Break in period

[Jeff423]

I have seen a lot of information/posts/"experience"/prevailing wisdom, etc. that say you need to run at least 500 rounds through a gun - usually a semi auto before it is "reliable"? I don't claim this is universal but I've seen it a lot.
In .45 acp this could add $150 - $200 to the price of a gun. It seems like the manufacturers are shifting costs to us. Is anyone else bothered by this?

 

[gunnails]

Personally no, it's like getting a new car or a new pair of boots.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

No, not really, if its going to be a range toy who cares. If its going to be used as a defencensive weapon you want to be sure it works and that takes shooting. Other things enter into the does it work thing such as magazines and choice of ammo, again this takes shooting. Take my new Colt Lightweight Commander, with its two included Colt magazines it was a jam-
o-matic with my choice of ammo, swapped out the magazines and it runs flawlessly. Once again this takes shooting and along the way it also smoothes out all the moving parts as well.

 

[Ed Fowler]

Usually I cannot wait to shoot a new firearm, I find that at about 400 rounds they start shooting better, not a fast transition but you know when it is there.

I am speaking mostly about accuracy, function is another thing, I am willing to fool with them to a point, then if they aggravate me too much just trade them off or send back to the factory for a major fix if needed.

I do not mind being part of the development of any firearm I buy, sure the factories could spend more money in quality control, but they would have to charge more and I would have less money for ammo.

 

[pharmer]

Not only is 500 rds with no failures a good gauge for reliability, shooting your carry gun regularly, from the holster, and replacing it at first non-shooter induced failure seems to be good policy. Joe

 

[rwsmith]

I don't think a gun......

...should need that kind of 'break in' to perform well but it doesn't take me long to put 500 rounds through a semi gun.

 

[UncleEd]

The 500. round break-in period used to
be the prevailing wisdom when the 1911
was basically THE automatic pistol and the
caliber was .45 ACP.

I believe the manufacturers have improved
the 1911 and perhaps it's not as necessary
nowadays.

But one thing is, the "modern" autos such
as the Sigs, Glocks, Berettas, never seemed
to require that break-in period.

Certainly a bad magazine or sometimes rough
feed ramp can alter that equation.

Interestingly enough, Bill Wilson of Wilson
Combat mentions that the .45 ACP in all its
fatness and straight walls may never have
been the ideal cartridge for the 1911.

 

[joe44va]

Perhaps you could consider reloading. That's fun too.
Familiarity breeds effectiveness.

 

[Alabusa]

Interestingly enough, Bill Wilson of Wilson
Combat mentions that the .45 ACP in all its
fatness and straight walls may never have
been the ideal cartridge for the 1911.

Maybe the 1911 stopped being relevant in the 1980s or earlier.




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[UncleEd]

Maybe the 1911 stopped being relevant in the 1980s or earlier.




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You just made Jeff Cooper go into a spin.

 

[RGVshooter]

Most quality firearms from the big manufacturers such as S&W, Glock, SIG, Ruger are very well machined and in my opinion don't necessarily need a break in period per se but rather I'd suggest shooting off a couple hundred rounds of various ammo to see which brand/make ammo that particular firearms functions the best, gets the best accuracy with before carrying.

If it's a range or target gun, then no, just shoot it & enjoy.

 

[Alabusa]

You just made Jeff Cooper go into a spin.

What do you think would happen if it were introduced today? Would it gather the sentimental, cult following or be a higher priced HiPoint?

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[robertrwalsh]

IN my experience over many years semi-automatic pistols, with the exception of Glock pistols, do benefit from a break-in period as far as reliability goes.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I was once given a NIB Glock 23 on the morning of qualification . . .

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Guess I've never viewed ammo, whether it's one box or 10, as adding to the price of the gun.

It takes about 10 boxes to break me in to a new shooter so I might be missing the OP's point altogether.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I'm not seeing a problem.

If it's a range gun, you're going to shoot ammo through it anyway.

If it's a self defense/carry gun, you're going to need to make sure the gun is reliable with your defensive ammo by shooting it.

This is aside from the fact you'll have to shoot the gun anyway to learn how to shoot it.

If it's a collector's piece/safe queen that you're not going to shoot, then it doesn't matter, does it?

 

[Arik]

Doesn't bother me. A lot of that is just people repeating the same thing from an era when that was necessary. I've never had a gun that needed breaking in.

That being said what's the difference between shooting and breaking in? Typically I try to put a 1000 rounds within the first month. You can call it breaking in, practice, pancake breakfast... whatever you'd like! I get to know the gun and practice shooting. 45acp is $250ish delivered for a thousand rounds.

 

[ditrina]

I can't speak for any other manufacturer but, the only manufacturer that I am aware of the states " 500 " rounds IN the manual is KIMBER. Shoot 100/Clean repeat 4 more times... Have a problem with FTE/FTL, call Kimber and the first question asked, would be how many rounds are through the gun.

Of all the Kimbers I have owned maybe one was not right after 500 rounds, I called Kimber and they made it right.

 

[GKC]

I have seen a lot of information/posts/"experience"/prevailing wisdom, etc. that say you need to run at least 500 rounds through a gun - usually a semi auto before it is "reliable"? I don't claim this is universal but I've seen it a lot. In .45 acp this could add $150 - $200 to the price of a gun. It seems like the manufacturers are shifting costs to us. Is anyone else bothered by this?

Kahr advises firing 200 rounds through the pistol. I'm not aware of most other manufacturers having a recommended break in period, although the conventional wisdom expressed here and on other forums is to shoot at least a couple of hundred rounds before deciding a gun is worthy of EDC.

Kimber is, or at least was when I owned them, the worst company about this...when I had a problem it was always "shoot 500 rounds and then call us." I've never gotten that from any other gun company, although to be honest I've never had many problems with any other guns, except for Taurus. The only problems I've had with S&W and Ruger guns were ones I caused myself, but they fixed them anyway...with no question about round count, either.

Think about it this way...a car is a LOT more complex mechanically than a pistol. If you bought a new car, and it wouldn't go a mile without missing, stalling, or dying, wouldn't you expect the dealer to fix it, no matter how many miles it had on it? Would you be happy if the dealer said "Drive it 500 miles and then if the problem persists, call me." I certainly wouldn't.

As a result, over the years, I have refined my gun purchases to American made guns, with a lifetime warranty, the company has excellent service, and pays for shipping both ways. That's just me, and I don't expect everyone to feel that way. I wish I could find a car company that would do that too!

 

[GKC]

Of all the Kimbers I have owned maybe one was not right after 500 rounds, I called Kimber and they made it right.

I've owned three, had problems with all three, and Kimber wouldn't make it right without the 500 rounds BS. I've never had that from any other 1911, or any other pistol, period!

As a result, I will never own another Kimber product. They are pretty guns, but if I want something to shoot, I buy something else.