Should I or Should I Not?

Okay, lots of questions, due that I was thinking you would know what I was saying, I should have been more clear.
To Clarify Ammo:

The Remanufactured .45 .230g FMJ, was loaded by Ultramax Ammunition.
It's in old looking boxes. Is this good to shoot, or should I pull and reload it?

The hand-loaded .45 (nothing further on bullet weight or powder). They used New Starline brass.
Should I shoot it, or pull and reload?

The .308 loaded to pistol specs to reduce recoil. Has all the info as to what components was used and when loaded. Listed on stick-on label inside plastic ammo boxes lids,
Shoot or Pull and reload myself?

I was thinking the Starline was used by Ultramx, but it wasn't. The private handloader used the new starline brass.

Also, was it a bad deal buying the .45 reloads for $5/50rds, even if I need to pull and re-powder them?

I apologize for not being more clear.

Thanks for advice and/or suggestions.
 
No sweat, it's cool...

I would shoot the Ultramax.
I would not shoot the Mystery Meat .45's... pull the bullets and move on.

Got you on the .308 pistol... I'm just curious to see what the actual load is, more importantly... the powder used.
 
Shake and bake!

Err... Wait. It's: Pull and recycle.

I don't even shoot my father's reloads.
No chance of shooting a stranger's.
(Awkward situations arise when someone asks if I'd like to shoot their rifle/handgun, and I decline after discovering that the ammunition is handloads. :rolleyes:)
 
Zeroed - Love the TC pistols. I have several barrels for my Contender. It's a tack-driver.

Not a bad deal on the 45s. But, as you can tell, as safe as reloading is - many, many just don't feel comfortable if someone else does it. I'd just pull the bullets and know that you have primed cases and bullets ready to go when you start reloading. All you need to do is settle on a powder. Should make your first loading experience a breeze [no decapping or priming needed]. Just send them through the expander, put new powder and reseat the bullets. Ready to go and all it cost was a couple dollars in powder that you flushed as insurance.
 
I would listen to your brother.

1) You do not reload yet so have no basis for judging the ability of someone else to reload properly. As someone else said, as far as you are concerned that is mystery meat.

2) Ultramax is somewhat of a nationally distributed brand so probably OK to shoot but I would stick to cheap factory ammo like Blazer, Sellior&Bellot, UMC, etc.

3) Lack of load data is a definite No-Go. BUT, even with the data as to what was used to handload, you still do not know for sure the person handloading was paying attention or used the wrong powder, over-charged the powder, seated the bullet too deep, has high primers, cases have defects, etc.

There is only one person I trust with handloads and that is my son-in-law who I have handloaded with, discuss frequently our techniques, tools and components, and I know is super cautious when he loads. We both follow the motto, "When in doubt, break it down," for our own handloads possible mistakes (did I charge that case? Is that case neck split? was my measure set correctly?), and certainly loads for any others. I know a lot of handloaders and while I trust their knowledge, I have not sat with them at the bench for many hours and observed whether they are methodical, cautious, and quality conscience.

I never feel put out if some else does not want to shoot my handloads, and I never offer to any one else either. In fact, I recommend they do not for the same reasons I would not shoot theirs.

You cannot correctly assess another handloader's ability and safety practices until you have handloaded for some time. So until then you should not shoot ANYONE's handloads. Perhaps your brother's since he seems pretty cautious and if you have worked with him at the bench and know for certain he is careful and precise. But nobody else. After you have at least a couple of years of handloading then maybe you can adequately assess another handloader's safety and quality. But then why would you need their ammo if you are handloading yourself?
 
There are a couple of manufactures in my local vicinity and I've even visited their operations and then there are those that will always show up at the gun shows. Yes they are all licensed FFL and are perfectly legal with product liability insurance and I hope malpractice insurance. I do not buy from them no matter what the savings.

Now I will not reload for friends or family. I do load for myself and when I say myself I include my wife. We use the same guns and shoot the same ammo from the same box. So her taking from the same box I am using is no different than me taking it myself.

If I cannot trust my handloads enough that I feel unsafe using them in my guns or that my wife under these circumstances is unsafe then I need to quit loading. I would not and do not offer these rounds to others to use in their guns. I have offered my guns with these loads to others to try and yes I still feel safe. At the same time I shoot regularly with a couple other folks and have shot their guns with their reloads in them and again feel safe. I also would not ask them for any of their reloads to try in my guns. I know and trust those folks well. The rest of you do not feel badly if I turn you down.
 
My advice is never shoot another's reloads. If you want to shoot reloads, reload your own. Oh, and please always package and label your reloads so you know what they are later when you pull them outa the cupboard. Yes its OK to just toss them in a bag, but please write on a slip of paper what components went into them, plus the date, and put it in the bag with them.
 
Okay, I appreciate the info and thoughts on this. I decided to eat crow and have taken the reloaded ammo to my brother. He will pull the heads and dump the powders, and when I get enough reloading equipment, I will load them.
 
Good for you Zeroed. It takes gumption to admit your brother is right on this (anyone else not so bad :D ). As a future reloader it is good to get in the habit of always erring on the side of caution and being realistic about what you really do KNOW and what you just think might be. Any one who has reloaded for many years can give you numerous examples of eating humble pie in the interest of safety and learning.

Early on in my learning to reload someone pointed out the fallacy of trying to save a few buck on mystery or suspect ammo versus the cost of the firearm or medical bills. That drove home the point for me.
 
Pilgrim-

"...BUT, even with the data as to what was used to handload, you still do not know for sure the person handloading was paying attention or used the wrong powder, over-charged the powder, seated the bullet too deep, has high primers, cases have defects, etc...."

Or half in the bag during one or more reloading steps.
 
NWPilgrim,
you may be right about the gumption, but it sure didn't feel that way to me when I sheepishly asked if he'd pull them, so I could re-do them like he said I should. But of course I told him, "after thinking about what he told me, you're right, better safe than sorry".
Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to pull them. (I've not completed obtaining all my equipment for reloading yet). But I will be the one that will re-powder the cases.
 
Please get a reloading manual. I like the Lyman 50th. Read the book. If you decide you want to get into it buy some equipment and dies. Choose a load from the book and buy components. Read the book and follow instructions and you will do fine. Shoot your own reloads. Do not shoot others reloads.
 
Haha! Wait until you are grubbing around in a mud puddle after a session at the gravel pit trying to find those last two fired cases you can't account for. You have to have a healthy bit of humility to be a reloader! So many times I have loaded many rounds only to discover I am not certain about some step. Did I accidentally change the seating depth? Was the powder scale set right? Are those primers being seated correctly? Did that last case get a powder charge?

ANY time I have the slightest doubt, no matter how disruptive it is to my plan, I go back and measure and confirm settings, and if necessary pull a bullet to confirm. I backtrack to the point I am 100% confident again all is good. Then I think about what happened to cause doubt and how can I improve my process and checks to ensure it doesn't happen again.

You've taken the first step to being a conscientious reloader before you even began! I think you will enjoy the process of manufacturing your own ammo that you can take pride in knowing every detail about it.
 
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