Remanufactured Ammunition

Question
Location: Idaho.  I hope this question is generic enough.  I recently bought a Ruger Mini-14, my first new firearm purchase in many years.  The instructions warn against using "remanufactured" ammunition.  This not a topic for which I have given much thought, since there are several companies, such as HSM and Black Hills, that produce ammunition with either new or used (remanufactured) brass.  So, my two-part question is: is ammunition from well-known manufacturers such as these safe to use, and are there issues, particularly with an autoloader of which one should be aware?  Thanks

Answer
Lawyers make them put this language in. Ammunition from Black Hills is excellent and perfectly safe (as safe as any new ammunition).

When people begin handloading they can have some issues, and I've seen a few guns blown up over the years from people who didn't quite know what they were doing. Often times people will try to work up "really hot" loads that exceed the SAAMI spec.

If a gun does have a catastrophic failure it is usually ammunition related, and this regardless of whether it is new or re-mfg. In most cases, the ammo company ends up replacing your gun. But if they can't find anything wrong with the lot, the gun company will be on the hook for the gun. So what you need to be aware of is if you use Black Hills and IF (big if) there is something wrong with it such that it causes a catastrophic failure, and IF Black Hills maintains that their ammo was not at fault, Ruger would have no obligation to do anything for you because they told you not to use re-mfg ammunition.

But I have and would continue to use it. Even if it is "home made" if you it was a competent and capable reloader, I doubt there would be any problem. The warning is lawyer-speak for "But if there is, don't come to us about it."

Bottom line: I wouldn't use ammunition reloaded by my buddy who just started doing it (rounds that feed through an auto are subject to much more abuse than through a turn-bolt gun), but from a reputable re-mfg you shouldn't have any problem.

ONE CAUTION: check and see if the gun is chambered in .223 Remington for 5.56 NATO (I haven't looked at a mini-14 in a while). You can use the .223 in 5.56 gun, but DO NOT use 5.56 in a .223 gun. The .223 is a milder cartridge and although they are identical on the exterior, catastrophic failures can and have occurred if you use the NATO round in a .223 gun.