Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Is this true

Putting a handloaded bullet into a perp will invite law suits against you. Using factory loads will bring no such law suits. Need to be smart about what you use to kill the perps.

I have heard this before and never did understand the possible consequences. If the loads are at or close to factory specifications, "What difference does it make"? Kinda like we couldn't use hollow points in Vet Nam, but it was perfectly OK to toss a grenade at that little gook.

W. Bill

Popcorn, get your popcorn.🍿🍺🗣

I don't know - it's been argued to death.

My point has always been this:

Once you state "I fired in defense of my life. I wanted to stop the guy from killing me" - it doesn't matter a DAMN what you used. The narrative is now "is this a good shoot or not?"

If you contend "The gun went off on accident, I didn't pull the trigger/mean to shoot" - they they're gonna tear apart your weapon/handloads etc as being faulty - you're negligent etc.

Handloads are OK as long as they aren't weird.

If you load soft cast bullets with an "X" cut deep into the tip, with "Dirtbag" written on the side of the brass with a Sharpie, you may be inviting some blow-back from your loads.

It's a fairy tale.

As I understand it, there was a case years ago where a person took FACTORY loaded lead semi-wad cutters and cut x's into the nose to increase expansion. He was sued under the idea that he "altered the ammunition to maximize damage".

The real attorneys's I've spoken to said that so long as you are using a common factory bullet and did not alter the bullet in a similar manner they saw no issue with using hand load. When asked about cast bullets, again he indicated that so long it was a common factory design, and not some personal design and you were not "altering the bullets to maximize damage", you should be fine in his opinion.

Many will argue that nobody has gone to prison yet for using a handload.

The key word is "yet."

Make your choices and take your chances.

This has been gone over and over, and over and over, ad nasuem.

Either you were legally justified to shoot or not.

Regardless of what bullschit artist/drama queens like massad ayaoob like to tell people, to drum up business, it comes down to what I stated previously.

A 1 time in 5,000 incident anamoly does not make for a standard practice.

I investigate shootings, among other major crimes. Nobody gives 2 craps about if you use a wadcutter match load or the latest greatest super ammo that only ninjas use.


If you really want to feel better, pick up a box of the same ammo your local PD or SO uses. Problem solved.

Wasn't this put out by that Mass Boob character?

Hanndloads or factory doesn't even register on my radar of giving a chit if I have to shoot somebody.

If you use deadly force, it will be scrutinized from every angle and it is doubtful any detail will be missed, that being said bullets would be a long way down the list of my concerns. IIRC Black Talons, and many others, were designed to inflict maximum damage and they are still used under a new name Ranger.

Thanks for the info guys. I was pretty sure I would get the correct info here. Sagebrush, It sounds like you have been in the deep stuff a few times and I have respect for your input.

W. Bill

Now that y'all mentioned A boob, old flave will be here to comment. Awesome job. I can't wait.

Like I said on the current 9mm defensive ammo thread...if I stab a perp with a home made knife, will I be in more trouble than if I bought the knife at Wal Mart?

Three S's.....

What if my neighbor reloads for me and I trade him a milking goat for 500 rounds?

I need a milk cow ya got one?

I can handle Flave/Travis/Clark/His Humbleness' opinions just fine. They're usually right on. And with a degree of humor that makes it more interesting.

Looking for a flat rate box now.

Putting a bullet into a perp will invite law suits against you, regardless of your legal justification in doing so.

I have never heard of a prosecutor making an issue of the manufacture of the ammunition, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I cannot speak for other states.

I'm just guessing here, that if I used a .270 the judge would throw the book at me anyway.

Thanks for the Kudos.

BTW, I apologize if I came off grouchy. I just re-read it and it did not read as well as it should have.

My dang 2 year old has pooped herself TWICE on my "daddy day care" watch today, and If I still drank, I would be pouring Crown Royal over rocks right now!