I hand-loaded some hot .300 Win Mag rounds. On the third shot, the rifle exploded (kaboom). The receiver sheared, and I took shrapnel to the face. I tried to claim the $3,000 rifle on my insurance. They asked, “Was this factory ammunition?”
Key Takeaways
- Manufacturer Warranties are Void: Almost every gun manufacturer (Glock, Sig, Remington) voids the warranty if you use reloaded or “re-manufactured” ammunition. You cannot call them for a replacement.
- “Product Liability” doesn’t exist for DIY: If Federal Ammo blows up your gun, Federal pays. If you blow up your gun, you pay.
- Homeowners Property Coverage: Standard policies cover “Explosion,” but they often exclude damage caused by “mechanical breakdown” or “artificially generated electrical current.” However, a literal explosion of a firearm should be covered as a sudden accidental loss, provided you have “All-Risk” (Open Perils) coverage on contents.
- Injury Coverage: Your Health Insurance covers your face. Your Homeowners “MedPay” does not cover you (the insured), only guests.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Workmanship.”
If the adjuster classifies the kaboom as “improper workmanship” (you built the ammo wrong), they can deny the claim under the workmanship exclusion.
You want to frame the claim as “Accidental Explosion.”
The Investigation (I Asked Adjusters)
- Scenario: Hand-load double charge destroys gun.
- Adjuster A: “If you have a Gun Floater (Scheduled Property), accidental breakage is covered. We pay.”
- Adjuster B: “If you just have standard personal property coverage, we might argue this was an internal mechanical failure, which is excluded.”
- CollectInsure: Covers accidental damage. This is your best bet for reloaders.
Comparison Table
| Ammunition Source | Gun Warranty | Insurance Claim (Gun) | Liability (If Guest Hurt) |
| Factory (Federal/Hornady) | Valid | Subrogate Manufacturer | Manufacturer Pays |
| Your Reloads | Void | Maybe (Depends on policy) | You Pay (High Risk) |
| “Bubba’s” Reloads (Gun Show) | Void | Unlikely | You Pay |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Stop Shooting: Don’t fire the rest of the batch. Pull the bullets and weigh the powder to prove/disprove the double charge.
- Schedule Your Reloading Press: If a fire starts in your reloading room, the insurer will look closely at the powder storage. Ensure you are within NFPA limits (usually <20-50 lbs of smokeless powder).
- [IMAGE: Photo of a reloading bench with powder stored in a wooden cabinet]
- Buy “Gun & Trophy” Insurance: Policies like CIS or Eastern cover the gun regardless of why it blew up (unless it was intentional).
- Be Honest: If asked “Was it reloaded?”, say yes. Insurance fraud is a felony.
FAQ
Can I sell my reloads?
NO. You need a Type 06 FFL to manufacture ammo for sale. If you sell reloads and someone gets hurt, you have ZERO insurance and have committed a federal crime.
Does insurance cover the Chronograph I shot?
Accidental damage. Yes, if scheduled.