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Old 01-16-2014, 05:17 PM
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Default Carry-ammo Rotation

This is a question about carry-ammo rotation. Have there been any studies on how long carry-ammo is within its published criteria? How long should one carry it before rotating it out of the carry-mode and firing it down-range?

I know I will get many opinions on this issue, but are there any published reports about "shelf-life" of carry-ammo?
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Old 01-16-2014, 05:25 PM
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Depends on the conditions under which you carry it. If it an exposed LE duty semi-auto, the time is likely shorter than the ammo in a concealed carry revolver. That said, my old agency shot it up more or less yearly, and that seemed fine. I bought my own duty ammo because I carried a lot more than issued, and I shot it up at every in-service, but that was just me. I would have ample confidence that ammo would be good to go for a year or more of carry under most conditions.

The one thing that will cause a lot of problems is repeated chambering of a round in a semi-auto. Chamber it once, then shoot it or rotate it to the training pile. I can't tell you the last time I re-chambered a round in an auto pistol or rifle; it has to be at least 15 years since I learned not to.
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Old 01-16-2014, 05:30 PM
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What you are referring to is "service life." I've seen articles about it, but no empirical studies. So there are just opinions.

Having said that, here's my opinion. It varies. It depends. Are you carrying IWB or shoulder holster in Florida in the summer? Do you sweat a lot? Changing weekly might be appropriate. How about OWB in Michigan in the winter? You could probably get away with 6 months or more.

Humidity/moisture is the enemy.

With that in mind, work out your own schedule. verify occasionally by taking your carry ammo to the range. If it works, you're good to go.

What Doug said above about not re-chambering is good advice. Avoid bullet setback.
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Old 01-16-2014, 05:51 PM
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Last I checked most Law Enforcment organizations recommend shooting up your carry ammo at least once a year. Some people, like motorcycle officers or marine patrol, more like quarterly, at least here in Cali.
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Old 01-16-2014, 05:54 PM
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There's a very extensive thread running on this.

I use revolvers for EDC and HD and don't worry about it. If not exposed too much to the elements and if stored reasonably it should be good for many years except, as noted above, when repeatedly recycled through a pistol where setback or bullet deformation might pose a problem.
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Old 01-16-2014, 06:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shouldazagged View Post
There's a very extensive thread running on this.
As I said in my original post, I know there will be numerous opinions and such. I got many opinions from other LEOs while still working, but I am inquiring if there are any published reports that are available, rather than just opinion? Say, from the FBI, DoJ or FOP?
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Old 01-16-2014, 06:58 PM
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I haven't researched it--have you tried Google or other search engines? If there's anything in print it should show up somewhere.

Massad Ayoob, a member here, may know of some published studies.
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Old 01-16-2014, 06:58 PM
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Fellow I had some training from, ex marine, master rated IDPA, mulitiple state champion... said:

he shoots out his self defense ammo once a year...
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Old 01-16-2014, 07:13 PM
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I usually shoot my carry ammo out at the end of the year, but I honestly have never seen ammo go bad. I've shot so many rounds that were older than I am without one single FTF and I have no idea how that ammo was stored for at least half of its life. So even though I do switch to fresh ammo once a year it's more for feel good reasons than bad experiences or actual reports on failures. To switch out ammo more often IMHO would just be more a mental thing and not for REAL reasons - but if it floats your boat, what the heck!
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Old 01-16-2014, 07:49 PM
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There may be no published reports because it may be that ammo never goes bad. Even if there were such reports, there's still plenty of people that shoot WWII era ammo with green brass and have absolutely no problems.

I've seen published reports of little green men and black helicopters...


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Old 01-16-2014, 07:58 PM
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I will keep and carry my SD ammo from here to eternity as long as it is not visibly damaged or set back. I tested a round a couple of days ago in my three 9mm pistols. Measured it with calipers before and after. Chambered it 5 times in each pistol. Not soft chambering either, hard sling shot rack. After 15 times, the round measured exactly the same. No set back at all. Very minimal lateral scratching and light nicks on the rim. YMMV, but I'm going to carry that round and feel confident it will function perfectly.

It was Hornady Critical Defense btw.
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Old 01-16-2014, 08:19 PM
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I really don't worry so much about the life span as I do about the rounds being in the cylinder after a round or two have been fired. (I only shoot revolvers, .38 airweight and a .357). I always go ahead and fire the remaining round as soon as I can, and reload with fresh rounds for carry. Like if I shoot a snake I will fire the other rounds at a target when convenient. I agree with the post mentioning humidity and temp both of which are pretty moderate here in Missouri.
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Old 01-17-2014, 09:40 AM
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I watched an old episode of Adam-12 awhile back and Officer Reed was in the locker room swapping out the ammo in his revolver, someone came in and ask him what he was doing and he said something to the effect of "I am replacing my old ammo with new, per regulation, it's been 3 months."

Kind of neat how they slip little factoids about the LAPD in on that show (Jack Webb (Dragnet) the producer worked very hard to make things accurate to true life in the LAPD). So we now know that back in the 1970's, when the LAPD carried revolvers, they had a rule to swap out their carry ammo every 3 months!

Seems like the definitive answer to me! I mean, who is gonna argue with a TV show about the LAPD from the 1970's!

I will relate a story from a friend of mine who was a CHP officer (CA Highway Patrol) in the 1970's, he was patrolling the edge of the county when he came upon a deer that had been hit by a car and was still alive... he got out to put the deer down with his 6" .357 magnum, he said he tried to pull the trigger but it was frozen solid. When he examined the gun the cylinder and rounds were all corroded.

Scared the hell out of him! He said had he needed it to save his life he would now be dead. He vowed to check his weapon more often in the future!

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Old 01-17-2014, 10:01 AM
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Googling the term "Ammunition Degradation Studies Over Time" I found this:

https://www.un.org/disarmament/conva...Proof(V.1).pdf

This is the first edition of the International Ammunition Technical Guideline for Surveillance and In Service Proof of ammunition used by UN troops to determine the suitability of stockpiled surplus ammunition.

My attention was drawn to the statement on page 5 along with the accompanying table:

"Most propellants, dependent on design, have a shelf-life of at least 15 to 40 years when stored at a constant 30°C, and will last much longer in temperate climates."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From all this I conclude that I don't really need to worry about it - unless I were to practice so rarely as to allow the chambers to corrode to the point that the cylinder will not operate!
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Old 01-17-2014, 02:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fredg19 View Post
I will relate a story from a friend of mine who was a CHP officer (CA Highway Patrol) in the 1970's, he was patrolling the edge of the county when he came upon a deer that had been hit by a car and was still alive... he got out to put the deer down with his 6" .357 magnum, he said he tried to pull the trigger but it was frozen solid. When he examined the gun the cylinder and rounds were all corroded.

Scared the hell out of him! He said had he needed it to save his life he would now be dead. He vowed to check his weapon more often in the future!
Same thing happened to me, but it wasn't my gun. It was an Air Force Mod. 15 rotated between officers from shift to shift. On my first tour of duty I checked it and it was totally frozen. No one else had apparently looked at it in years.
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Old 01-21-2014, 03:46 PM
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Years back my brother would change out his 9mm from summer to winter loads with a heavier bullet in Calif.

Then they went to the 40.......... never asked what was with this ammo.

They shot a lot and he was also on the pistol team, so ammo moved pretty quick in his case. (CHP)
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