How Many Rounds is Recommended to Run thru an auto before using it as carry ammo?

[GunLvrNLearner]

How Many Rounds is Recommended to Run thru an auto before using it as carry ammo?

 

[skers69]

I have used 50 as the bench mark. Then after a few months I will shoot those up just to make sure.

 

[Japle]

Shooting a couple of IDPA matches without a bobble (60-80 rounds, strong hand, weak hand, fast and under pressure) does it for me.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

No less than 200 rounds.

 

[TT]

I use 200 rounds as well. Less for EFMJ though.

 

[UnTainted]

I'm poor now, so I just do 100 rounds, but now I haven't changed carry ammo for a while, so I'm sitting a little higher (another digit) but were I to switch, and I recently did for one particular handgun (to ranger bonded 147s), I would start the trust at about 100 rounds of care-free shooting.

 

[abuelo]

200 rounds seems to be a common number for many. Make sure that round count is with the brand and type of ammo you plan to use for your carry ammo.

 

[DrLaw]

I'd say as many as it takes to know that you are going to hit what you are aiming at.

Otherwise, being a revolver person, I would say, get one of them. There is no break-in time to a revolver.

The Doc is out now. M36, M940, M15, M66, M586, M27, M25-5

 

[Kind of Blued]

Personally, I'd shoot carry ammo until I could shoot 200-300 in a row without a single problem.

The reason I don't is due to cost. Some might say, "well how much is your life worth?" to which I say, "all of the money I have".

Realistically, I'll shoot 250-500 rounds of FMJ through it to "break it in", then buy 150 rounds of carry ammo and shoot it up until I have just enough left to fill a couple mags and the chamber.

 

[Geno]

In all seriousness, it depends on the make and model. Kimbers are recommended to have several hundred rounds fired just to "break it in". My Colts have never failed, and they never had to have a break-in. My Glocks have never failed, and they too required no break-in-period. For me, if my Colts and Glocks go the first 100 rounds with zero failures, I trust them...and Colts and Glocks are all I carry. The other note to add is that I never carry a single pistol. I always carry at the least, one back up of identical configuration and caliber with interchanging magazines.

 

[eng23ine]

My rule has always been 200 flawless rounds.....if it FTF's at 177, the next shot is counted as "1".

Some range trips can get rather expensive using this method.

 

[Prepster]

I've used 100 for my autoloaders, but there's no harm in going the extra mile unless it's an undue financial burden.

 

[Hostile Amish]

Run through a case of UMC 200-pack ammo. If the gun fails more than twice, don't carry.

 

[New User]

I purchased a Ruger LCP about two months ago. It made it to round number 200 EXACTLY. Next time the trigger was pulled, it broke.

300 is my new benchmark.

If I have a gun that has made the 200 round mark using inexpensive ammo, I'll run a box (or two) of what I plan to carry.

 

[CPshooter]

I usually run 200 rounds of FMJ ammo through a gun, and then maybe 50 rounds of the JHP ammo before I consider it reliable for carry.

I know 50 rounds isn't all that much to ensure reliability with your carry (usually JHP) ammo, but anything I'd shoot would get expensive (Gold Dots or Federal HST).


*edit* I recently bought a new LCP too. I've put about 100 rounds through it, and it already broke. Sometimes the hammer doesn't drop when you pull the trigger! Maybe 300 rounds isn't such a bad idea...I'll have to start the count over again once Ruger fixes it and I get it back.

 

[moooose102]

i vote for 200 as well. it takes a while for metal to wear in.what you are really doing is wearing off all the high / tight spots in the action. so everything moves easilly and smoothly. get a rough or tight spot and a little tiny spec of dirt and it could cause a jam at a most inoppertune time.

 

[ROVERMAN]

Shoot enough to get the weapon good and hot. Shoot enough to know how the weapon is going to react every time. Shoot enough to know how you are going to react with every shot. For every person this is different. With me and with a new weapon it takes about 200 rounds. Also and it may be expensive but shoot the ammo you intend on using as your personal defense ammo.

 

[mljdeckard]

When my Kimber was brand new, I ran 200 Hydra-Shoks through it. No problem. Recently, after about 10000 dounds, I fired all of my old Hydra-Shoks and 200 HSTs through it. No problem.

Keep in mind, 200 rounds is enough to force you to use different magazines. I'm not anal enough to track lot numbers, but I will buy the test ammo from different locations. During the test, I will also shoot with the weak hand, one-handed with both hands, emergency and tactical reloads.

 

[Shrinkmd]

How about for a used pistol? Assuming you replace all the usual things (recoil spring, firing pin spring, mag springs and followers, to be thorough) would most people be happy with 100 or 150 of hardball followed by 50 of JHP? I figure if it is good for 150 to 200 rounds in a row, getting dirty, and still does the job, it should be ok.