Reloading for friends!

[Ol` Joe]

For what I`ve been lead to believe according to the BATF you need a manufacturing license to assemble ammo with the "intent" of selling it or gaining something of value for it. I expect the local tax board would also enjoy a few percent of the take for their back pocket too, and the zoning committee will have a say abut where you do it.
You can however offer a box of reloads you assembled for your own use to a friend as a "gift" and be totally legal. Liability however is always present, and not just from the "buddy". His wife or kids could feel depraved by injuries suffered and sue without him, so could his loving mother.
I would allow a friend to borrow my tools to reload under my supervision using his components any time they want. I won`t weight a charge or pull a lever on ammo not intended for my own guns though.

[PJgunner]

It's been more than 30 years since I reloaded ammo on a commercial basis so I don't know what rule changes have been made by the BATFE.
I always insisted on havig th gun in question when doig a job and thank God, never had a gun mishap with my loads. Liabilty insurance id damnably expensive too.
I do not reload for friends unless my rules are adhered to and then very rarely.
The last time was for my ex-son in law when he bought his new Winchester
M70 Featherweight in .300 WSM. We decided on what powder he wanted to use and what bullet and I sent him to shop around and get the components.
After the ammo was loaded up, we went to the range and ran them over the Chrony and shot for groups at the same time. Once that was done, we got more components and I then ran him through the various steps after which he loaded his own ammo on my equipment. He then bought his own tools to do the job and has been reloading ever since.
If I understand it correctly, as long as your friend furnishes all the components, you should be legal in assembling the ammo. But if you furnish just one thing, let's say the primers, then you run into trouble. it's no problem to contact the BATFE and ask. I've done this even when I aleady as positive on the correct answer and they've never told me otherwise.
Paul B.

[Rapier]

"Transfer of cash doesn't denote anything except you took money for something. If their gun blows up because of a bore obstruction that was already there...it won't matter."

Ah, but it does. Personal activities and injuries caused by you in the persuit of your hobbies may be covered under your homeowners policy; Personal Liability. However, if you receive any compensation whatever, the activity could be considered a business venture and would be excluded, as such.

Although I believe there is coverage under the standard ISO forms of insurance for this hobby exactly like fishing or golf, your policy may well be different and would need to be examined carefully for an exclusion, by a competent agent.

I personally do not reload for friends but on occasion at the range, will allow a person to shoot my gun (s) with my reloads for a few rounds. Over the years I have found that people do strange things with guns and you can never tell. Like my hunting buddy that loaned his 391 to a guy, got it back full of water grass and mud, without a word, just wiped off. The guy finally admitted that he dropped the 391 in a pond. Imagine giving this clown a box of reloads and the gun explodes full of mud.
Ed

[Seawolf1090]

At one time, I bought reloads in a certain obsolete odd-ball caliber from a buddy who reloaded. He had the dies for it, while I did not. He also is the guy who taught me to reload, and we shoot together often. I paid only the cost of the materials - he made no profit. Hey, nobody's gonna GIVE you ammo at the cost of lead and brass.......
Now, I got the dies and load ALL my own ammo.

Years ago in the Navy, I got .45 ACP reloads from another buddy - but I had to trim excess lead from the case mouth/bullet joint - he was sloppy. That's a big reason I got into 'rolling my own'......