From the OP;
How many rounds must be fired through a NIB 1911 before its broken in for reliable duty pistol?
There is no set period or round count. Some high end manufacturers recommend a certain amount but most factory guns do not.
I'm nobody from nowhere but I'll tell ya what I do, it may help.
I treat any 1911 the same way I treat any other pistol of any type or maker, new or used: I field strip and clean them. I inspect them. I lightly oil them. I take them to the range with the mags they came with and a few of any others I have for that type gun. I bring 200 rounds of quality factory ball ammo preferably by different well known makers. Ball, because if a gun won't feed ball ammo it will have problems with any other type, ball because it's easier to diagnose a problem with, ball because it's cheaper and helps you get used to the gun. It it won't run with ball figure out the problem and proceed. If it does run 200 rounds of ball with no major problems caused by the gun then proceed to whatever ammo you want to carry.
When folks say, "The 1911 needs 500 rounds fired before it's broken in". I tend to ignore that, who cares. I need to shoot it from my hands with the ammo I have to see if it works for me. The old standard of 200 rounds without major problems with the ammo I like before I'll carry it is what I look to. Same as any gun. When folks say "These guns should all run excellently out the box and need no break in!" I ignore that as well. Who cares. I need to shoot it from my hands. Debating abstracts is pointless. Treat them all the same.
I agree with a point made by someone else. A duty gun and a CCW are different. Different set up different needs. Both need reliability however.
1911s need no special care, no special "break in period" as a whole. They do have their own particulars, the way to learn those is to shoot them and study some. All guns of any type, factory or custom, do need a period of owner break in.
If someone tells you brand X needs no break in period while brand Z needs 500 rounds break in you'd be a fool to pay that any mind. Instead, field strip, inspect, clean and lube. Grab some ball ammo and head to the range. Go 2 or three times, it's fun. Only then will you know where
you stand with
that gun. That's what's important ain't it?
tipoc
As far as feed and ejection problems, those were created at the factory and shooting 500 rounds isn't going to fix it. I "break in" all of my new guns with a little stoning where it's needed.
