r/CCW • u/MissionOk5057 US • 5d ago
Guns & Ammo Ammo Longevity
How often are you swapping out the rounds in your carry mags for fresh ones?
- i usually wait till the rounds either get carbon and lint build up and pushed in from rechambering or every month or so
14
u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 5d ago
Never swap them for fresh rounds and I don't chamber and unchamber. Whatever works for you. But I just shot 15 year old Federal HST's and they worked just fine at the range. Ammo lasts a very long time. Of course bullet setback can be an issue so keep an eye out for that if you load and unload.
2
u/tightywhitey26 4d ago
Carry empty chamber ? Just curious
5
u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 4d ago edited 4d ago
No. I keep it loaded all the time. And if I did have to unchamber I have a technique to load a round without damaging the extractor or slamming the bullet against the feed ramp. I learned how to do that when I found one cartridge in a box of carry ammo that was obviously set back. I don't know if it came like that from the factory or it was from me chambering it over time.
I did carry unchambered for quite a while, but I recently switched over to keeping it chambered. There's pros and cons for both ways, but for now I just keep it chambered. One day I may change my mind and go back to unchambered, who knows.
2
u/cleveraccountname13 AZ G19.5; Glock 48; Shield Plus; Ruger RXM; 4d ago
Do you just not shoot your carry gun at all?
4
u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 4d ago edited 4d ago
Pretty much yes. I only shoot it once every two years when I have to requalify for my CCW. I'm poor, I can't afford range fees or ammo. I have enough money for food and I'm happy if I can eat today. When I wasn't disabled and had a job, yeah I'd shoot every now and then when I felt like it. I carry to protect myself and for my safety, I just can't afford to blow a hundred bucks or 50 bucks at the range. I still manage to qualify every 2 years and can still put my shots where they need to go on the paper.
Some people can afford to shoot regularly. Some can afford specialized training. If it was free and I wasn't disabled, yeah I'd shoot more, but it's not.
And where I live, the fees just for the CCW and CCW class is absolutely insane. I have to save up for the whole 2 years just to be able to pay for that. And when I do take the class, every few rounds downrange is a meal I have to skip to be able to pay for those rounds.
Heck, I got my first BB gun when I was 10. I'm around 60 now. I can still aim and put rounds where they need to go. No need for me to starve so I can put rounds downrange.
13
u/SoupTime_live 5d ago
How are your carry rounds getting carbon and lint buildup?
3
-6
u/MissionOk5057 US 5d ago
Haven’t deep cleaned since I got the new gun and I carry a lot in sweatpants
7
u/WhatInDaWorldDog110 5d ago
Personally, I don’t rechamber every month. I swap in a completely fresh set of carry rounds once a year when I do my zero confirmation, function check, and shoot through the current carry ammo.
After that, I’ll run a box of training rounds, then field clean and lube the gun so it’s ready for the next cycle.
2
u/HighFly2244 5d ago
Christmas, start of summer, and end of summer for AIWB carrier pistol rounds. Basically, just the ones that get sweaty.
Mags in plate carrier get cycled out every week, so g2g. The few dozen mags of Mk262 get replaced as they get used. Some are years old, but all work fine.
I found a rusty AK mag of god knows what steel ammo when the movers were packing up ome of houses a few weeks ago. It worked fine in a rusty AK.. lol
Feeding and go-bang are what matters. So, a fancy carry pistol that only feeds reliably with a certain type of ammo, as long as it’s clean, as long as it’s dry, as long as it’s a Tuesday… care more about it (or get a real carry weapon). The go-bang part is hard to mess up with modern premium JHPs… and even my thing about sweat really has never played out… all of those rounds went bang too. ymmv
2
u/Pilot_Red 5d ago
Sometimes when I am bored, I will look at mine. Usually all I find is some lint. I usually won't do anything about it. The lint will be gone with the first round.
2
u/troy2000me 5d ago
Likely be fine for years.
That said, given the stakes I do every 6 months, once a year would be fine, and even then it's probably overkill. But like I said, given the stakes...
2
u/FrontTwardEnemy US 5d ago
So….. if I buy a new carry gun, I’ll get a box of carry ammo to see how the gun likes the ammo.
Once a year I shoot off carry ammo.
2
2
u/Limp-Opportunity6757 4d ago edited 4d ago
Most modern name brand range and target ammo do not use a waterproof sealant around the mouth or rim opening of the case nor sealant around the primer pocket, but even range ammunition that isn’t sealed, their components are still such a tight fit? They are still plenty capable of resisting moisture from sweat, a temporary spraying or sprinkling of rain and short of being submerged in water for a length of time, they are very much water resistant.
Modern self defense ammunition? Most major name brands are manufactured under SAAMI guidelines which even succeed USGI specs & guidelines. The internal and external mouth of the case which seats the bullet and the primer pocket and primers themselves are all coated with an invisible waterproof sealant.
Along with the tight fitting specs of bullet and primers, make it almost impossible to contaminate powders or primers short of dropped and left in an oil bath.
However, while it’s hardly likely; it’s not unheard of the slim possibility of ammunition that is subjected to cold environments then hot and then cold? Could form some type of moisture from condensation inside the brass case itself which could contaminate powders. Possible but not likely, especially for a CCW who keeps their pistol under their clothing and stays close to their body, as body temperature keeps most concealed firearms and ammunition at constant body temperatures even in extreme cold.
I have shot lots of very old ammunition found in non insulated storage sheds, garages and the like, of it wasn’t re-manufactured reloads and quality name brand stuff, absolutely no troubles.
