Well, it’s been an interesting discussion.
The whole point of carrying factory loads (I should have specified primarily as typical self-defense against 2-legged varmints) is the repeatability aspect. My point was that the manufacturers have a much better-defined quality control and testing protocol, as well as documentation than the average handloader.
Granted, many handloaders do run their processes to the gnat’s eyelash - but do they document every single aspect? How many actually run repeated (and repeatable) tests in ballistic gelatin, all prepared and conducted according to an industry standard. I know that I sure don’t.
I agree that handloading is far and away more economical - I’m at about 15 cents/rd for 45-200gr FMJ hardball as a training round - definitely lots better than ~$1/rd for my carry ammo.
As far as what the jury would think, that’s where one’s ability to articulate comes in - training, situation, what you were thinking at the time.
And for cases being decided on the issue - absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Not once did I quote any particular instance. My theme has been that of keeping potentially adverse information out of the hands of those prosecuting the case. Offered as food for thought.
YMMV.
My handloads are much more consistent than factory rounds. The next time you get a box of ammo weigh the rounds. You may be surprised at the variance in weight. They are “suitable” for the use for which they were designed, not necessarily the most accurate.
My bullets are fitted to the gun and they are more accurate than factory loads. And the loads are designed for accuracy rather than hitting power. Frequently the most accurate round is in the lower pressure ranges: There is no relationship between velocity and accuracy.
As far as handing a point to a DA there are limits to this. The coroner is in charge of that and the DA will not make the charge of super hot loads unless there is plenty of evidence in the coroner’s report and there is quite frankly very little room in the gun’s engineering for super hot loads. Those who do experiment with high velocity loads will eventually balloon the breech or burst the barrel leaving their guns useless.
And I do agree, it has been a very interesting thread.
“is the repeatability aspect. My point was that the manufacturers have a much better-defined quality control and testing protocol, as well as documentation than the average handloader.”
No, they don’t. That’s another urban legend spread on the Internet. I have had plenty of bad factory ammo but not a single bad handload. Factory ammo clocks all over the place, but my handload are match grade consistent. Factory ammo looks pretty, but so do my reloads. The idea that handloads must be “target practice” only is bunk. I handload only loads I would carry, Speer Gold Dot/Deep Curl; there is simply nothing better. The idea that handload must somehow be inferior to factory is just plain ignorant. I handload to get better ammo and a cheaper cost, it’s a twofer win.
“My theme has been that of keeping potentially adverse information out of the hands of those prosecuting the case. “
Fairytales and superstitions have no place in reality. Until you’ve actually been in a shoot and the process that follows you have no idea what you are talking about. I am sick and tired of hearing every inexperienced idiot opine about if and buts without any common sense of reality. People saying handloads are dangerous before a court without there having been a single instance of such a thing even after thousands and thousands of cases before the courts only hurts the reloading industry. It is as bad as any liberal talking about guns.
“If ‘if’ and ‘buts’ were candy and nuts we’d all have a merry Christmas!”