How much is Too Much on a new Gun?

[Creade]

I recently picked up a M&P 9 and have yet to get it to the range.

I planned on getting out Monday and putting it through its paces and during a conversation with a friend he made an interesting remark.

My plan is to get out and put around 500 rounds through the M&P.

He said that he thought this was crazy to put that much wear and tear on a brand new gun.

To me, I guess I saw it as testing the firearm out, and seeing how it feeds clean/dirty, with different ammo, etc.

If I can't take a handgun out and run it, there's no point in owning it. But that's just my thoughts


What do you guys have to say on this topic?

 

[colt1911fan]

Shoot it and have fun thats what the weapon was deigned for and Im assuming thats what you bought it for.

 

[M-Cameron]

My plan is to get out and put around 500 rounds through the M&P.

He said that he thought this was crazy to put that much wear and tear on a brand new gun

the gun doesnt know the difference if you put 100 rounds through it a week for 5 weeks...

or 500 rounds in one day.


its not going to wear the gun out any sooner.

 

[plunge]

take it out and shoot it.

 

[Creade]

I guess he is under the impression that it needs a "break in" period.

Something that I don't really believe in when it comes to firearms.

 

[bannockburn]

Initially I usually like to run about 200 rounds through a new gun just to see how well it functions. After that probably around 150 to 250 rounds per range session.

 

[22-rimfire]

Your friend has a point for a "collector gun", but not one you are going to shoot. Enjoy it.

 

[Zach S]

I guess he is under the impression that it needs a "break in" period.

Something that I don't really believe in when it comes to firearms.

I always give them a "break in" period. Often during the first range session...

Some got broke in two or three times!

 

[Byrd666]

Okay here's my take.

That's like telling a carpenter that using that hammer all day is going to ruin it. Running 50,000 rounds through it would be wear and tear on a brand new pistol, 500 is just about enough for the "break-in" period.

Besides that, you bought it to shoot it, so shoot it.

 

[Fishslayer]

Your friend doesn't shoot, does he?

 

[Double Vision]

Just remember to change the oil after the first 1,000 rounds.

 

[Sam1911]

He said that he thought this was crazy to put that much wear and tear on a brand new gun.

Wow. What difference does it make if you put 500 rds through it tomorrow, or 125 rounds in practice each week for a month?

Service style handguns are made to be shot. You bought it to shoot it. So do so.

 

[303tom]

To much is more than I have at the time !

 

[deadin]

Now if you plan on putting those 500 rounds thru it in an hour or so, there might be problems with heat stress.........

 

[Sam1911]

500 rounds thru it in an [STRIKE]hour[/STRIKE] minute or so, there might be problems with heat stress

Better...

 

[Nushif]

500 rounds on the first range trip sounds like a great way to christen a new gun into your collection ...

Incidentally I have a friend just like that. On a given range trip she will only ever pack 20 or so centerfire rounds and maybe 50 rimfire.

 

[Bobson]

Just remember to change the oil after the first 1,000 rounds.

Nice

I agree with the others though. Doesn't make much sense to me. I know some gun manufacturers recommend cleaning a gun at certain increments (as far as number of shots) for the first X shots, but as long as you do that (if Smith even suggests it), you could fire 5,000 rounds the first day and it shouldn't make a difference. If something breaks on it, it would have broken on it whether that 5,000th round was fired on day 1 or day 180.

 

[EddieNFL]

Incidentally I have a friend just like that. On a given range trip she will only ever pack 20 or so centerfire rounds and maybe 50 rimfire.

To each his (or her) own, but, to me, that's hardly worth the effort.

 

[Badlander]

You bought it to shoot. Shoot it. You are going to spend A lot more money on ammo than you did the gun. If you can aford to wear it out you can aford another gun.

 

[oldfool]

yeah, that's nuts

Any new (or used) centerfire handgun I buy, gets a minimum of 300 rounds before I decide on keeping it or not; at least 100-150 rounds per session, usually with several brand favors of ammo
More like 500 minimum rounds with a rimfire

because I plan on running thousands (or 10s of thousands) thru any I keep
that's what I buy 'em for
gun pictures can be had for free on the internet

Why would any sensible person ever carry an unproven gun for CCW or other serious purposes ???

(if that M&P can't eat 500 rounds in one session, send it back to S&W to fix it, and they will)

 

[oldfool]

500 rounds in one hour is a tad much for an old slow guy for me

but 6x60= 360 in a hour for DA action revolver shootin' ain't no strain for even me allowing ample time for reloading the gun, and it will not hurt any decent quality handgun.. just gets too expensive to do with centerfire, that's all
(not recommended for 454 Casull mind you, but the OP is talking 9mm here)

loading mags for an autoloader slows me down, sure, but that's why they sell spare mags and mag loaders

IMO, any centerfire handgun you buy, you really ought just figure 300 rounds of ammo as part of the buy-it-now price
whether you buy it with the gun, reload it, or get it out of the footlocker