Reloading 40 S&W

lakmp49

Inactive
I have been reloading the 40 for some time for my standard M&P 40 S&W with no issues. I put a good taper crimp on the cases and load on the lower end of the tables, 5.8 unique 180 gr JHP. I recently purchased a 40 Shield. Looking through the manual I see multiple warnings not to use reloads. What's up with that? Could it really be an issue or is it just CYA stuff they have to put in the manual?
 
It's S&W litigation lawyers running amuck. I would never own a pistol that could not run jacketed rounds that were properly reloaded. Be grateful that the warning is not prominently embossed on the frame!
 
CYA

S&W is basically warning if you cause injury or death to youself (or others) the lawyers can fall back on "the manual clearly states not to use reloads".
 
I dug up an old Shield manual. Is this what you are referring to?

man.jpg


I agree that it's just a CYA. I think they know that factory ammo is not inherently any safer or more consistent than hand loads. (In fact, we know the opposite is usually true). But when factory ammo causes problems, it's clear who we blame. They are just making it equally clear who gets the blame if your hand loads cause problems. That's my take on it.
 
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Welcome to TFL!

Gunmakers have been putting the warning about reloads in their manual for at least the bulk of the last half century, maybe longer.

It's boilerplate cya for them, because, it should be patently obvious, the maker has NO CONTROL over what YOU put in their gun.

Essentially, the warning is a sop to the ignorant, and the ignorance of our legal system. These days, if you make a product, you not only have to tell people how to use it, if you do NOT tell people how NOT TO USE IT, you can be sued.

The S&W manual's warning in the previous post is the first one I have seen that tells you WHY they say don't use reloads, but the warning against them is an old thing.

Simply put, its the legal disclaimer saying if YOU use ammo that blows up their gun, THEY are not at fault. Because they tell you in the manual not to do this.
 
Thanks all for the prompt replies. Just what I figured. I don't blame S&W, they gota do what they gota do. Can tell this issue bothers lots of folks. Glad there is a source to get the straight scoop.
 
I think what bothers most people is rampant stupidity, and the litigation that ensues from rampant stupidity, and the language of liability limitations that arise from rampant stupidity.

"Any ammunition that is improperly manufactured or reloaded, even in the slightest degree, may fail to fire or may generate excessive internal pressures..."

Uh...duh. It's a bit like the 4 stickers you find on every single strand of Christmas tree lights, have you read them? "Electricity may cause severe shock...". It's like morons are suddenly running the entire planet, and lawyers have decided that everyone needs to be warned not to stick their tongues into the fuse box. It would be kinda nice if we sorta let the morons weed themselves out...but lawyers unfortunately completely foul-up perfectly good Darwinian selection. Combine that with the weak, pathetic sheep who feel it's the Government's job to warn people of the obvious, and we basically have a nation of retards who can't tie their own shoes without authorization.
 
When my wife and I were out and about yesterday, my wife pointed out to me a new addition to the ped crossing light button at an intersection: a visual aid showing a finger pushing the button.
 
What he said. Ever seen the movie, "Idiocracy"? It's a documentary set in the very near future.

When my wife and I were out and about yesterday, my wife pointed out to me a new addition to the ped crossing light button at an intersection: a visual aid showing a finger pushing the button.

The registers at one of the groceries we ususally shop at, display pictures showing the guy manning the register exactly how many tens, ones, and coins to give, to make proper change.
 
In my state, the law requires that I have a fire extinguisher, with a sign over it saying "fire extinguisher," and a drawing of a fire extinguisher in case someone who recognizes neither the fire extinguisher nor the words "fire extinguisher" will miraculously recognize the drawing of a fire extinguisher in spite of their foregoing idiocy.

I get headaches a lot.
 
Saw this one on a package of a dozen eggs I bought the other day: "This product may contain eggs."

So that's what those are! I was so confused . . .
 
The only thing worse than a lawyer is one who is a politician.....(lawyers who are moderators here exempted of course! ;))
 
Wouldn't it be better to buy the package that DOES contain eggs?

If it may contain eggs, it may not, I'd hate to waste money gambling that way.
:rolleyes:

Saw a picture of a revolver with an arrow near the muzzle and the warning on the barrel "Caution! Bullets come out this end"

My personal gripe is the language on some signs "Dangerous Weapons prohibited".

Well, DUH! If it is dangerous (to the user) it's defective.

Seems to have come from the Dept. of Redundancy Dept.
:rolleyes:
 
Manual warning

Frankly, yep word for word warning in my manual plus 2-3 other places where they said don't use reloads.
 
Wouldn't it be better to buy the package that DOES contain eggs?

If it may contain eggs, it may not, I'd hate to waste money gambling that way.

You'd think so, wouldn't you? I guess it's another "what's life without a little bit of the ridiculous," kind of thing.

Here's another I read when I ordered an iPod Shuffle for my nephew a couple years ago: "Do not eat."

I laughed for twenty minutes after reading that one.
 
My wife bought a blow dryer a few weeks ago and it had a tag on the cord which read, "Do not use while sleeping." Who was blow drying their hair while they were sleeping?
 
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