Editing Handloading (section)

== Legal aspects ==
Since many countries heavily restrict the civilian possession of ammunition and ammunition components, including [[Percussion cap|primers]] and [[smokeless powder]], handloading may be explicitly or implicitly illegal in certain countries. Even without specific restrictions on powder and primers, they may be covered under other laws governing [[explosive]] materials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2005/20051082.htm#10 |title=The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 |publisher=The Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament}}</ref> Handloading may require study and passing an exam to acquire a handloading permit prior to being allowed to handload ammunition in some jurisdictions. This is done to avoid catastrophic accidents caused by lack of knowledge/skill as much as possible, and also allows the government to maintain information on who reloads their own cartridges. The standards organization [[C.I.P.]] rules that the products of handloaders that do not comply with the [[C.I.P.#Ammunition approval|C.I.P. ammunition approval rules]] for commercial ammunition manufacturers cannot be legally sold in [[C.I.P.#Member states|C.I.P. member states]].

Many firearms manufacturers explicitly advise against the use of handloaded ammunition. Generally, this means that the maker's warranty is void, and the manufacturer is not liable for any damage to the gun or personal injury if handloaded ammunition is used that exceeded established limits for a particular arm. This arises because firearm manufacturers point out that while they have some influence and scope for redress with ammunition manufacturers, they have no such influence over the actions of incompetent or overly ambitious individuals who assemble ammunition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAQs?site=Firearm&cat=1#Q12 |title=FAQs: Why do you recommend not shooting reloaded ammunition? |publisher=Sturm, Ruger}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CustomContentDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&content=10506 |title=Safety |publisher=Smith & Wesson}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.remington.com/support/warranty/ |title=Firearm Warranty Information |publisher=Remington |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517155658/http://www.remington.com/Support/Warranty |archive-date=2008-05-17 }}</ref>

===United States ===
In the United States, handloading is not only legal and requires no permit, but is also quite popular.  Experts point to potential legal liabilities (depending on the jurisdiction) that the shooter may incur if using handloaded ammunition for defense, such as an implied malice on the part of the shooter, as the use of handloaded ammunition may give the impression that "regular bullets weren't deadly enough".<ref name=ayoob>{{cite journal|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_4_51/ai_n11840291 |title=Handloads are for sport and training: not defense: after a shooting, certain concerns contraindicate handloads |journal=Guns Magazine |date=April 2005 |author=Massad Ayoob |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203174700/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_4_51/ai_n11840291 |archive-date=2009-02-03 }}</ref>  Additionally, forensic reconstruction of a shooting relies on using identical ammunition from the manufacturer, where handloaded ammunition cannot be guaranteed identical to the ammunition used in the shooting, since "the defendant literally manufactured the evidence".<ref name=ayoob />  In particular, powder residue patterning is used by law enforcement to validate the distance between the firearm and the person shot using known facts from the manufacturer about powder type, content, and other factors.

===Canada ===
Handloading is legal in [[Canada]].  The Explosives Act<ref>[http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-17 Explosives Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. E-17)] at Department of Justice. Retrieved 2011-11-16.</ref> places limits on the amount of powder (either smokeless or black) that may be stored in a building, on the manner in which it is stored, and on how much powder may be available for use at any time.<ref>[http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/legal_info_for_reloaders.html Legal Info for Reloaders] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231300/http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/legal_info_for_reloaders.html |date=2012-04-25 }} at Canadian Shooting Sports Association. Retrieved 2011-11-16</ref>  The Act is the responsibility of [[Natural Resources Canada]].<ref>[http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/acts-regulations/332 Acts and Regulations] at Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2011-11-16.</ref>  If the quantity of powder stored for personal use exceeds 75&nbsp;kg, then a Propellant Magazine Licence (Type P) is required.  There is no limit on the number of primers that may be stored for non-commercial use.<ref>[http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/minerals-metals/explosives/3752 Explosive Regulations and the Industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201063254/http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/minerals-metals/explosives/3752 |date=2012-02-01 }} at Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2011-11-16.</ref>

===Germany ===
As an example of a European country, handloading in Germany requires a course, terminated in an exam, in handloading and handling of explosive propellants; often, this is offered in combination with a course and exam in [[muzzle-loading]] and [[black powder]]-shooting. The State's Ministry of the Interior conducts the exam. When passed and the reloader can provide a reason for his will to reload ("Bedürfnisprüfung"), he can apply for a permit to a quota of propellant for five years (after which time he has to extend the permit). Every propellant is recorded in the permit. Primers, cartridges, bullets, and reloading equipment are available without a permit.

As German law gives maximum pressures for every commercial caliber, the handloader is allowed to non-commercially give away his ammunition. He is liable for incorrect loading. His references are data books by propellant manufacturers (like RWS), bullet manufacturers (like Speer), reloading tool manufacturers (like Lyman) or neutral manufacturers institutions like the [[Deutsche Versuchs- und Prüfanstalt für Jagd- und Sportwaffen|DEVA]]. Firearms manufacturers give guarantees as long as the handloaded ammunition is within the correct parameters.

The relevant rules for non-commercial application can be found in §27 of the Explosives Act ("Sprengstoffgesetz").<ref>[http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sprengg_1976/__27.html Gesetze im Internet] at Department of Justice and Customer Rights, Retrieved 2015-09-15.</ref>

In order to investigate gun destruction –  material fault or incorrectly loaded ammunition – , and for handloaders to get data for new loads, gun and/or handloaded cartridges can be sent to the [[Deutsche Versuchs- und Prüfanstalt für Jagd- und Sportwaffen|DEVA]] institute (German institute for testing and examining of hunting and sporting guns);<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.deva-institut.de| title = DEVA - Deutsche Versuchs- und Prüfanstalt für Jagd- und Sportwaffen}}</ref> the DEVA returns a pressure diagram and a report whether this load is within legal range for this ammunition.

=== South Africa ===
Handloading or reloading is allowed in South Africa as long as you are in possession of a competency certificate to possess a firearm as well as a license to possess such a firearm. Sport shooters load to make shooting sports more affordable and hunters load to obtain greater accuracy. Powder and primers are strictly controlled by law and can not exceed for 2&nbsp;kg for powder and 2400 primers. The amount of ammunition you may have in your possession is also limited to 200 rounds per chambering. If you are a registered dedicated sportsman, the quantities are unlimited. Although the powder's quantity is unlimited if you are a dedicated sportsman, storage of excess amounts of powder is dangerous due to the potential of fire occurring from accidental ignition. A manual from a South African powder manufacturer Rheinmetall Denel Munition (previously Somchem) is available for reloaders with adequate information and guidelines.