Break in round count for revolver EDC

[Grimjaws]

So my FFL is also a competitive shooter, trains with many local law enforcement agencies and does CCW classes for civilians. His belief is that a semi auto used for CCW by a should be run with 200-250 rounds of ammo through it before carrying it. This should wear in some contact areas, get a person familiar with the trigger, experience operating the pistol and determine any reliability and function issues.

So I took advantage of the rebate and grabbed a nice 442-1 no lock.

Just curious many rounds would you run in a revolver to answer the reliability and function check? 50? 100?

Thanks in advance

 

[Borderboss]

With a revolver, I go with 100 rounds, including 50 of the ammo I'm going to carry. That's totally sufficient.

On semi-autos, I use each magazine twice with full mags, again with at least half of that with the ammo I'm going to carry.

 

[petepeterson]

Depends on how much you like/want to shoot.
If it were me, I'd run 2 cylinders through it and, if trouble free, call it good.

 

[lkabug]

With a revolver I run roughly 3 cylinders of range and 3 cylinders of self-defense ammo.
And I dry fire and dry fire some more. Use quality snap-caps. Gotta get those contacts surfaces to smooth out.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

5 or 6 is enough to ensure function in a revolver.

Shoot more of course to become familiar with your new gun.

 

[NY-1]

250-350 rounds is the general rule of thumb for me, regardless of whether or not it's a semi-auto or revolver we're talking about.

 

[haywood]

I clean and lube my new Revolvers. I then dry fire 1000-2000 times. At the Range I then shoot for an hour. Depending how fast I go, at least 100-150 rounds. If I detect no problems, I consider it good to go. I still dry fire some between Range Sessions but not that much. The dry firing in the beginning smooths out the action. If it’s gritty after 500 dry fires I clean again, that hasn’t happened much.

 

[reddog81]

I'd want at least 100 rounds just to make sure that the hammer and firing pin have enough umph to ignite primers close to 100% of the time. Only testing a few cylinders full is a pretty small sample.

On most range trips I try and shoot a few cylinders or magazines though my Colt Cobra or Sig P365 just to train with them and ensure function.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I never worry about round count because if I have a new [NIB or new-to-me] gun that I want to carry it is going to get range time and that usually means anywhere from 50 to 100 rounds. Maybe 200 if it's a semi-auto. I never have had an issue with a revolver and if a pistol jams or stovepipes I double-check my firing procedures and if I decide it's not me and the gun continues to have issues I don't carry it until the issues are resolved.

It's people who only have one gun who have difficulties here. Real gun people, like every one of y'all, have choices.

Raise your hand if you only have one gun...........

I thought so.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

A couple of boxes of practice and carry ammo should test the gun and get you used to a light gun with two finger grips.

I am totally in favor of the no lock 442, it's my EDC for a number of reasons. But I've been carrying and training with J frames for 50 years. They are my "happy place".

It's not a easy gun to shoot. They require a lot of dry fire. Draw and coming to a high ready position, fully aligned with the front blade center mass. Each and every time. Hold that center mass, dry fire and break the tunnel vision with a scan. Do the same exercise at the range with live rounds. It's OK if they don't allow you use a holster. Just hold low ready, then high, then fire, scan and fire again.. Do this till its an automatic
response.

Also try shooting two center mass, a scan and then one in the head. The scan is with the eyes, not moving the weapon from a known target. Then try it with three targets. (El Presidente) Two in each chest, one in each head. That will train your reload.

 

[Fastbolt]

Presuming a normal inspection to check for any observable issues that may have slipped out the factory door ...

I tend to like to run at least several cylinder loads of rounds through a new revolver. Given my druthers, with at least half of them being whatever load(s) I usually carry. Sure, running some lighter recoiling standard pressure loads (Ball, RNL, LWC, etc) is a pleasant way to become acquainted with a new wheelie, but I also like to confirm controllability and general POA/POI using carry loads, which means +P for all of my J's, with 1 exception.

That exception is an Airweight built on the older 37-2 frame, which wasn't rated for a diet of +P. That J only gets standard pressure loads, and since I dislike cleaning lead out of charge holes, that typically means 130gr Ball, or some of the various 110gr standard pressure loads I like to use in it. (Fed Hydra-Shock, W-w STHP or Hornady CD/FTX.) I put back some boxes of American Gunner 125gr standard pressure JHP's a while back, just for that 37, but haven't gotten into them yet.

Like some other J-frame aficionados and longtime users, I don't really need much of an excuse to take a new one to the range and become familiar with it.

 

[Miracle Man]

To me it matters who the person is doing the carrying. What I mean is the bulk of us on here are gun people. We've shot and fired and hunted with all types of firearms all of our lives. Hell I'd hate to say/guess how many thousands of rounds I've fired??

I just got a new carry gun and I've got about 150 rounds through it and I'm comfortable I can shoot it well. I'm making it my carry gun, now.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend a non gun person/casual shooter do that.

Also to me a revolver lowers the learning curve a bit. But again much depends on the skill level of the person carrying said gun.

I might be comfortable with just a box? Making sure you're shooting your carry ammo.

 

[URIT]

Fifty rounds.

On our police department, officers bought their own duty weapon. When you bought a new firearm, you needed to qualify with a new revolver or pistol before you could carry it on duty. The course of fire was 50 rounds.

I was confident when I walked out of the range that my firearm would protect me when I needed it.

 

[Laketime]

5 or 6 is enough to ensure function in a revolver.

Shoot more of course to become familiar with your new gun.

The only right answer here so far

 

[chief38]

Revolvers require less of a "break-in" than Semi Autos but I'd shoot at least a few hundred rounds minimum just for familiarity with a new carry gun. Function and accuracy will be checked at the same time and the action will also smooth out. When ever I used to get a new carry revolver I'd put at least 1,000 rounds or so through it over a month or so just because I wanted proficiency with it. I also enjoy shooting them - a win/win!

 

[johngalt]

Another test is to see how many rounds it can go without cleaning before it malfunctions. I have had issues with a revolver that would bind up after not very many rounds (< 50).

 

[stansdds]

For a revolver, 50 rounds is a minimum to uncover any issues and provide good familiarization. For a semi-auto pistol, I lean more toward 100 as a minimum and 200 provides an excellent level of confidence in reliability.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Back in the old days when you could actually get ammo easily and cheaply I would go with one box of wadcutters, just to smooth things out a bit and make sure I was getting good ignition, and then one full box (or two half boxes of different) carry ammo just to ensure things were good. Clean it good and lube it lightly and that would make me happy. Semi-autos (except for Glocks) got quite a lot more than that.

 

[Detmongo]

I picked a 642 back in August. To date I have 1600 rds through, one hundred being my carry ammo 135 gr GD. Generally about 100 rds of training ammo and 50 rds. Of carry ammo and I’m good to go.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Also don’t think you need to fire that many rounds to break in a revolver.
But make sure you shoot a load or two of the ammo you plan to carry.