How many rounds before you trust?

[ladder13]

There is no number for me, whenever comfy applies. A gun can malfunction anytime as we all know.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I shoot 95 gr ball out of my 380, 115 ball from the 9mms and 230 ball from the .45. Period. End of story. Run 200 rounds through each gun using all magazines and then I'm good to go.

 

[cd228]

Evidently, a lot of guys here hand load. That, or they have way more disposable income than me. 100-200rds of SD ammo? Around here, popular SD calibers go for a $1.00+ a round. Way above my pay grade.

Check out Targetsports USA on line, they can get you Speer Golddot 9mm for around 65 cents a round, .38 Special for around 80 cents a round and .45 Gold dots for 80 cents as well. All in 50 round boxes. The 20 round boxe are almost always more expensive.

The secret to being able to afford to vett your carry guns is to limit the number of guns you carry and find a round that works reliably through it, that meets your criteria and buy it in bulk. Then around once a year or so run a magazine or cylinder or two through your pistol and verify reliability.

You can also try different websites for a cheaper price. I picked Target Sports because they ship to states others won't.

 

[cd228]

IIRC, nobody has mentioned EXAMINING each round before introducing that round to the magazine/gun. I have had 2 revolver jams due to burrs on the case rim, rims that I had not physically examined by running a finger over them. Also found a 'carry' round, a R-P 125gr JHP .38+P with the primer seated sideways, a round I had loaded into a S&W HD for the trip home. Fortunately, a quiet trip. Can't be too careful...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Good point, I probably need to get back into that habit.

 

[Doug M.]

Spending $300 to prove a $500 dollar gun and then $150 for a holster pretty much can make a new gun unattainable on a tight budget.
Ball ammo is not en vogue but usually goes bang every time and that is the important thing. Everything else is secondary.

*
I have gone though phases of limited budget, so I can appreciate the concern about cost. I try to do research on what ammo seems to consistently work in most platforms and passed the FBI/IWBA criteria. One can start with a small amount and see if the ammo seems to work, then save up and buy in bulk to save money. It is a matter of priorities. I don't waste money or time on counterproductive activities like golf, recreational fishing and the like.

Holsters are a different problem. Carry positions and the like can be so individual that one sometimes ends up getting holsters that are not what we would like in terms of comfort and function. However, buying on cosmetics is unwise for at least two reasons. The first is that form must follow function. The other is that for the vast majority of people the vast majority of the time, the holster should not be seen by anyone at any time. Concealment is a critical criterion.

 

[BE Mike]

It would be helpful to know exactly what kind of malfunctions that you are getting and if they are all the same. I've heard, but can't verify it, that some Fiocchi ammo is underpowered. Magazines can be a problem. It is good to identify one from another and keep track. Of course there is always the human factor, like thumb(s) dragging on the slide, etc.

 

[AJ]

There is no number for me, whenever comfy applies. A gun can malfunction anytime as we all know.

To each their own. Yes, a gun can malfunction at anytime no matter how many rounds are through it.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

OTOH.

We all know people who have a Home Defense handgun that has never left the Sock Drawer. As Collectors those handguns are the ones we desire. Example; this one has not been shot since 1945.

 

[Autonomous]

With a Glock I'm good with a couple of magazines. With a 1911, it'll take hundreds before I'll trust it for carry.

Glocks are pretty much built the same way with good consistency.

1911s on the other hand have been made by dozens of makers for over 100 years:

1) Hurry up, we're in World War I and we have a quota. No, we haven't figured out the entire slide hardening process.

2) Made to a price in Asia with random grades of steel. Some of these can compete against low end made in USA guns.

3) Made in USA price point and mid-range 1911s with optional accessory packages.

3.5) This category is fleeting, an example is the Springfield Armory TRP. It used to be more than an off the shelf piece with goodies attached.
The S&W Performance Center used to be more than bolt on jewelry.

4) A semi-custom such as Wilson, Nighthawk, the Professional from the SA Custom shop, etc.

5) A full custom from one of the masters demanding five figure price tags and years long waitlists.

6) Sausage fingered cousin Bubba can get his mitts on any of them for a barnyard trigger job but is thankfully less likely to get access to the better ones.

 

[oink]

I'll just note that when I bought a fairly inexpensive RIA (Armscor) all stel 3.5" 1911Officers type, I was leery of it. I put 500 rounds through it . A lot of old assorted duty ammo, some hard ball and a lot of home rolled cast LSWC. Not one malfunction of any kind. I was impressed. I trust it. It's pretty compact but it is all steel. I'd probably trust another one with fewer rounds.

With a revolver I'd feel good with 60 rounds or so in a good range session where it gets hot and dirty. If no issues I'm good.

With a Glock, If I run some range fodder through it and then 2 mags full of my carry ammo through each mag I'm going to carry, I'm good.

