Recycle Ammo? How often?

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armedpolak

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How often do you recycle your CCW ammo?
I use Federal Hydrashok 165GR. I used it up once a month... even though it's good for years, once a month at the range I empty the mag and after the range session I put new cartridges in.

Also, can chambering a cartridge multiple times damage it? I noticed my Beretta 90-TWO, after chambering the same cartridge several times over pushes the bullet deeper into the casing (by about 1 milimiter). I fired such bullet once before, and it was fine. But is it save for everyday CCW first rounds in the chamber?

EDIT: My H&K P2000 has a different chamber and the begining of barrel, it doesn't push the bullet in the shell.
 
I generally unload my carry ammo and use reloads for practice, and put the reloads back in the weapon after cleaning. I do make sure to fire the carry ammo at least a couple of times a year. I also inspect all carry ammo before inserting it in the magazine. I have never experienced bullet setback in any of my carry gun cartridges, if I did I would dispose of that cartridge immediately.
 
I shot my carry loads about once a month. I figure it is good practice and it keeps fresh ammo in my guns. But Hydrashoks are pretty expensive I wouldn't shoot a box of them a month. I carry Blackhills or Rangers, about half the price of the Hydrashoks at my gun shop.
 
I know very little about reloading, but I would say that from what I've heard, setback in a .40 S&W is a Bad Thing, and should be avoided if it all possible. Pressures are pretty high, and I've heard it said that the .40 isn't nearly as forgiving as the .45 ACP as a result of that.
 
I have several hanadguns stashed about the house and car, plus what I carry and stuff in the safe that also needs exercise. I usually shoot off whatever is in the mag in rotation, so most things are fresh in maybe the last 9-12 months. No surprises so far, everything goes bang. I buy by the case and shop the sales, still gets expensive though - FWIW
 
I had some time tonight so I did some testing. I carry Remington 40 S&W Golden Saber 165 grains for about 6 months before cycling them.

Today I measured 24 rounds, their OAL ranged between 1.30 and 1.32. The breakdown was:

1.132 7
1.131 9
1.130 8

I selected one that was 1.31 and chambered it 50 times in my Sig P229, measuring every 5 times the results are:

0 - 1.131
5 - 1.131
10 - 1.31
15 - 1.31
20 1.130
25 1.130
30 1.130
35 1.130
40 1.130
45 1.130
50 1.130

Next I decided to try some Winchester 180 grain hollow points (normal, not premium)

The starting OAL was 1.117 and after chambering 10 times it was 1.116

Neither round had been chambered before the test. I plan on doing more testing but tonight my interest decreased after no change between 20 and 50.

I'm aware of setback but not that worried about it, I do plan to measure my carry rounds every now and then.

I dry fire at least every two days but I make sure I don't re-chamber the same round when I'm done, this way I am doing balancing between the available rounds. Using that technique even dry firing daily it will take about 8 months to chamber each round 10 times.
 
I shoot the rounds I have had chambered. I keep them away from everything left in the mag.
1911 .45 8rd mags +1
2mags in pocket and one in the pistol.
Factory 230gr Golden Saber is a 25 rd box.
About 4-6 months for what I carry on me before I spend it all.

Set back when it is visible can be very serious for a fullcase or +p charge. I save these and shoot them through the crony at the target. Have not noticed a drastic difference. Past testing of new factory Golden sabers produced an extreem spead of more than 70 fps. I load the same bullets with a target speed of around 850 fps max.
 
I bought my first Taurus model 85 in 1984 or 85, I bought a box of 50 Winchester Silver Tip Hollow points with it. I fired the first 40 rds the day I got it. I carried the same 10 rds for the next 20 yrs. I did not carry it all the time, but when I did, I grabbed those 10 rds. In 2004 or 05 I bought another box of WSTHP from an Ace hardware store for $20 on clearance. The store manager told me that, that box of ammo had been on his shelf for 5 yrs or more. The shell carrier in the box was made of cardboard, yea they were old. When I got home, I finally shot the last 10 from the first box, all ten went bang and all grouped under 6 inches from 7 yds. I admit I do not normally keep ammo around very long before I shoot it up. I just consider those 10 STHP's as an unintentional endurance test.

