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Posted: 3/20/2011 10:22:07 AM EDT
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First, some facts:
-I've never reloaded before and know very little about it -I live in a small studio apartment and don't have room for reloading equipment -I only hit the range once every couple months or so, so I don't consume much ammo anyway -I usually shoot steel-cased ammo to save money My coworker's husband reloads, and I asked him if he would buy used .223 brass from me. As I said, I usually shoot steel-cased ammo, but I figured if someone would buy the brass from me, that could help tilt the scales in favor of my buying brass-cased ammo from now on. He replied and said that, rather than pay me for the brass, he would offer to give me 50% of the brass back in the form of loaded ammunition. For instance, I could give him 500 .223 cases, and he would give me back 250 rounds of loaded .223 ammunition. Again, I'm not too familiar with reloading, but based on the prices of powder, primers, bullets, etc. that I found online, this sounds like an amazing deal, even if it's just plain old 55gr FMJ. I would jump on it, except: -I don't want to take advantage of him if it's clearly an unfair exchange -Shooting reloaded ammo makes me nervous, especially since I wouldn't be the one doing the loading. If I take him up on this, are there any quality control checks I can do on the ammo I get back to make sure it doesn't blow up? Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks in advance. |
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I wouldn't do it. Im not saying the guy isnt trustworthy, but shooting another persons reloads is just bad practice.
I would sell him the brass at the going rate of about $60/k. If that makes shooting brass cased ammo more economical than steel... go for it. If not, just shoot steel and dont worry about it. |
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It's not a bad deal either way. THE BIG ISSUE IS THIS: are you willing to shoot his reloads and take full responsibility should something happen?
I have been reloading some 25+ years and have not bought ammo over the counter for years and years, other than .22 LR and .410 shot shells. I have had zero issues... BUT... when something happens, people always want to blame "reloads". I used to reload for my friends at what ever the cost of supplies were. I realize I can not control all shooting factors so I stopped doing it. Now days, when a friend wants reloads, I usually make them help in the loading process. That way, they control the QC and are directly responsible for the finished product. Last batch I did for a friend he was noit there to help so I put a disclaimer on the box...  .
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Handloading is very safe. That means every step has to be done correctly.
But, Never shoot reloads from another person that you don't know very well, and only if you know and understand their loading practices. You live in an apartment, and unless it's the size of a closet, you have room for reloading equipment, you just have to scale down. We have several here that can stow all of their equipment in a large ammo can or tool box. It ain't perfect, but it will easily meet your needs. |
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Quoted:
... and then there's the whole issue of participating in a felony because producing and selling ammo without a federal license is a federal offense ... Do what? Not sure what you mean. I see no mention of buying or selling anything for profit. All I see it a trade of materials and time between two private persons. Yes... manufacturing ammo for sale/profit w/o the proper license is illegal. Trading materials and services (time) between TWO PRIVATE PARTIES with no intent for commercial sale or profit could not hardly be one in the same... are you suggesting that it is? Check out the FAQ's at BATF's site... it states a person DOES need a license IF ... "the person engages in the business of selling or distributing reloads for the purpose of livlihood and profit". Based on the OP's situation, I see none of those elements. |
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Quoted:
Doesn't matter if it's barter or buying, the person manufacturing the reloads is doing it for 'other than personal use' and under US Contract law one need only 'consideration' for the contract to be valid. It doesn't require any money exchange. So wher does this fit into the REQUIRED ELEMENT of "for the purpose of livlihood and profit"? I see no satisfaction of the elements of making a profit or making a living... ETA from the web site: Q: Is a person who reloads ammunition required to be licensed as a manufacturer? Yes, if the person engages in the business of selling or distributing reloads for the purpose of livelihood and profit. No, if the person reloads only for personal use. [18 U.S.C. 922(a) (i) and 923(a), 27 CFR 478.41] The reloading activity is for pure personal use between two parties. Quite cut and dry in my opinion... which is not worth much. |
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Just some more to support my point...
According to 18 USCS § 921 [Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure; Part I. Crimes; Chapter 44. Firearms], engaged in the business means–– “(A) as applied to a manufacturer of firearms, a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to manufacturing firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the firearms manufactured; (B) as applied to a manufacturer of ammunition, a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to manufacturing ammunition as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the ammunition manufactured; ETA: Thought you were a lawyer... |
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