Is it legal to make your own ammo?

Question

With the price of ammo going up, is it cheaper to make your own ammo?

Is it legal to make your own?

Answer 1

Why wouldn't it be?

Yes it's legal in general. However some states like Massachusetts have laws that make it illegal even to pocess an empty shell casing without an FID card, so check your local laws.

Answer 2

YES.*

Answer 3

Yes it is legal!*

Answer 4

yes, it is legal, and it may be cheaper.  You have to figure how much your time is worth.  If I spend an hour at work, at overtime wages, I make more than I save on reloading after compontents are subtracted, and I don't make all that much per hour.  If you don't get overtime though, that would change your equation, or if you don't get paid by the hour at all...

as far as dangerous, if you are a fool and too dumb to follow the directions EXACTLY as written, yes, you can harm yourself quite seriously,

but if you are cautious, don't take shortcuts, read the whole recipie and all disclaimers and every detail twice, and then attempt it, it is safe.

There are a bunch of things that people gloss over by mistake.  For example, don't use plastic scoops, they can build up static electricity and cause a fire while being used.  Another is you have to be very aware of the bullet weight. We had a guy on here a few months ago who had 150 grain bullets and used the same amount of powder as called for in a 140 grain bullet recipie, and blew his gun apart. He was mad amd wanted to sue but it was his own fault for being dumb.

Answer 5

certainly is, just don't get any ideas about selling mass quantities, because you do need a license to sell it commercially.

Answer 6

HI.... Legal?- Yes -- Cheaper? Of course.... Worth it? maybe.... If your shooting firearms that use expensive ammo then yes it can be very cost effective.  My philosophy is different. I only shoot rifles that use inexpensive ammunition. .223, .308, 7.62X39MM, 9MM.... No these cartridges wont do everything but for deer hunting the .308 is fine, the .223 and 7.62X39MM is great on varmints and the 9MM is for general plinking....  Yet there are other cartridges that are a little better or for more specific animals but in most cases I find this stuff just fine..... Sure the .22-250 is better than .223 but I am not about to spend $20 a box. Instead I buy a 1000 rounds in bulk .223 which means I can practice a lot, hence it doesnt matter if the 22-250 is a little better - I can hit any critter to 400 yards with my .223 all day....

Answer 7

Reloading ammunition has always been, Legal, cheaper and usually will provide the shooter with a more accurate load for His weapon.

Answer 8

People have been reloading ammo for decades.

YES it's legal, and it's MUCH cheaper than buying it.

Answer 9

The components are going up in price, too, but it's still a lot cheaper per round, by far. The problem is that if you get into handloading, you may "get the bug" and shoot up any savings. It's just too tempting to try one more combination!

Answer 10

Making your own ammo is generally legal.  I cannot think of anywhere (yet) that prevents it in the states, I know some other countries outlaw the practice.

Making your own ammo can be cheap, but cheapness varies by how much work you want to put into the hobby.  I can reload 9mm very cheaply as that I range pick brass and cast my own bullets from wheel weights that I scrounge.  If you buy brass and bullets, the cost will be higher.  My only real costs are primers and powder; 9mm fortunately doesn't use a very heavy powder charge so a one pound can goes quite a ways.

As far as danger, any hobby can be dangerous.  The danger is minimized as long as you are always cautious.  I verify starter loads in 3 manuals before I consider the load "safe".  I then will load the recipe directly from the manual as is; I don't substitute primers or bullets.  Then in the process, I weight every tenth charge to be sure they are consistent.  Usually when something goes wrong, it is because a casing got no powder, a double charge of powder, or a unsafe loading or substitution was made.

Answer 11

Of course not.  People have been reloading for years.  Just don't load up anything illegal like 'exploding' bullets which would be consider "devices of destruction."

H

Answer 12

Every time I load my cap and ball pistol,I "make"my own ammo...I could [but don't] even make the black powder and cast the lead ball.

Answer 13

Yes, everybody makes there own ammo.

Answer 14

Yes, it is perfectly legal, usually cheaper and better quality than most store bought ammo. It is only dangerous if you are doing something stupid, or are carelessly loading the powder into the shells.