kraigwy, from your commentary I get the impression you are trying to say that there is no significant difference in GSR between reloaded and factory ammunition
Kind of, there is no absolutes in firearm investigation (excluding hard evidence such as micro comparisons). You can get close (but not exact) with powder marks (burning or tattooing). At the time of explosion gunpowder forms oxides of nitrogen, which becomes embedded in the pore of the skin (used to check if one fired a gun) or the target with in range. Any firearm using gunpowder is going to leave oxides of nitrogen. (Which also comes in other forms, ammonium nitrates, Potassium nitrates sodium nitrates, urine, etc etc. ---you have to know what the subject was doing prior to the incident, was he exposed to nitrates as in gardening, etc?)
Back to gunpowder, its going to produce oxides of nitrogen whether its a factory round or reloaded ammunition, it has to, and based on my experience its pretty close to the same in faster powders used in pistol whether they loaded with factory loads or reloads.
Having said that I have encourage anyone interested to experiment themselves. You'd be surprised.
no reason to worry that your hand loads aren't admissible
There are no "Rules of Evidence" any where that preclude the evidence obtained from "reloads". What does come into question is the methods of obtaining that evidence. The witness must establish that, an examination of the case involved, controlled test in an attempt to duplicate the results, were conducted, and a proper chain of custody was maintained. If that is put forth to the court propertly, then the evidence will be allowed. Thats up to the court and the ability of the attorneys to present that to the court.
But yes there are no hard fast rules stating that evidence from "reloaded ammo" can
never be used in court.
Having said that, no where did I encourage anyone to carry reloads (or any other ammo) in SD pistols/Revolvers. I do say that if you do it can be (depending on the lawyer) questioned, as can be questioned the use of Hollow points, magnums, FMJs, etc. I also believe the experience and use of any ammo can come into question. (meaning do you carry a type of round that you've fired thousands of times in practice and competitions, or a round you fired a clip through to see how it acts).
If you carry reloads in Wyoming you'll have less problems then in Chicago. If you carry HPs in Texas you'll have less problems then in New Jersey. If you use FMJs in an area where the movie FULL METAL JACKET, just played, or the news if full of bullets penitrating cops vest, you might have problems.
Again, there is no absolutes. I have no doubt I can better justify carrying reloaded ammunition then factory. I never use factory ammo, (excluding Military Ammo when I shooting for the guard). If I was to buy a box of Brand X, and have a questionable shooting, using ammo I have no experience with, guess what, I"m going to have problems. (It doesn't take many days observing trails to believe that).
Nothing is set in concrete. Do your own studies, concider your enviorment, your experience, knowledge, and training, base your decisions on that not what you read on the internet.
Each and every case mentioned regarding reloads had a lot of other problems, reloads alone have never caused a conviction.