With my Shield 9, I put a couple of mags full of carry through each carry mag after some range fodder. It was malfunction free so I trusted it.

I've had several Taurus PT111G2s. Being Taurus I didn't trust the 1st but they've proven to be bullet proof. I'd treat one like a Glock. Earlier Taurus semi's not so much. They've made some junk in the past.

I guess the point, if there was one, is just use good judgement. You don't have to shoot the heck out of every gun to prove it reliable. If it's one you had to troubleshoot, then yeah, you need to shoot the heck out of it.

 

[BE Mike]

I've bought a number of used guns over the years. A couple had problems. Luckily, I was familiar enough with them that I was able to correct the problems myself. One had to have the fire control unit replaced. The dealer actually paid for the replacement parts and I did the work. Caveat Emptor.

 

[BB57]

I'll just note that when I bought a fairly inexpensive RIA (Armscor) all stel 3.5" 1911Officers type, I was leery of it. I put 500 rounds through it . A lot of old assorted duty ammo, some hard ball and a lot of home rolled cast LSWC. Not one malfunction of any kind. I was impressed. I trust it. It's pretty compact but it is all steel. I'd probably trust another one with fewer each carry mag after some range fodder. It was malfunction free so I trusted it.

I had similar results with an RIA 1911 in .45 ACP. I never wanted one but came across a trade in where the recent buyer had put a box or two through it and decided .45 ACP was not for him. It was too good a deal to pass up.

Much to my surprise it was 100% reliable with decent accuracy.

I was also pleasantly surprised with a low dollar TISAS 1911A1 clone. It’s also been extremely reliable, and frankly is much better in terms of accuracy, reliability and trigger pull than my Springfield 1911A1 clone.

I also carried this Citadel (Phillipine made) officer framed 1911 in 9mm for a couple years. It was accurate and exceptionally reliable and remains one of my most trustworthy 1911s.

All of the above demonstrate that the era when it took hand fitting to create a reliable 1911 are long past. In our modern era of CNC machining it’s now possible to produce a reliable 1911 for a lot less money than in the past.

 

[cd228]

Digging through Cooper on Handguns and a couple older documents, It seems like the military 1911 configuration was rather reliable with USGI Ammo. The issues seemed to start when different configurations, calibers and ammo came into play.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I think that a "New" pistol needs at least 300-500 rounds
just to smooth out the metal parts and slide, to where it does not bind up;

with a good amount of oil or grease to help the system work it's best,
until it is broke in.

Not to pop your bubble but;

even a quality HST or Gold Dot bullet can fail, every now and then, on a perfect expansion.

Tight groups.

 

[K Frame Keith]

IMHO it depends on the gun. I had an early 659 that needed an extended breaking in period. Several hundred rounds. After that it was stone cold reliable.
I had a stainless Interarms PPK/s that never ran reliably even after hundreds of rounds and a return to the factory.
I currently have a Remington RM .380. After the first 50 rounds ran flawlessly, I trusted it. Today, a few hundred rounds later, it has never malfunctioned.
Malfunctions mean something is wrong or needs adjustment. When my BHP malfunctioned during a qual course it was a cracked magazine body.
When my 1911 started to malfunction it turned out to be a worn slide stop. Easy fix both times.
When a new gun jams the issue has to be identified and the repair proven by test firing until you feel satisfied and safe using it.
Good luck!

 

[Autonomous]

Holsters are a different problem.

My first holster was such a floppy cheapskate unit that an Uncle Mikes holster was a big upgrade. Even the floppy one was better than nothing though.

 

[robvious]

my late father purchased a very early Kahr K9 9mm.. when they only made one gun... Kahr recommended 200 hot rounds to "set the springs" or something like that.. we found some some hot European submachine gun ammo and spent a few days breaking it in... it smoothed out dramatically in those 4 boxes.. then dad found a carry ammo it liked and it was in rotation... do, probably in the 250 rounds range

 

[DETROIT]

It depends on the gun. Todays production CZ’s have a very tight tolerance and require a break in period. But I’m 250-500 round before I carry it.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

To add to Oink's list of usual suspects I had a brand new Sig P210A that shot great, great trigger and on the second box of mild FMJ practice ammo blew apart a recoil spring assembly.

I was my departments FA instructor and Sig armourer. This was my dream gun now that I was retired. Well Sig did have a replacement RSA in my mailbox in two days. For that I am quite grateful. That was a few years ago. I'm heading for the range tomorrow to work out with the P210. It's since been flawless. Stuff happens.

 

[No Quarter]

I am testing POA, POI with a new revolver. I "trust" it after 4 or 5 cylinders full of whatever ammo I have determined best shoots to the sights.

Also, keep in mind, the longer your firearm goes without a malfunction, the closer it is getting to having one. If you understand the "Bathtub Curve" you will be much more resistant to efforts by the gun world to part you from your money.