[halvey]

There's all kinds of threads saying 'I run 200 (or 500, or 100) rounds of defense ammo in my (whatever brand) semi-auto before I trust it to carry'.

Well, what is a good number for a centerfire wheelgun, used for concealed carry?

[1 old 0311]

With a semi-auto 500 to break it in, and 200 for the carry ammo. With a wheel gun, 50 gets it done.

[MCgunner]

I just shoot my carry load for accuracy, fire a few rounds off hand for fun, good to go. You ain't gonna get any stove pipes in a revolver or FTEs or such. Six (or five) for sure. ;)

[Brian Williams]

6 and some practice ammo, about 100 to know or verify manual of arms.

[Ala Dan]

Even the finickest 1911 should not require a 500 round count break-in period.
My Les Baer TRS 1911 ran perfectly after firing 200 rounds of ball ammo.
Currently, I'm expermenting with different types of JHP's to see what works
best in MY gun~! :scrutiny: ;)

[AirForceShooter]

A lot of times it's not the gun that needs the "break in" It's the Mags.
I have a 1911 that I've had for years and who knows how many rounds.
If I pick up a new set of mags I use them at the range for quite a while before I trust them for carry.
There's no set time or round count. I just get that warm fuzzy feeling they're ok. It's the same with a new gun.
But remember a gun is a mechanical device. It can fail or break anytime without a bit of warning. 500 rounds of flawless performance doesn't mean it won't fail on round 501 or round 10,165. Part of it is a crap shoot.

AFS

[TallPine]

Six.

[MCgunner]

Well, I hate 1911s. Two of the biggest POSs I ever owned were an AMT hardballer, and worse, a Auto Ordinance 1911. The AO would NOT fire anything, but ball and wasn't really 100 percent with that! I'd get a stove pipe occasionally. Sold it at a gun show. I got the hardballer 100 percent, after a trip to a gunsmith, with ball. I also loaded a 200 grain SWC for it, had to load it out to head space on the rifling to get the OAL long enough, though. That gun was real OAL dependent. Want a jam every round, try CCI Lawman 200 grain JHP (old flying ashtrays).

I've never had a jam with my Ruger P90, feeds any and everything I've ever tried in it 100 percent and is awesome accurate. I like having confidence in a firearm.

I own just 4 autos that have proven reliable to me. I really prefer to fire hundreds of rounds in competition (IDPA) if I have the choice before I rely on 'em. I have done that with my Kel Tec P11, my Ruger P85, and my P90. I have a lot more revolvers than I do autos, but my Rugers have proved to be about as reliable. Now, I've never tried any Sigs, know Glocks are reliable, hear great things about CZ, but I'm a revolver guy at heart and I got the Rugers because I like Rugers. They have not disappointed me. But, when it comes down to a social encounter, I know my revolvers aren't gonna jam. Those 1911 POSs still haunt me. I'll never own another, not in my lifetime. I don't like cocked and locked anyway, prefer DA with a decocker if I carry auto or DAO especially in a pocket auto.

If someone forced me to carry a 1911, I could put 2K rounds trouble free through it and still not trust it. LOL

[cslinger]

With semi autos I shoot about 100 rounds of my carry ammo choice while limp wristing, offhand, sideways etc.

With a good revolver I run a box or ammo through and call it a day.

Chris

[ZeSpectre]

After a break in period I require 100 flawless rounds. I do this for both semi-auto and revolver as I have had a revolver start light striking before.

[tinygnat219]

I require 500 flawless rounds with a clean gun.

[orionengnr]

Well, what is a good number for a centerfire wheelgun, used for concealed carry?

Lots of answers about semi auto pistols including 1911s. The question was about centerfire wheelguns....:rolleyes:

My answer: five or six, depending on the revolver.

[MCgunner]

Lots of answers about semi auto pistols including 1911s. The question was about centerfire wheelguns....

My answer: five or six, depending on the revolver.


And I believe my answer was....
I just shoot my carry load for accuracy, fire a few rounds off hand for fun, good to go. You ain't gonna get any stove pipes in a revolver or FTEs or such. Six (or five) for sure.

[2ndamd]

50-60 rounds through a wheelie will do.....IMHO.

On revolvers you just need to make sure your gun is okay with the primers in the ammo. Some wheel guns (very rare mind you) will pop a primer. This will cause a pain the rear lock-up.

I have never had this happen to me but have seen it happen once.

