Registered User
Hi Folks
We've just found out at Blackburn Rifle and Pistol Club that from 1st Jan 2015, the public liability insurance cover we get from the nsra will no longer cover members using downloaded ammunition. They have not defined what they mean by downloaded but what the heck, we are only the paying customers. If your club gets its insurance through the nsra or perkin-slade then please check that you are still covered
thanks
neil carter
Registered User
Downloaded ammunition is a strange phrase. Could they mean using loads downloaded from forums? How would anyone know?
Registered User
Provided the load is within the range specified by the manufacturers surely it has been tested as safe, if outside that range then only a fool would use it.
I has an abacus
Fool indeed.Originally Posted by angrybear
But given some of the stories i have heard about some peoples reloading nothing will ever surprise me. I think the tolerances we give to guns to save large numbers of fools should not be underestimated!
Registered User
Another mystical often used phrase..."downloaded"..do we assume that anything which is not factory ammunition must be "downloaded"...but then even factory ammo varies in MV/ME.....are rimfire subs "downloaded"?? The NSRA would not know anything about CF loads in any case. Perhaps they mean "handloaded"? All ranges have specified limits of calibre, ME/MV and provided your ammunition is within these limits I cannot see what the problem is.
amc577
Systems Administrator
Normally means rifle loads with less powder (or a pistol powder) to meet the range velocity/power regs.
I'm sure someone on here is shooting .303 with subsonic lead cast bullets on his club range.
Banned
I shoot so-called 'downloaded' ammunition in my Swiss rifles. The issue 7.5x55 is mite 'healthy' for a guest to shoot and still enjoy, but they can get the feel of shooting with a 180gr gas-checked lead bullet and a load of suitable powder without leaving their shoulder behind the shooting line.
Most loading manuals I have give details of suitable and safe reduced loads for pistol and rifle calibres, usually employing cast lead bullets instead of jacketed bullets. RCBS actually produce a reloading data handbook ONLY for cast bullets.
tac
Registered User
it only takes on numpty to home load a round incorrectly and the effects can be serious for those in the immediate area with regards to gun blowing up and injury's sustained ,same as on an outdoor range with home loaded rifle ammo ,and having 2 shooters firing at one target next to each other on same firing point (accident waiting to happen)as both would be injured or maimed ,when I pointed this out at a range ,was told well the military do it ,no they don't ,and its factory ammo so ammo is of proven type ( but it doesn't always go bang ),same with all insurance it only needs once and it affects us all
Tempest .22, BSA Lightning(delux) .22 ,HW 80 K .22 Sako finn fire .22rf, Browning Buckmark 22rf , BSA 22 Hornet centre fire ,Winchester s/a mod 1400 12 bore, Winchester select light 12 bore J Manton hammer side bee side 12 bore and a 410 hushpower, BASC MEMBER
Registered User
Any BBS members have factual instances of guns "blowing up" with homeloads and injuring/maiming shooters or bystanders? UK only....
amc577
Devout Yorkshireman
That's me
Careful with that axe Eugene
Banned
I'm sure that Eggy, like me and the other shooters that I know who use reduced loads for compliance with range restrictions [as we do in our club for those who few shoot the 338LM], also comply with and use the loading data from the many loading data handbooks around.
As I pointed out before, most, if not all, also list reduced loads for cast bullets of different weights, and also table minima and maxima for the loads as well.
tac
Registered User
sounds like a change of insurance is or may be neededHi Folks
We've just found out at Blackburn Rifle and Pistol Club that from 1st Jan 2015, the public liability insurance cover we get from the nsra will no longer cover members using downloaded ammunition. They have not defined what they mean by downloaded but what the heck, we are only the paying customers. If your club gets its insurance through the nsra or perkin-slade then please check that you are still covered
thanks
neil carter
Registered User
Our clubs NSRA Public Liability insurance also no longer covers downloaded ammunition, this could have a lot of serious implications what happens if a defective factory round leaves a bullet stuck in the barrel of your gun (which has happened to me but I recognised that it was not right and unloaded my gun and checked the barrel and saw it was blocked) would this be classed as downloaded ammunition?
Or a reloader makes a slip up and the same thing happens.
A less experienced shot might not have suspected a problem and fired another round!
A lot of classic arm shooters use downloaded ammunition with lead bullets instead of jacketed ammunition I would guess they are now un-insured so the club will have to put a stop to this type of shooting.
Registered User
I have read, many times over the years, that it is dangerous to download rifle cartridges with slow burning rifle powders and that reduced charges should always use a somewhat faster powder (ie Unigue).
This was alleged to be the result of "detonating" the small powder charge in a large case.
Various explanations were given:
"the flash goes over the powder and ignites it all at the same time"
or
"the pressure bounces off the end of the case and reinforces the shock wave like a laser does with light"
etc.
I think Elmer Keith said this was wrong and all these stories were bad reloading practices but others say it is a real phenomenon.
Does anyone know what the latest research tells us?
I only shoot rifle with factory ammunition these days so I am not up to date with the latest gen.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote