How often do you guys switch out/shoot up your self defense ammo? I know surplus ammo from the 1950s, etc. is still being shot by firearm enthusiasts, but realistically how long do you wait until replacing your carry ammo? LEOs I know you switch yours out 1-2x/year, so this is more meant towards non-LEO issued SD ammo users.

How Often Do You Change Out Your Self Defense Ammunition?

I usually change it out once a year

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Retired Career Security Guard

Not very often, maybe 1x/yr--or longer.

For self defense handgun loads.....If it gets exposed to hot car interiors then every one to two years. If kept in normal room temperature areas I'd say five years.

I deer hunt with .270 hand loads my father made in 1973. Never a problem with a single one. About three are fired each year. I've got about 100 left, enough for my lifetime.

Once or twice a year on expensive ammo.

If it's cheap, then every range trip.

Every time I go to the range. Not everyone want's to or can afford to do that. I use the same ammo for range and carry so, I can afford to do it.

Allow me to offer a suggestion. When you go to the range, the very first shot you take, maybe a controlled pair, is the most important shot(s). This is when you're cold and that's how you'll be if you ever need to defend yourself with a gun. So, take those first two shots with whatever is in your gun. Then switch to the practice stuff for the rest of the session. This will slowly go through your carry ammo. It won't cost an arm and a leg and will give you valuable data on how you'll do when cold with that ammo. Also, this answers the question of when to change it out.

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Freedom isn't free.

At least once a year. Properly stored ammo can last a very long time. Ammo inside a gun and carried is exposed to movement, temperature changes, and most of all migrating oil inside the gun. Duty/defensive ammo is expensive and some times hard to find today. But what price would you place on your life? Bill