Swapping Out Carry Ammo....

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WrongHanded

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Typically, I've been inclined to switch out carry ammo in my self defense handguns every 6 months or so. I currently have a few boxes of SD ammo in reserve, but not as much of my preferred load as I'd like.

As a side note, to prevent setback issues I do the following: After rechambering a cartridge a few times, I'll unload the magazine, mark that cartridge with a sharpie, and make it the bottom round in the magazine. In time I put each subsequent cartridge that has been chambered a few times in the bottom of the stack til the sharpie mark finally makes it's way to the top. I do this first with the primary, and then with the spare magazine.

Anyhow. Ammo is scarce. I'm considering holding off swapping out for a while longer. Then when I finally do switch it out, I'm considering saving that old SD ammo (marked appropriately) for potential future emergency use.

How are you guys handling switching out SD ammo given the shortages?
 
I’ve been carrying the same rounds for a year now due to shortage. I’ve only got one other box of factory self defense ammo so I’m inclined to just keep carrying the same ammo for now. The bullet Jacket has tarnished some but I trust that it’s still totally functional ammo.
 
I haven't been switching. I bought a backup gun to my EDC for dry fire and range time and haven't messed with my carry mags much as for setback ...

Can you use a caliper to measure the length of the cartridge to determine whether setback is an issue with your ammo or not?

I do this. Easy enough to grab the caliper when I do need to eject the chambered round and make sure it's still in spec. I do occasionally rotate the carry mag so it's not always the same bullet, but I only eject the chambered round one range days, which is at best once a week.
 
I’m stretching my ammo now. I believe most of us were probably swapping it way earlier than we needed to when ammo was cheap.

It’s kinda funny that any time I shoot old, abused, been in a magazine in a hot car all summer ammo, it shoots fine. I’m guessing that it takes more than two seasons of hot, cold and humidity to actually screw up good ammo. I’m not planning on testing this theory though. I might go one full year before swapping.
 
My carry gun stays in the holster and directly into my nightstand safe. In the morning it comes out of the nightstand safe and onto my body. I reduce administrative handling of my carry gun as much as possible.

Helps to have a carry gun that has been “shook down” for reliability that stays loaded such as described above, and a duplicate of the same gun for practice.
 
Can you use a caliper to measure the length of the cartridge to determine whether setback is an issue with your ammo or not?

Sure can. Though typically I don't and just rotate it out. But perhaps I'll have to consider this.

The main reason I switch it out is humidity, and the potential for it going bad from the hot/cold vehicle day storage (though I insulate a fair amount in both summer and winter).
 
For training only the top two bullets get and stress from reloads after range trips, so I send those down range once in a while. Other than that the only other reason I dump carry ammo is to just stay in tune with what it shoots like as opposed to lighter loaded range training / practice ammo.
 
My carry gun stays in the holster and directly into my nightstand safe. In the morning it comes out of the nightstand safe and onto my body. I reduce administrative handling of my carry gun as much as possible.

Helps to have a carry gun that has been “shook down” for reliability that stays loaded such as described above, and a duplicate of the same gun for practice.

+1
 
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The main reason I switch it out is humidity, and the potential for it going bad from the hot/cold vehicle day storage (though I insulate a fair amount in both summer and winter)...

I have never experienced this. Does it happen? I have shot cartridges from the Civil War and many from the Spanish American War and WW I. All were old and some of the cases showed damage as if stored under water.

Of course, I have also experienced pristine looking rounds that were duds.

Kevin
 
I have never experienced this. Does it happen? I have shot cartridges from the Civil War and many from the Spanish American War and WW I. All were old and some of the cases showed damage as if stored under water.

Of course, I have also experienced pristine looking rounds that were duds.

Kevin

It's more of a precaution than a requirement. I've shot ammo that got submerged when I rolled a canoe and went for a dip. But I certainly wouldn't want to rely on such ammo after that. Especially if it didn't have sealant around the primers.

Most ammo can probably handle a lot of abuse, but why take the chance?
 
If you are repeatedly re chambering ammunition an extended amount of tine it can scar, ding and at times set the bullet back.You are right on keeping an eye on your edc ammunition. Some never even give it a thought and can wind up carrying that same ammo with the same magazine for years. It pays to be diligent.
 
I never worry about. I may load and reload a mag once in awhile but I don't keep track of which bullet goes where or how long it's been around. Been carrying for years and when I decide to shoot a mag of defensive ammo they always go boom no matter how or where they were stored. Do what you like and like what you do. YMMV...
 