[jpwilly]

I take my carry weapon a Taurus PT145 (45ACP) Millennium Pro and/or my Taurus PT1911 (45ACP) with me whenever I go to the range. I shoot 200rnds+ around once a month. I've had only FTE with the PT145 when I purposly limp wristed it. I don't trust a new firearm until I've shot multiple types of ammo through it and at least 600rnds or 3 range sessions or so. I'm not talking about break in I'm talking about trusting that it will work. When I go to the range it is in my IWB with one in the tube I pull it out and it goes bang bang bang every time! Yea I know they aren't Revolvers if they were I'd probably be fine with shooting a box of 50rnds or so and then just get better with it.

[lawboy]

I don't have a set amount of rounds, but I do check the following before trusting a revolver to carry -- and I do CCW revolvers on a daily basis here in Sunny Califor-ni-a.
1. REMOVE SIDEPLATE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE LOCKWORK. Make sure trigger and hammer engagement points look okay, make sure springs are factory. I will not carry a revolver that has had the springs shaved down, or altered in anyway. Replacement Wolff springs are fine but no altered springs!
2. Check timing of revolver for any significant issues.
3. Check end shake. Excessive endshake WILL RESULT IN LIGHT STRIKES.
4. Locktite. sideplate screws with a light grade of locktite.
5. Make sure ejector rod is tightly threaded (not applicable to GP100,SP101Rugers.)
6. Check for speedloader clearance on left grip panel.
7. Check cylinder gap for dragging. I have yet to see a factory revolver with a cylinder gap that was too large, ie., so big it was a problem. I have seen several where the cylinder dragged on the forcing cone.
8. Shoot the gun enough to get it hot rapidly. Some guns will lock up when they get hot, or will have trigger return problems, or will have cylinder drag problems from the gas ring swelling up.
9. Shoot the gun to confirm suffiicient accuracy and POI v. POA.

If the revolver passes all these inspection points, it then goes into service subject to regular maintenance and inspection. And LOTS of shooting!

[Walkalong]

Two of the biggest POSs I ever owned were an AMT hardballer, and worse, a Auto Ordinance 1911.

Well, there is your problem with 1911's McGunner. :neener:

Some folks just don't like em and if you have had a bad experience, it's hard to try them again.

Your advice, which is go with what you are comfortable with and have faith in, is very sound. :)

I love 1911's, and have a couple I would, and do, carry, but I would be comfortable with a couple of wheelguns I have as well.

Auto: When I get the "warm fuzzy" feeling.

Wheelgun: A few cylinder fulls.

[warriorsociologist]

~50. Most major problems should surface in that time frame.

[Marshall]

5-6 rounds, depending on revolver, and I'm good to go.

[mavracer]

by the time I've figured what load it likes and shoots to POA,its already GTG.

[glockman19]

A Revolver? 5, 6 or 7 depending on how many the cylinder will hold.

[BigG]

Probably zero if its an unaltered S&W pre lock. YMMV

[jfdavis58]

Enough to make YOU comfortable with its operation: loading, unloading, firing (both hands, then either), holstering, drawing, cleaning. What seems to be forgotten in the rush to 'get-it-going' is that the shooter must depend on both the gun and his/her skill at using it (in a hurry). It may take 6 rounds or 600. Ideally, making it go bang is an extension of your thought process, not simply some heavy thing in your hand. Along the way, one develops confidence; knowing that the gun is there and one is ready, allows freedom to find less lethal solutions.

[Mr. Designer]

A few to sight the Crimson Trace.

[BigG]

To some degree it's kind of questionable to answer such a question. How many miles should you drive a car before you trust it to drive? :what:

[MASTEROFMALICE]

Don't count on a revolver to be 100%. My 80+ year-old neighbor gave me her husband's S&W Model 10 to clean for her.

I cleaned it and fired it, about half of the rounds I tried wouldn't shoot due to VERY light strikes. The trigger was unusually light, too. I ended up having to go to a new mainspring to fix it.

Just because it doesn't cycle itself doesn't make it infallible.

[ImARugerFan]

Six should do it.

[20nickels]

READ THIS ONE :)

1. Make sure your revolver fires the primers of the ammo your using.

2. One of my S&W's locked up often NIB. I ground the sear down until the problem was no more. The other I recently put a new hammer/sear in and had the same problem, only not near as bad 100 plus rounds before that happened. Fixed.

