HOW LONG DO LET AMMO SIT IN YOUR CARRY PISTOL?

[Exbiker]

Originally Posted by P-11 shooter

AWSOME!!!
I worry more about my springs then about the ammo.

That`s an old wives tale. Springs don`t really go bad from sitting compressed. An active shooter will wear out springs faster because of compression then release hundreds of times.

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by WellArmedLiberal

...I cycle a round just to test the weapon every couple of weeks at least...practice pulling from pocket, racking the slide and targeting. ... So after a month or two of carry, I just fire off the mag before the normal ball ammo at practice, and then swap out a new mag for carry over the next period. ...But how many times would a round have to be chambered to start causing setback?

It varies by the gun. I've read where some guns would set-back bullets in less than ten cyclings while others as many as 20 cyclings showed no significant change. Test your own weapon:

Just before you do your monthly/bimonthly shoot unload the magazine and either measure your ammo or just line them up on end and put a straightedge across the bullet tips.

[Brown-Bear]

I would not worry about the springs to much, springs actuallu go bad from not being under strain. Having a mag loaded, should not cause a problem.

Dave

[chrisjames_71]

Both my Duty and Off Duty I change out the ammo every year. However, I do rotate the rounds around in the magazine. That way they stay somewhat in good shape and don't get to dinged up from the chambering.

[mjfletcher]

When i have to unchamber to remove my defense rounds for the range, i pop them all out, line them up in the order they came in, and just move the round that was in the chamber to the bottom. Chambered round becomes round 10 in the mag, and round 2 goes in the chamber, next time round 2 goes to the bottom, and round 3 goes to the chamber, etc etc. Takes 10 range trips for the first round to come back up into the chamber.

[chrisjames_71]

Originally Posted by mjfletcher

When i have to unchamber to remove my defense rounds for the range, i pop them all out, line them up in the order they came in, and just move the round that was in the chamber to the bottom. Chambered round becomes round 10 in the mag, and round 2 goes in the chamber, next time round 2 goes to the bottom, and round 3 goes to the chamber, etc etc. Takes 10 range trips for the first round to come back up into the chamber.

Yep pretty much the same as me

[gf45acp]

If I don't fire them off, I change out ammo when physical inspection shows an discoloration, damage, nicks or any other issues. Also, if they have been exposed to severe weather, such as being stuck out in a freezing rain storm for a full shift.

[sluggie24]

The moisture affecting ammo thing is from years ago. It could affect old ammo. Modern ammo is made to well regulated specifications however so the moisture can't get in like it used to. I actually saw a test on TV once where they dropped a box of .308 in a pond for 24hrs. Pulled em out, loaded em and sent them all downrange. If that didn't do it then what's in the air doesn't have a chance.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by WellArmedLiberal

I've read an engineer's analysis once that said a spring under pressure wears out no sooner than a spring under less pressure.

correct. as long as the spring is not compressed (or extended) past it's intended range of motion, leaving it compressed will not weaken it. cycling it will weaken it. so, ironically, people who unload their mags and cycle them to save the springs are actually wearing the springs out.

But how many times would a round have to be chambered to start causing setback?

i think it depends on both the bullet and the gun.

i have done some experiments with a few 9mm bullets. i've tested both 115 gr FMJs and 124 gr HPs. i have rechambered the same rounds in a glock 17 over 30 times and measured no set back at all.

however, i have read of some other similar experiments with .45 ACP where bullet setback was measurable after many fewer rechamberings.

i think one difference might be that the typical .45ACP bullet has a much flatter nose than the typical 9mm bullet. also, i think the .45ACP test was done with a 1911 which, of course, has a different chamber/feeding mechanism from a glock, so that might also factor in.

[jack76590]

I shoot the ammo out of my carry pistol at least every two months. I would rather have a load that I can afford to shoot frequently than the latest killer load that is too costly to shoot, except occasionally.

I will not argue that ammo can last years in a firearm and still go bang. But I feel more comfortable with fresh ammo. I especially don't like to carry rounds that have been up the ramp many times, because of the potential for bullet set back and deformed bullet noses.