a good shoot. But you won't be deciding if it was a good shoot. Other folks will. And if you're on trial, someone who matters didn't think it was a good shoot. Now it's not a good shoot unless the jury says so.
If you've been involved in a shooting in which you claim self defense and if, for some reason, gunshot residue (GSR) test results will be important to your defense, GSR test results will not be admissible into evidence if you used handloads. It won't matter how good your records may be. They are suspect, because they are yours. You will not be able to establish the necessary foundation for admission of GSR test results of your handloads because you will not be able to satisfactorily establish that the handloads tested were the same as the rounds fired in the incident.
It will be highly unlikely that any members of your jury will have any knowledge of or interest in guns or shooting. Your reasons for using handloads will strike them as too "inside baseball", and they will probably not be receptive to them.
If you're on trial in a shooting in which you're claiming self defense, you probably have a number of problems. Handloads can become one more thing that will need to be explained, one more "wild card." As a general rule in court, the less you have to explain, the better off you'll be. You won't have to explain handloads if you didn't use them and used factory ammunition instead.
There aren't cases on the issue because it's most likely that there are very few self defense incidents in which handloads have been used.

[3] All these points are discussed in greater detail and at greater length in the threads I've linked to.

[4] I practiced law for over 30 years before retiring a few years ago. I will not use handloads for self defense applications. I use quality commercial JHP ammunition similar to that used by major law enforcement agencies. My reasons are more fully discussed in the threads I've linked to.

January 17, 2011, 12:05 AM	#10
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	[1] The legal issues regarding the use of handloads for self defense have been discussed extensively here. See (in addition to those links provided by Peet): http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423771 http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=391656 http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394682 http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=397127 [2] Just some high points -- Yes, a good shoot is a good shoot. But you won't be deciding if it was a good shoot. Other folks will. And if you're on trial, someone who matters didn't think it was a good shoot. Now it's not a good shoot unless the jury says so. If you've been involved in a shooting in which you claim self defense and if, for some reason, gunshot residue (GSR) test results will be important to your defense, GSR test results will not be admissible into evidence if you used handloads. It won't matter how good your records may be. They are suspect, because they are yours. You will not be able to establish the necessary foundation for admission of GSR test results of your handloads because you will not be able to satisfactorily establish that the handloads tested were the same as the rounds fired in the incident. It will be highly unlikely that any members of your jury will have any knowledge of or interest in guns or shooting. Your reasons for using handloads will strike them as too "inside baseball", and they will probably not be receptive to them. If you're on trial in a shooting in which you're claiming self defense, you probably have a number of problems. Handloads can become one more thing that will need to be explained, one more "wild card." As a general rule in court, the less you have to explain, the better off you'll be. You won't have to explain handloads if you didn't use them and used factory ammunition instead. There aren't cases on the issue because it's most likely that there are very few self defense incidents in which handloads have been used. [3] All these points are discussed in greater detail and at greater length in the threads I've linked to. [4] I practiced law for over 30 years before retiring a few years ago. I will not use handloads for self defense applications. I use quality commercial JHP ammunition similar to that used by major law enforcement agencies. My reasons are more fully discussed in the threads I've linked to.