Based on the info you have given I would unload them with a percussion/striker style tool that is designed to deactivate the primer, dispose of the powder, & remove the bullet all at the same time. These can be very expensive & dangerous if used incorrectly. I will suggest you try the kinetic one yourself tho. It will be good practice.
"INHERITED 357mag RELOADS"
- Thread starter friscolatchi
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Sheepdog1968
Member
I would not use them myself. Much potential risk for very little reward.
Please,,, break down a few of the rounds and weight the rest. If the numbers add up enjoy the ammo. If they don't then break them all down use the powder at fert. And the reload the primer brass or put rubber slugs in the primed brass and enjoy training or putting holes in paper in your office.....
friscolatchi
Member
I can see by reading the replies what the consensus is. I have no problem putting them aside until I make my next major investment. I agree, 100 rounds is no big deal. New cartridges are less than 50 dollars. I would hate to see my 500 dollar investment ruined. By the way, the guy that I bought the gun from is a security guard and into AR's. He told me that he just had to have it. He was "funding another project" How can anyone pass up a 1894! Here in NY they are impossible to get - they're in the store no longer than a day.
I would like to thank all the posters for their advice. I would really like to start reloading at some point. I have a few projects around the house to take care of first, then buy a bow, then another gun, ... ... ...
I would like to thank all the posters for their advice. I would really like to start reloading at some point. I have a few projects around the house to take care of first, then buy a bow, then another gun, ... ... ...
I probably wouldn't shoot them.
I shot my own reloads but usually not anyone else's unless I really know them well and that they're a competent reloader.
As you noted already, the cost of replacing a gun is way more than the cost of a box of ammo. And the cost of replacing your eyes, face, hands, and the lives of any bystanders... well you can't replace that stuff at any price.
And a kinetic bullet puller is pretty cheap and remarkably durable. My dad bought one a few years back and it's been put to good use to pull a lot of suspect ammo that we've been given over the years. Anything NOT known to be factory loaded ammo gets pulled and recycled if possible, sold if it's not useable to me but useable to someone else, or tossed in the scrap brass bucket. Suspect powder gets burned up safely.
I shot my own reloads but usually not anyone else's unless I really know them well and that they're a competent reloader.
As you noted already, the cost of replacing a gun is way more than the cost of a box of ammo. And the cost of replacing your eyes, face, hands, and the lives of any bystanders... well you can't replace that stuff at any price.
And a kinetic bullet puller is pretty cheap and remarkably durable. My dad bought one a few years back and it's been put to good use to pull a lot of suspect ammo that we've been given over the years. Anything NOT known to be factory loaded ammo gets pulled and recycled if possible, sold if it's not useable to me but useable to someone else, or tossed in the scrap brass bucket. Suspect powder gets burned up safely.
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Vec
Member
Ok, so here's something to think about (happened a few days ago to me). Let's say you're at the range and you think that someone's gun is interesting. A few magazines of reloads are loaded up and handed to you along with the other person's gun. Would you shoot them? (Knowing that the shooter would trust their own gun / face / etc. to the same loads)
I was on the end of the person that had the gun. The guys I handed them to (well, one of them at least) shot it better than I did.
What would you do?
I was on the end of the person that had the gun. The guys I handed them to (well, one of them at least) shot it better than I did.
What would you do?
Sport45
Member
His gun, his ammo? Yeah, I'd shoot it and offer him the same with one of mine.
Hondo 60
Member
Are you kidding?
That isn't gonna tell him anything.
Bullets & brass can vary by as much as 5 - 10 grains.
And if he isn't a reloader, why would he have a reloading scale to weigh them?
If a stranger handed me a gun with some of his reloads at a range, I'm not sure I'd shoot them. If he didn't seem like a total moron and our conversation regarding guns and reloading indicated that he had a grasp of what he was doing, I'd probably shoot them.
If he downed a can of Colt .45 before fumbling a speedloader of his "special hot .357 loads for killin' deer" I think I'd pass.
It is possible to say no.
If he downed a can of Colt .45 before fumbling a speedloader of his "special hot .357 loads for killin' deer" I think I'd pass.
It is possible to say no.
leadcounsel
member
I have a policy against shooting someone's personal reloads. I had a KABOOM once with someones "carefully measured reloads." No thanks. Scared the crap outta me. Blew the mag out of the bottom of the gun.
Give 'em to a reloader friend to pull and reweigh or as a gift.
Give 'em to a reloader friend to pull and reweigh or as a gift.
Taroman
Member
No need to burn questionable powder. Makes great lawn fertilizer.
As others have stated, I like the facts that they're labeled. They're dated. They are using Starline brass. I wouldn't have too many qualms about them.
And the 3rd owner thing doesn't bother me. If anything, that's a bonus. If there were a serious problem with the reloads, the amo would have been tossed by then, and the 3rd owner would have bought rifle parts.
But you could try giving them a shake by your ear. With the long case of the .357, it is sometimes possible to hear/feel a charge, depending on the load/powder. At least you could possibly detect a squib.
And the 3rd owner thing doesn't bother me. If anything, that's a bonus. If there were a serious problem with the reloads, the amo would have been tossed by then, and the 3rd owner would have bought rifle parts.
But you could try giving them a shake by your ear. With the long case of the .357, it is sometimes possible to hear/feel a charge, depending on the load/powder. At least you could possibly detect a squib.
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I inherited a box of 44mags and I finally took them to the range. I knew the person who loaded them and he was fond of "hot" loads so I brought out the Super Blackhawk and the DE. First round cracked the case so I packed those up.
It didn't too long to pull the bullets. I have an old ash tray made out of 1/4 carbon steel that I burn powder in as needed. I will say the powder from 47 "hot loads" looked like a blue/green afterburner about 10 feet high a foot in diameter for about 2 seconds.
It didn't too long to pull the bullets. I have an old ash tray made out of 1/4 carbon steel that I burn powder in as needed. I will say the powder from 47 "hot loads" looked like a blue/green afterburner about 10 feet high a foot in diameter for about 2 seconds.
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