[nate45]

I've participated in this debate before, with Mas Ayoob involved even.

Here is the bottom line.

1) If you want to be 100% safe use factory ammo for defense, its not bad advice. To me it falls into the realm of using the same ammo as your local police. It makes good sense, depending on where you live.

2) There aren't a lot of legal cases on file where handloads played a role. In fact it doesn't take a genius to see that out of the four cases commonly sited, only two really apply. Even if all four cases did directly hinge on handloads, four cases out of all the defensive shooting cases there are, is tiny to say the least.

3) If one decides to use hand loads for defense, make sure that you know the attitudes of your local law enforcement and states attorneys. Thats really the key. If you live in a pro gun, pro CHL, Castle Doctrine State and you justifiably use a firearm for defense, the odds of handloads leading to your downfall are infinitesimally small. If on the on the other hand you live in New Jersey for example, where only solid bullets are allowed for CCW, well you get the idea.


Thats basically the conclusions to whole debate. Anything else, is pure speculation, based on what ifs and maybes on both sides.