How Often Do You Change Your Carry Ammo?

[WR Moore]

Probably the best question is what are the climate conditions where you carry? While working we daily moved through temperatures ranging from 140 F to upper 60s F. We went to the range at least quarterly, and did ammo changeout on the sidearms then.

Somebody mentioned AC and moving out to hot, humid outside temps, that doesn't help either.

Compulsively loading/unloading semi-autos is a bad habit. Ammo wasn't made to be repeatedly chambered and bullet setback and extractors nibbling on case heads can cause problems. I'm of the load the carry piece and keep it that way until you need it or go to the range group.

 

[Old cop]

Re: the detective whose rounds were rusted into his gun, our supervisors inspected our uniforms & weapons twice a month. This practice was followed even when I was assigned to the detective division, our captain was old school, and this practice might have prevented the mishap.

 

[Old cop]

LEOSA recertification today @ 10 AM, 97.6% b/c I threw one round out of center mass @ 3 yards. One of these days I'm going to qualify @ 100% . . .

 

[blues7]

LEOSA recertification today @ 10 AM, 97.6% b/c I threw one round out of center mass @ 3 yards. One of these days I'm going to qualify @ 100% . . .

I feel your pain. I threw one during the simulated night phase of my LEOSA qual yesterday otherwise I'd have had 100% on both day and night with my Glock 19.

Oddly enough, I had 100% (night) with the Glock 26 (and a loose front sight when I got home).

Hey, we're still ahead of the game. Let's hope we keep qualifying for many years to come.

BTW, I shot my carry ammo (147gr HST, Standard Pressure), from both guns before moving on to training ammo for the rest of the qualifications.

Fresh carry ammo following the quals.

 

[patrickd]

As long as the magazine or chambers are oil free you could probably get away with almost never needing to change it out. I have a supply of 8X56R ammo that is dated at 1938. They all go bang. I have a good supply of M2 Ball dated 1953. Never a misfire there either. When stationed in Germany in the 80's we were still using powder in our 155mm howitzers from WWII. As long as it is stored properly ammo will last a very long time. Keep your gun clean , ammo oil free and stop worrying.

 

[Arik]

As long as the magazine or chambers are oil free you could probably get away with almost never needing to change it out. I have a supply of 8X56R ammo that is dated at 1938. They all go bang. I have a good supply of M2 Ball dated 1953. Never a misfire there either. When stationed in Germany in the 80's we were still using powder in our 155mm howitzers from WWII. As long as it is stored properly ammo will last a very long time. Keep your gun clean , ammo oil free and stop worrying.

Although I agree carry ammo is slightly different. It's exposed to different temperatures, sweat and outside moisture.

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[Dragon 1]

SEAL THE PRIMERS TEDDY JACOBSON HAS A VIDEO ON HOW TO SET UP YOUR CARRY GUN AMMO FROM STREET CARRY. LOOK AT GUN PARTS BY TEDDY GOOGLE IT GO TO VIDEO'S AND YOU CAN SEE HOW TO SET UP YOUR GUN FOR STREET CARRY VIDEO'S. THE SEALING OF PRIMERS ARE ON THERE IT'S EASY.

 

[Arik]

SEAL THE PRIMERS TEDDY JACOBSON HAS A VIDEO ON HOW TO SET UP YOUR CARRY GUN AMMO FROM STREET CARRY. LOOK AT GUN PARTS BY TEDDY GOOGLE IT GO TO VIDEO'S AND YOU CAN SEE HOW TO SET UP YOUR GUN FOR STREET CARRY VIDEO'S. THE SEALING OF PRIMERS ARE ON THERE IT'S EASY.

Stuff like that is good to know and if it was the Apocalypse where each bullet mattered I'd be all over it. But its just easier to replace ammo every once in a while

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[Walkingwolf]

Although I agree carry ammo is slightly different. It's exposed to different temperatures, sweat and outside moisture.

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I have washed ammo in a washing machine by mistake, it always went boom. I have never had a problem with any ammo becoming contaminated.

 

[Arik]

I have washed ammo in a washing machine by mistake, it always went boom. I have never had a problem with any ammo becoming contaminated.

That's fine but how many times did you wash the same ammo? Heat waves here last from late May to late September. Being outside during work you sweat like a hostage. I come home my holster is soaked, my gun is wet, the mag is wet....etc.. This is all summer. Not every day but several times a week definitely. Along with that I occasionally get caught in downpours. I don't change my ammo every month but once a year shooting 16 rounds doesn't exactly put me in the poor house

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[bigggbbruce]

Every once in a while I forget to take out the mag of HP's and fire away.. DOHH!!