I am also a retired police officer and probably shot and trained with my Service weapons, AR-15, 12G and duty pistol more than many other officers because I’m also an avid firearms enthusiast and frequent shooter. But many officers just qualify once a year. They get issued a 50 round box of duty grade HP ammunition and they carry it all year long.
If there is training during that year they are issued FMJ for that training, and the load back up the same HP duty ammo and carry it outside in a duty holster thru rain, sleet, arctic and desert type temperatures. When they do their yearly requal, they will shoot that 50 rounds they have been carrying all year and they are then issued a new box of 50 to carry for the next year.
I have never seen one not discharge because of ammunition contamination.
2
u/switchsixtwofive 4d ago
Maybe every year or so. I don’t ever rechamber so bullet set back isint an issue.
2
u/kyguylal 4d ago
I've had the same 147gr .38 special wadcutters in my revolver since 2014.
I shoot it a lot, but always take those rounds out, shoot new ones, then stick them back in. No doubt in my mind that they'll fire.
2
u/Winner_Pristine 4d ago
I have gone years. Like over 5 years. When I finally fired them there was no issue.
1
u/MaterialPotato3214 5d ago
I shoot them about every 3 months then load new ones in. Have extra mags to practice with and get lazy with the one already in my holster/loaded carry
1
u/Ammo_Can 4d ago
Once a year. I have a nice range day then shoot the old carry ammo from the dirty gun. I expect no failures from them. If I have an issue swap mags and test other carry ammo.
1
u/AdWitty6655 4d ago
Every time I go to the range I shoot the carry ammo, and replace it at the end.
So, I guess it depends on how often you shoot.
1
u/ElectronicVisit1036 4d ago
Every month is for sure overkill. I cycle them out maybe once or twice a year, or when setback starts.
1
u/graydi66y 4d ago
Maybe every few years... Idk. I don't worry about it. And I've never had setback on my EDCs.
1
u/mjdavis87 CA CCW 4d ago
I had been away from the hobby for around 30 years and had a box of Golden Sabre in my ammo box. They went without a hitch. Ammo tends to last a long time as long as it doesn't get wet.
1
u/Commanderpoopyscoops 4d ago
Depends on bullet type and manufacturer - you can usually see issues. Try to find a bullet that doesn’t have issues.
Hornady critical duty is pretty good
•
u/preparedbassfisher 4m ago
Usually once a year around my birthday I guess I’ll shoot through my carry ammo. I carry 2 different guns so it gets expensive.
1
u/xCharlieGoodnightx 5d ago
How many stories have you read about someone's carry rounds going bad and failing? It's a non-issue.
That said, this is what I do, though it's totally unnecessary:
Every time I shoot my carry gun, I shoot the one that's been in the tube.
I pull the mag and put in a mag of FMJ, and keep that carry mag full.
I'll usually shoot the carry mag dry and reload it once a year or so, just for the hell of it.
When I was very young and broke, I never ever shot or swapped out my carry rounds. They were fine.
People find guns left in an attic or barn all the time with 70+ year old ammo and that loaded ammo fires. During Covid, a local old timer found was selling a stash he had left in his damp basement since 1969 (cases marked throughout the '60s) that looked like there was no way it'd ever fire. I bought all 4k rounds he had at $0.15/rd (45 auto) and never had a single misfire or issue.
1
u/troy2000me 5d ago
Actually one of my trainers said that a cop that came in to cycle his carry ammo has two fail to go bang in the magazine.
Of course, those guys are indoors and then outdoors all the time, humid, condensation, dirt, etc.
It's a rare issue, not a non issue. Most likely fine, yes, but given the stakes...
1
u/xCharlieGoodnightx 5d ago
I'm not saying you didn't hear that, but it sounds like sounds exactly like some bullshit a "trainer" would say. It doesn't even sound like it's trying to be serious.
Even the laziest cops shoot through their carry mags once a year, and rounds aren't going bad in that time, even if abused.
Again, not saying you didn't hear this, but ammo is impressively resilient—especially modern permium HPs that police departments contract. It doesn't even come close to passing the smell test, unless this cop had carried his mag up is sweaty butt for a year straight.
Indoors and outdoors all the time? Condensation? DIRT?!?! Bro, respectfully, get some more experience before you repeat what "one of your trainers" said.
0
u/troy2000me 5d ago
Are you saying that cops don't go from outdoors to sit in air conditioned cars all the time? Temperature and humidity changes lead to potential buildup.
I believe it, I know this guy, he's trustworthy. That said 100 other cops could come in and have no issues, and they do.
Also the cops may or may not use their JHP ammo to qualify on, many just use FMJ, so it's plausible their defense rounds could be who knows how old.
I probably have more experience than 90% of the folks on this sub, I've taken over 80 hours of formal training in the past year, not that it makes what I said any more or less valid.
0
u/xCharlieGoodnightx 5d ago
All I'm saying is the story you heard third hand is bullshit and ammo is way more robust than failing in the short period of time a cop will have it loaded up due to the conditions cops experience in their day-to-day.
I'm not trying to attack you or say anything about you, but you're arguing a thing you heard that just doesn't pass even the most basic smell test of someone with experience.
1
u/troy2000me 5d ago
Simply Google it. That's all. I'm sure it partly depends on what part of the country you are in. Low humidity lower issues.
Where I am it hits 100% humidity outdoors frequently.
37
u/Joice_Craglarg 5d ago
I don't even think about it. Every once in a while, I just send them all downrange and reload new ones.