[familyop]

"I understand your revulsion, but in point of fact the law does not make a distinction between types of deadly force."

Only when police use such discretion (e.g., burning someone to death). Police have written articles warning non-police against using handloaded ammunition for self-defense, implying that someone using handloads may be charged with murder, even after only defending themselves.

[cbvanb]

I think the issue of using handloads in self defense comes from civil case law, not the police, specifically. In other words, an attorney will find some way of attacking your actions, no matter what they were. They also do that to the police, but that is a very different matter from what I stated. There is no case law, or statute of which I am aware that says the only allowable means of self defense is a gun, or any other specific means. One is entitled to use whatever means are available when faced with a deadly threat.