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TheKlawMan

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I have been thinking of loading my own HD loads, as well as some game loads for the emergency preparedness supplies. Some with #4 buck and probably some 00. I am thinking that I would use Win AAHS hulls since I have a ton of them in good condition and for some reason the Lyman manual only has recipes for Remington STS, while my Remington hulls are mainly Gun Clubs. I would probably have to buy a diferent powder, as what I have is Promo.

I have a MEC Sizemaster. These would all be 2 3/4.

Bad idea. If I only am making up under 100 rounds of each shot is it cheaper to buy factory? Suggestions?
 
K-Law, my friend, consider the consequences of using home made "Vigilante Special - Killer Rounds" (the DA's description, not mine) in an HD event. For HD in the OC, you're probably better off with factory HD loads.

If you were hunting with buck shot, then it might be fun to develop some loads. Lee has a new mold that looks like intriguing.
 
Good point Zippy, that you have made before and I forgot. I was also thinking that HD rounds are not ones to cheap out on. I will probably just go with the expensive Remington Ultra Home Defense with a mixture of #2 and #4 BS. As is all I have is basic 00 buck from the Walmart.
 
Catch a sale and 15 round packs and 25 round boxes can be had for less than $1.00 per round. By the time you buy the necessary wads AND shot, you'll be close enough to that cost - and as Zippy said, using home made defense rounds can get you cruciFRIED as you try and explain that to the jury

Those Remington Ultras are $3/pop here - your basic 0 or 00 buck at about .65 to 1.00 each will suffice just nicely
 
Load up some OO Buck ...just for practice .../ and buy the rounds you're going to keep in the gun for defense ( same on handguns )...don't reload your "defensive ammo" ...

I picked up 10 lbs of OO Buck last week at Cabelas for about $ 20 ....and I loaded some .410 shotshells with it ...to shoot in my little American Derringer...( for the heck of it...).../ or more precisely, to shame my buddies into shooting it at my local range the other day ...( told them, they were wimps if they didn't shoot it ).../ and none of us like that little gun ...but it was fun ...!
 
For now I will keep an eye open for a good price on some factory personal defense and just keep the Wally World 00 buck in the 870. I may get some factory reduced recoil stuff and perhaps smaller buck like #2 and possible #4. Now that it isn't going to the range, unless my boy comes along which will be rare, I have the original 18.5" barrel with 2+ factory magazine extension back on it. Still, no bayonette.

Talking about asking for trouble. A rangemaster at one place, not Prado, was telling me how he made up some buck and ball with the balls joined by a bar or chain. I don't recall but a jury isn't going to like that.
 
What you need is a bayonet and a longer mag extension. That way, you'll look like a humanitarian to the jury because the new mag tube extension limited the bayonet's penetration.
 
I actually roll my own ... buck and slugs. You do not save a lot of money doing it unless you've got a ready and free supply of lead of course, and are already set-up to cast your own boolits so-to-speak.

But what you will derive from the process is a lot of satisfaction and the comfort of knowing that, no matter what the future may hold, if you've got the right components you can roll yer own.

With regard to home defense. That has all changed and it really all depends on your state.

If you live in a state with a Castle Doctrine in place, then it doesn't matter what you use if they invade your home. You can behead them with a sword or dig their hearts out with a dull spoon as long as you are defending your castle. If you live in an anti-gun state then again, it really doesn't matter what you use - you're probably going to have charges brought against you by your DA so, in that case, tis better be judged by twelve than carried by six.

Now, with all of that said - if it is strictly PD and home defense that you are worried about ... just go invest in some good store-bought 00 or #1 or #4 buck, depending on any over penetration issues you may have and also, most importantly, depending upon which one your platform prefers to eat without hiccuping. Practice with a lot of it, practice a lot, a lot ... then keep your 10-100 shells just for PD and home defense.

For a lot of people who do not shoot that often, particularly shotguns, you may want to go with the low recoil stuff.

Another thing - loading it yourself, if you do ... be sure to take time to practice with each recipe at night as well as during the day. You're going to be surprised by how characteristically different the loads will be between night and day with regard to PD or home defense use.
 
I would not risk using home made rounds in self defense. Defense Attorneys eat that kind of stuff up.

Sad but all a defense attorney has to do is paint a picture of you wearing a mad scientist hat with cauldrons brewing evil batches of pain inducing rounds.
 
I'm curious pretorian ... what would a "defense attorney" (sic) have to do with prosecuting a case against someone who was involved in a self-defense related, and I am assuming we're talking about in one's own home given that we're talking shotguns here, shooting?

How could a "defense attorney" (sic) "eat that stuff up?"

Why would a "defense attorney" (sic) "paint a picture of you wearing a mad scientist hat ....?"
 
There are 2 sides to this "defensive" shooting approach ...and I'm not suggesting you do it / or don't do it ...but at least be aware ...there is a slippery slope here / and if in the one in a gazillion chance you ever pull the trigger on a weapon at an attacker or an intruder..you may have to deal with...

One is criminal ...

and maybe the more costly ...is "civil" .../ where, in my opinion, all of this stuff is going to come up .../ and I think that is where the choice of ammo becomes a bigger deal .....and how much you shoot, your attitude, etc...
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The more practical side to this discussion ...is why reload defensive ammo anyway ....there are a lot of choices out there for very good defensive ammo ...and it isn't like you need to shoot 100 rds of it a month ( other than just make sure your weapon will function with / and feed - what ammo you choose reliably ). So in my opinion ....reload your practice ammo / and purchase your Defensive ammo ...its just a smarter choice / and it might help take one more issue off the table in a civil situation.
 
Airborne Falcon - I'm referring to a "Civil" Lawsuit. My answer was obviously exaggerated when I used the mad scientist descriptor. However most people are uneducated on reloading and it would be an easy picture to paint.

I am assuming the pretend home protection case was "Justified" and the prosecutor will not "Pursue Criminal Charges"....

However the intruder you shot with your "imaginary" home made rounds can sue you on the premise that they were "cruel and unusual rounds"

If said "imaginary" home invader did not live his "imaginary" family can sue civilly on the same premise.

Its BS but still a real fact out there we all have to be aware of.
 
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Praetorian97, In neither case is the defense attorney going to eat up the fact that you made your own ammo. In the criminal case, the prosecutor will try to make hay of that and in civil court it would be the plaintiff's attorney. That you loaded your own is going to be a headache for the defense attorney on the criminal case and the defense attorney handling the civil action.
 
After re-reading my post you are correct Klawman. I went off on two tangents at once and didn't proof read. I do disagree with anyone saying its ok to use home made rounds for home protection.

Reloaded home defense rounds can be brought up two different times and both affect the home owner negatively . Defense attorney (most likely state appointed :D ) for the intruder will bring it up and paint a picture of you being some person wanting to inflict cruel punishment.

The next time it can be brought up is civilly. We are liable for the amount and kind of force we use. For example if an intruder comes into your house, sees the gun, tries to flee. Meanwhile you shoot said intruder you can be liable for excessive force. Home made rounds can be seen as excessive/cruel.

We can go round and round all day about this. To each their own. From my experience and knowledge using home made rounds for self defense is no bueno.
 
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