3. Revolver was left in vehicle on cold night. Started rapid firing, cylinder latch was not catching and firing pin was landing between chargeholes (note; worked fine slow firing). Worked fine when warmed up. Ordered Wolf extra power cylinder stop spring, fixed. It added a "hitch" to the beginning of the trigger pull. Will probably switch back next summer.

Moral of story; shoot a-lot in adverse conditions, hot, cold, upside down, while mowing the lawn, before after and during dinner.

Nickels

[texas bulldog]

let's just say it will take me longer to find the holster in which to carry it than to fire it enough for trustworthy carry.

[doc2rn]

Clean, lighlty oil, then 3-6 rds.

[Jeff F]

One box of ammo will prove most revolvers. As long as it goes bang every time and you can hit where you aim it should be good to go. Any time you change type or brand of ammo you should run a cylinder full or two and check point of aim.

[PointOneSeven]

I'm with rugerfan, 6 rounds pretty much does it.


Although I'd never take a trip out only to shoot only one cylinder full, heh.

[Cosmoline]

A few dozen to check for function

A few hundred to break in a new action

A few thousand to ensure you can operate it well

Some wheel guns (very rare mind you) will pop a primer. This will cause a pain the rear lock-up.

I've only seen that happen with the old style pin fixed to the hammer, never with a modern floating pin.

[Cosmoline]

Lag time is bad

[dispatch]

6 to shoot.Then dry fire. 6 to carry.

[kmrcstintn]

this is a gray zone...reliable ignition is one consideration; if you are shooting a super lightweight revolver, you need to test your ammo to see that the bullets are not 'pulling' from the cartridges due to recoil; your ability to place followup shots that bark loud and recoil more than your used to is another factor to consider (the ammo and gun combo might function fine, but you have to do your part to place the shots accurately)...there is not set amount to try...whatever works for you & everyone is different (I usually put 100 rounds thru initially for function testing, accuracy, and familiarity; I will cycle 25 or 50 rounds 2 or 3 times a year to rotate the carry/HD ammo out and refamiliarize myslef with recoil control and accuracy)

[cpileri]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=869107&postcount=22
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=439049&postcount=3

Well, here it is in words anyway.
Relibility Algorythm
Why? To test a type of ammo for suitability for defense purposes
How much faith should I put in it?
This test has a
95% chance to eliminate any cartridge with a > or = to 1% chance of misfeeding
(i.e. a 5% chance to allow a ‘bad’ type of ammo to pass)
and,
95% chance to give a pass to any cartridge with a < or = to 0.11% chance of misfeeding
(i.e. a 5% chance to mistakenly flunk a cartridge that in reality does have a 1-in-1000 or less chance of misfeeding)
start:

Fire 320 rounds and count the misfeeds (jams):
If ZERO misfeeds, the ammo passes. You're done.
If 1 misfeed, proceed to pathway A below.
If 2 misfeeds, proceed to Pathway B below.
If 3 or more misfeeds, the ammo flunks. You're done.

Pathway A:
Fire 280 more rounds:
if ZERO additional jams in this 280 rounds, the ammo passes.
if 1 or more additional jams in this 280 rounds occurs, the ammo flunks.

Pathway B:
Fire 560 more rounds:
if ZERO additional jams, the ammo passes.
if 1 or more additional jams, the ammo flunks.

Buying ammo: minimum 320 rds needed, max 880; average 405.
Other causes of failure could be your choice of platform, or weak wrist grip in semi-autos, etc. This just tests the ammo.

The chart looked so much better, i just wanted to share. But better luck next time. Unless someone can tell me how to save a word document as a jpeg?
C-

[3 gun]

Trusting any pistol after 5 or 6 shots is a very bad idea. Every pistol I'll carry has been checked for POA/POI from 5 to 25 yards then used in a USPA or IDPA match. Total depends on how well I shoot and how big of a match I go to. Rough guess would be 50 to 150.

[Gary A]

Cpileri - thanks for that information. Do you think testing for jamming/misfeeding is really relevant to trusting a revolver? I'm not saying revolvers can't mess up, they can and do, but testing for ammunition reliability surely isn't as big a deal as with a semi-auto.

[Phil DeGraves]

"Well, I hate 1911s. Two of the biggest POSs I ever owned were an AMT hardballer, and worse, a Auto Ordinance 1911."

Well, buy an RG or an Arminius revolver and you'll say all revolvers are junk. You get what you pay for.