One of the most ridiculous things I hear about reloading my own ammunition is that it is too dangerous. I'm told over and over that manufactured ammo is safer due to the levels of Q&A each manufacturer has.
Ahab begs to differ.
That's not to say that reloading doesn't carry risks. Inattentive reloaders realize their folly rather quickly, sometimes painfully. However, by carefully cultivating good reloading habits, you can reduce the risk significantly to the point of being on par with factory loads.
The other ridiculous reloading myth is that you should never carry reloads as Self Defense rounds. Until someone can show me actual case studies of people convicted of premeditated murder or successfully sued in civil court specifically because they used reloads, it's a myth without any basis in fact, regardless of what Massad Ayoob says.