Do you cycle your home/personal defense ammo?

[kwando]

There are some people that will shoot their home and personal defense ammo in their mags (carry) every 6 months to 1 year. Thoughts?

[Elhuero]

I shoot my carry gun about once a year, maybe a bit longer. just for practice, not to cycle the ammo.

the rest of the time it stays loaded. the one time I did unload it I emptied the mag and put the round that had been chambered at the bottom to prevent bullet setback.

ammo doesn't get stale.

[Irving]

I usually do, but just because I forget that I don't want to shoot my hollow points and end up shooting a mag. I'm glad that I did though, because all my hollow points caused problems in my gun. Otherwise I just try not rechamber the same round any time I unload the gun.

[Circuits]

I practice with cheap FMJ and then refill the mags with quality +P JHP when i'm done. Around every year or so, I'll notice the JHP is looking tarnished, make sure I've got enough new JHP to reload the mags, and I'll cycle through the old stuff in a practice session. So four mags of carry JHP around once a year for me.

The same ammo's been in my go-to shotgun and rifle for years, though.

[bjl913]

Before I trust my life with it, I always take my new guns out and shoot at least one magazine of the ammo I intend to carry. About every year or so(maybe 2... I wont fib to you guys...!) I will shoot off my carry ammo, and replace it. Sometimes Ill shoot it before that if I have more on hand. No real reason other than open carrying in rain/snow, i just want to make sure my stuff is somewhat "fresh". Last thing I want in a battle is to hear a fizzle instead of a bang!

I also like to know the difference in how a weapon will shoot with different ammo. There is a huge difference in recoil and noise between a 45 loaded /w 230 grain ball ammo, and using 200 grain +P corbon stuff! Glad I didnt find that out in a gun battle!

[Colorado Osprey]

Before I trust my life with it, I always take my new guns out and shoot at least one magazine of the ammo I intend to carry.

Good practice... but better yet fire 2-500 of the ammo you intend to carry in the firearm you intend to carry it in to ensure reliabilty with the ammo you choose to carry in your firearm.

This will make sure your firearms is not just reliable but you are proficient with that firearm.

I know this gets very expensive with the price of personal defense ammo, but is your life worth it? I guess my advise is really for those that expect they will really need to fire their guns in self defense rather than the average CCW holder... but good advise anyway.


Back to the original post. I agree with loading and unloading in semi-auto's you can get set back and these rounds should be changed out, but the rest of the mag should be good for 20 years at least. Now you might change magazines you keep loaded so the springs don't get worn out.

As far as revolvers. No there is no reason to change out ammo.

[10x]

The only reason to change out ammo that has been in a gun for a while is if you are concerned about oil deadening the primer. Most ammo is well sealed, though.

[Irving]

From what I understand, the only way to wear out a spring is by using it. Keeping it uncompressed, or fully compressed makes no difference.

[Vitesse304]

wow...some of you guys need to shoot your guns more! Especially if your going to carry it!

I usually shoot at least once a week, and I shoot my carry guns once a month.

I will run a mag FMJ's for practice, and then run my carry JHP's as a last round of practice and reload the mag! All my carry guns are always loaded so I have no problem with bullet set back. (I don't empty my guns when I get home)

I agree with Colorado Osprey; it's not worth saving the money if your life depends on it.

[Great-Kazoo]

no