RH
 
Can't setback in a .40 be potentially bad? Since the .40 is already a hi-pressure load
Click to expand...

I just purchased my 40 and reaaly want to know what setback is. Also I dont shoot alot and have had some of my 12GA and 38 cartridges for the last 4 - 5years are you guys saying I can't do that with my 40.
 
I use handloads for my defensive ammo.

45acp: 200gr XTP. Starline 45acp + p brass
9mm: 115gr XTP. Winchester brass
38/357: 158gr LSWC (usually carried hiking/hunting) or 158gr XTP. mixed brass
44mag: still experimenting

I have no qualms about dumping a mag/cylinder downrange of defensive ammo. It costs me about $2.50 to reload a Glock 21 mag of 13x45acp with Hornady bullets, winchester primers and Accurate #7 powder. My sp101 costs me about $1 to reload with premium XTP bullets or even less with LSWC.

My plinking is done with Berry's plated bullets of matching weight or an inexpensive new box of ammo such as WWB, but I do like seeing my defensive loads work properly each time I go to the range. A box of XTP's will last me between 6 (xd9 mag, 16x6 = 96 rounds) and 20 (sp101 cylinder, 5x20 = 100 rounds) range trips. Nice to know they all feed properly, don't stick in the chamber/cylinder, group well, etc.

XTP's do penetrate a bit further than most SD bullets, but I am willing to accept that limitation even as a benefit. Given that I sometimes see wild critters (coyotes, wolves) while walking the dogs, I want that extra penetration even in an automatic. I don't like changing ammo based on my situation... the XTP's feed well, are accurate and penetrate AND expand.

So: a long answer to a short question, I rotate my carry ammo each trip to the range.
 
I just purchased my 40 and reaaly want to know what setback is. Also I dont shoot alot and have had some of my 12GA and 38 cartridges for the last 4 - 5years are you guys saying I can't do that with my 40.
Click to expand...

Set-back: Your cartridge's overall length is probably around 1.135".

Set-back occurs when the bullet pushes deeper into the case, making the OAL shorter. Even a minimal change (say, down to 1.125") can drastically increase case pressure when firing. This is more critical with the heaviest .40 caliber bullets available, the 165gr, 180gr and 200gr offerings. With lighter offerings, the pressure doesn't spike as critically due to the increased air volume available in the case due to the lighter (and shorter) bullet.

Makes sense, right? A .40 diameter bullet, in order to get heavier, cannot get wider. It has to get longer. In order to fit in the magazine, the depth has to be pushed into the brass cartridge itself. This gives less room for the powder to expand.

If the amount of room for the expanding powder on ignition is too small, you can KABOOM! your gun if pressure gets too high, too quickly.

Remember, the 40 S&W is a hybrid cartridge stolen from the 10mm automatic round development. The 10mm is longer and has more room for:
1. Powder
2. Bullet
3. Pressure generated at ignition

But, since it's overall length was longer than FBI sissies could handle, it was commercially shortened by S&W and chambered in guns that could only handle 9mm pressure levels.

So it is pressure sensitive. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS +P .40 S&W AMMUNITION. Keep your choice of commercial / recreational loads below 165gr and you will be just fine, don't repeatedly (over several years) chamber/unchamber the same round, don't compress the bullet into the case.
 
I use 180gr in my 40 and I have chambered and handcycled a mag a 3 or 4 times, you think these rounds are ok? can I just sit them up on a flat surface and compare them to check for setback?

BTW this is a problem I have never heard of and I am glad I read this post and done more research on setback.
 
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maybe this is off topic,and i don't wanna start no fight: my ccw instrucror advised against carrying hand loads for self defense,the reasoning being the shotees' lawyer might make a big deal of factory loaded ammo was not lethal enough. remember,i have no opinion.but what do ya'll think?
 
maybe this is off topic,and i don't wanna start no fight: my ccw instrucror advised against carrying hand loads for self defense,the reasoning being the shotees' lawyer might make a big deal of factory loaded ammo was not lethal enough. remember,i have no opinion.but what do ya'll think?
Click to expand...

A bit off topic and beat to death here, but no one yet has been able to pull out a court case where a DA has gone after the ammo used in an otherwise justifiable shooting (yet)...

Ya gots to do what yer comfortable with...
 
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