Just a ,What If ?

Last year bought a 100 rnd. box of loaded 41 mag ammo from someone I didn't know .He had reloading gear for sale [why I was there]. 220 gr cast and half jackets, two different loads marked on box.Pulled a couple of each and weighed charges. They match what is written down but charges are a grain over what I find in my books.

The question is, would you shoot ammo someone you didn't know loaded in your guns? And its just a question.

I think i would in that case but it surely isn?t recommended and questionable to do so lol. it would depend on how much i knew about it.

Data from different sources varies by a few grains anyway. A manual is a guide, not a end all. Depends on each gun individually.

I feel your pain. I have about 600 loaded 41 mag that I got in a large buy. Every time I almost talk myself into it. I start asking myself a lot of questions. Does he drink? Did he have something else on his mind that day? Does he have solid, repeatable loading habits?

Then I see the pictures of the destroyed cylinders of revolvers and the stitches in the shooters face. And of course the face of my family flash through my mind.

I am going to get around to pulling them down one day. Usually I would play the odds, but seems like a little bit of a game of Russian Roulette. Just my 2 cents worth.

Opinions may vary and we all know what they are like.
Safe shooting
Doug

Nope, never!!!.....not worth it.

Trapr

Doug
I had a Colt Anaconda in my hand the other day with the top strap, top three cylinders gone, frame broken on both sides cylinder latch and grips gone and the bottom of the frame looked like you took a B.F.H.to it. Supposed to have been a light load detonation from someone's reloads.The lady shooting it needed stitches. Don't know about detonation but I do know pressure when I see it and that one was blown with a lot of pressure.
And NO I DID NOT SHOOT THE reloads . Pulled them all down tonight. In my guns I shoot my reloads or my sons, and I taught him.
Kyode I agree manuals are guides, but they have the pressure testing equipment I don't have access to. They also can be wrong and I have a Hornady manual with a load marked out at Hornadys suggestion because it was a miss print and hot as hell.. If I want or need more power I would rather go to a bigger caliber instead of trying to force a smaller one.

NOPE! nor do i trust 1/2 cans of powder that I picked up somewhere or old powder horns with "I'm sure its black powder of some sort".

NEVER!
I've seen way too many people do stupid big time. Some mistakes are mildly over pressure, some are hand grenades waiting to happen (literally). You've no way of knowing how unsafe the loads are. (Even the powder used could be different to the intended or stated powder). Just not worth it.

Pull the projectiles and you've got brass you can use for developing loads you can rely on.

I did pull the loads down and threw away the powder. It was always my intention, just wanted to see what others would do.

Another thought, most of these pulled HARD! Impact puller on top of a steel safe made of 1/2" steel and 1" door around #500 of steel. Had to hit it hard and multiple times 10 to 20 blows most times pulling 220 gr cast bullets and half jackets. They had a good crimp, one half jacket came apart leaving the jacket in the case. SO could the lube have set up causing hard pulling, in effect gluing the bullet to the case? I know they have been setting in my basement for a year. I have never had bullets pull so hard before.

You did the best thing pulling them.May have been safe but it only takes one.

You did the best thing pulling them.May have been safe but it only takes one.

Junebug...I'm glad you pulled them or you might not be reading this! I don't trust anyone when it comes to reloading! Now that I'm getting older I don't even trust myself all that much. Lol

I have always kept a log books and write everything in it. Powder, primers, brass, bullet used, date loaded, etc. I double and triple check things. And no I don't think I am paranoid. I just know how quick things can go wrong. NEVER TRUST ANYTHING TO MEMORY.

I have enjoyed everyone's responses. Safety is always top priority for me in loading. I don't think what we do is inherently dangerous. But I know it has the potential to be if I don't stay on my toes.

I wouldn't shoot reloads from someone I didn't know and I'm sure you'll make good use of the components.

Owning a couple of .41 Mags is what got me into reloading. Factory ammo was outrageous way back then. Still is.

When I bought them it was for the components ,it was never my intent to shoot them. I only paid $6.00 for 100 rds. and the box.

It has been an interesting thread to me seeing everyone's responses to the question.

From the responses, to an [outside reader] it would seem that we don't trust each other's reloading practices.


I don't see it that way at all. I think when our own safety and guns are at stake we don't trust the UNKNOWN or the THINGS WE WERENT IN CONTROL OF. I don't load with any one around, the exception being my son, if he is there to load not just visit.
No TV, no radio, to easy to get distracted, I want my focus right there. jcp161


Reloaded ammo is cheaper than factory ammo, TRUE. But if you think you save money reloading you don't, you will shoot a lot more but it will cost you more too, in the long run. I TRY NOT TO look in the safe I keep powder supply's in, or on the shelves at the boxes of bullets and brass with the thought of how much moneys there. Or has been there over the years, that's depressing. I still drive a 25 year old truck, that wall would have paid for a new one easily. How much funs there, though, always brings a smile.

No.