My usual MO is chamber a regular range round followed by a mag of SD ammo.. all I need to do is pull mag and insert range ammo when I go shooting.

 

[pharmer]

Every now and again I pull the 6906 out (woods, field, range etc) and fire the 12 HST 124 gr hp's. A coupla months ago me and my doc friend took a drive out to a "wildlife management area." He says "you been carrying that same old gun over 20 years. How do you know it still works?" Went all the way to slide lock bouncing somebody else's beer can. Reloaded and went on with the day. Looking forward to next opportunity. Joe

 

[Talldog]

I carry Speer Gold Dot in my gun and Lawman FMJ in my spare mag. Every time I shoot my carry piece, I shoot both mags.

 

[Walkingwolf]

That's fine but how many times did you wash the same ammo? Heat waves here last from late May to late September. Being outside during work you sweat like a hostage. I come home my holster is soaked, my gun is wet, the mag is wet....etc.. This is all summer. Not every day but several times a week definitely. Along with that I occasionally get caught in downpours. I don't change my ammo every month but once a year shooting 16 rounds doesn't exactly put me in the poor house

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Just saying I have never had a problem. And if it was possible to have one, I would think hot soapy water in a washing machine would do it. Probably does not is because the bullet is a piston in a cylinder. Powder, and air are under pressure, but dive deep enough in the ocean I am sure that pressure would not be so great. Fortunately I do not plan on diving to the Titanic with ammo.

Forgot to mention that some loaders use hydraulic pressure to remover berden primers. Seems that a tight fitting ram compressing water will blow out a a berden primer. Air compresses more than water, but it still keeps water out, unless it loses pressure. IMO that pressure has to be relieved before contaminants can get in. Some chemicals can corrode brass enough to allow the pressure out, like ammonia. I would imagine salt could over time, but never has been a problem for me, and I used to live in the Florida Keys before moving to NC. Still have ammo from the time in the keys.

 

[eb07]

Once a year is adequate for me.

 

[forrestinmathews]

Every once in a while I forget to take out the mag of HP's and fire away.. DOHH!!

My usual MO is chamber a regular range round followed by a mag of SD ammo.. all I need to do is pull mag and insert range ammo when I go shooting.

If it's seeing a lot of ammunition changes from competition to carry I do the same thing.

 

[nachogrande]

REALLY?

Because humidity doesn't promote corrosion or rust. Air conditioning inside going out into hot humid conditions...cold gun...moist air...great combination.

Shells also get worn rattling around in a cylinder with dust and grit.
I carry a revolver so I have lots of experience with this.

I enjoy the way your sentiments portray the revolver in a favorable light​, however you and Bill Hickok up there fail to tell the full truth.

If YOUR rounds are "rattling around" in your cylinder, maybe you should put the correct caliber ammo in your revolver. As for the humidity issue, I've had just basic hand rolled range loads go thru the washer/dryer and look/work just fine. If it's a big concern, a bit of sealant around the primer/bullet should improve what is basically a waterproof load to start with. An old roommate of mine was an NYPD sgt, his duty revolver had green mold on the trigger and some of the brass. First shot hit center mass while 3 rookies emptied their glocks and missed every shot. 1 rookies shot took out a second story window while shooting from the street.

 

[TomkinsSP]

An old roommate of mine was an NYPD sgt, his duty revolver had green mold on the trigger and some of the brass. First shot hit center mass while 3 rookies emptied their glocks and missed every shot. 1 rookies shot took out a second story window while shooting from the street.

Sounds so familiar...

 

[cavnamvet]

Visit the range usually once a month or no longer than 2 months..
Also rotate carry guns depending what I'm doing or where I'm going..
Kahr P380 w/win ranger 95 gr when running in the park..
Kahr K9 or PM9 w/Fed HST 124 +p general daily carry
Model 19 Glock w/Fed HST 147 or Win 127+p+ when in Miami
Each range visit rapid fire carry mag first..
Then go to range ammo
Then upon exiting fire carry ammo again last 2 rounds double tap
Also clean mags after range visit..

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

On my conceal revolver probably once every 3-5 years. That doesn't mean I just load them and let them sit. I shoot/clean the gun every few weeks and inspect every round. Also helps that I load with nickel plated brass. After about 5 years I shoot the rounds off, replace them, and have never had an issue.

With my semi-auto I change out the ammo every year.