I have about four or five handguns that get regularly carried; I typically shoot off the loaded magazines from the semi-autos at least once monthly (I don't always shoot my carry pistols every range visit, but at least one gets fired every month). So, at least one 15 or 17 round magazine, plus the chambered round, goes downrange and gets replaced monthly. I'd been buying Gold Dot (124 grain plus-P) by the case for the past few years, so I figure I've got enough good 9mm to last another fifty years at this rate. Probably even better stocked with .45 ACP JHPs... now, .38 and .357, I'm kinda rationing a bit.
Gold Dot.jpg
 
I've had the same ammo in my gun for at least 6 months. Between The Ammo Drought, COVID and work, I just haven't had a good reason to swap it out. Besides, I don't unload my EDC very often, just for range and cleaning.... and neither has been happening very often lately.
 
I've had the same carry ammo in my on person firearm for 2 years or more. I looked for an expiration date on the cartridges but see none.
 
Why? What is the value added in doing this?

It's not a piece of fruit, the ammo isn't just going to go bad. Unless you go swimming with it, your ammo has a very long shelf life.

Humidity from carrying on the body (or in a pocket depending on the gun), and extreme temperature swings (from being in a vehicle for 8+ hours a day). I posted that info somewhere up thread though not in the OP. There's also the setback concern from rechambering.

But okay, if 6 months is too often, is 6 years okay? 16 years? Anyone still carrying the same SD ammo they originally purchased in that cartridge? It just makes sense to me that as external factors can have an effect on ammunition reliability, I should reduce the possibility of an ammunition failure by swapping it out every so often. In my case, I chose six months. So there are my reasons.
 
No switching out ammo. Self defense type ammo is expensive and reliable and often in nickel cases. If I function check the revolver it will be with range ammo, then I plop the defense purposed ammo back into the revolver (or magazine). If I had to go swimming with the pistol/revolver, that would be different.

I have used bang sticks, an underwater power head that uses various cartridges to produce devastating effects on large fish, at well over a hundred feet, three or four atmospheres and salt at that. I would put fingernail polish over the primer and the joint at the bullet to case. Never failed to fire. If over the shelf ammo can go spearfishing at over 100 feet, it is unlikely to get wet from my normal carry circumstance.
 
But okay, if 6 months is too often, is 6 years okay? 16 years? Anyone still carrying the same SD ammo they originally purchased in that cartridge? It just makes sense to me that as external factors can have an effect on ammunition reliability, I should reduce the possibility of an ammunition failure by swapping it out every so often. In my case, I chose six months. So there are my reasons.

Only you can answer what you are comfortable with.

I look at all the ammunition stored in very hot and humid environments around the world and still go bang. My carry ammo is living at the Ritz-Carlton in it's life compared to military ammunition.

But if you are more comfortable and don't mind spending the money on expensive SD ammo to replace every 6 months than who am I to say you are wrong?
 
I manage to shoot at least once weekly most of the time. I start with whatever handgun I am carrying and shooting the ammo I'm carrying. I do tend to change the firearms I carry quite often. Hey, I'm just fickle. Between the two my carry ammo changes frequently. Not hard fast rules other than that.
 
My carry gun stays in the holster and directly into my nightstand safe. In the morning it comes out of the nightstand safe and onto my body. I reduce administrative handling of my carry gun as much as possible.

Helps to have a carry gun that has been “shook down” for reliability that stays loaded such as described above, and a duplicate of the same gun for practice.


My feelings exactly, my carry revolver has a twin that is the range slave...Once proven my trusty gets carried and very seldom shot.. its been years ago since I wrung it out..340s, are powerful and light but have a short lifespan..when the range slave is slopped out I'll buy another to replace it and start over. Probably got 7-800 mostly Gold Dot 135gr mags down the pipe with a few hundred other full house Mags in there to boot..tick tock. Two is one and one could be none, if you shoot it enough to be proficient. And to the OPs question..carry ammo gets carried till I'm sure its been sweated on enough or rain soaked..then I shoot it, and never had a gold dot fail, and I've had em soaked multiple times. As far as setback goes, why unload at all? Stick it in the safe or where you deem safe in condition 1\2..more than a decade ago a instructor I respect said something to the effect that more unnecessary handling is more chances for less perfection, especially at the end of a long day or early in the morning when not brite eyed..put it away holstered and strap it on in the morning.
 
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