Do you 'break 'em in?'

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

I'm curious. How many of you feel you need to fire hundreds of rounds through a gun before you rely on it for self-defense?

I don't. I run a few mags of carry ammo through it, make sure it works with it's spare mags and call it good. Never had a gun that jammed right away that didn't keep right on jamming, and never had a gun that didn't jam right away mysteriously start unless something broke.

Of course I usually buy used guns, and I don't buy guns that are so expensive the manufacturer depends on me to finish the gun for them by 'breaking it in.'

 

[Trashyshoots]

I carry a 1911 so I fully vetted it before carrying. (500 fmjs 250 defensive rounds cleaned every 100 to 200 rounds or so)

Wife carrys a glock 43, so it got a box of fmjs, box of self defense rounds, box of steel case and a box of trash aluminum case. Perfectly ran it all. Gtg.

 

[bersaguy]

I try and run a few different types of ammo thru to see if its ammo sensitive, fmj's, jhp's, flat points etc. If its showing there are some rounds it doesn't like I'll find the defensive round it seems to like the best and run a box thru it. If it has no issues, I figure its good. So I probably have 200 rounds down range before I carry it, mostly range ammo. Thats partly to "break in" the gun, and partly so I have a chance to really become proficient with that particular piece.

 

[Anchorite]

I view guns like engines .... they are mechanical devices subject to “settling down” and reaching “peak efficiency” once they’ve been shot some. Do I have a set procedure for this break-in? No, not really. The techniques applied differ from auto to revolver to rifle. In terms of self defense, a few mags of various rounds thru a Glock and you’re done. No need to shoot to loosen the frame -slide fit, or to get the barrel busing loosened.

 

[Spats McGee]

I like to put a couple of hundred rounds of various kinds of ammo through a pistol before carry for a couple of reasons. I want to be sure the pistol functions properly, and with each mag that I might carry. I want to see how it handles different kinds of ammo, and what it likes. That said, and with ammo supplies being what they are, I might have to slim my usual practice down a bit.

 

[Cump]

I have generally carried common, trustworthy platforms that you would probabaly recognize an issue in your first box.

I do always shoot my guns before carry, enough to break me in to the pistol.

 

[1942bull]

I have a simple practice for a new pistol. I put to rounds of FMJ through it and 20 rounds of my preferred SD ammo through it on its first day at the range I do that to test function and give the pistol the opportunity to have a failure. No failures means I will rely upon the gun. However I have always thoroughly researched any gun I bought before making the purchase. I do that on Brand identified forums. If a model has lots of complaints I do not buy one. I do not but Taurus pistols because of the many reports about defect, bad QC, and poor service. I did not by a Kahr pistol once because it called for shooting 200 rounds to break it in and assure proper function. I have three Rugers now. Never broke them in, and never have had a failure with thousands of rounds through them. That is what I expect from a gun I buy.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The more trouble free rounds get fired through a gun the more likely it is there will be some kind of failure.

The more modern designs seem to be as reliable as ammo that is typically used.

 

[chicharrones]

Usually a break in is really an ammo type trial for me too. I've certainly come to dislike and distrust truncated FMJ in autoloaders.

Regarding a true break in, that does seem necessary for autoloading rimfire pistols more than centerfire pistols, in my experience. PMR-30 and Bersa rimfires come to mind right now.

 

[gyp_c2]

I like to put a couple of hundred rounds of various kinds of ammo through a pistol before carry for a couple of reasons. I want to be sure the pistol functions properly, and with each mag that I might carry. I want to see how it handles different kinds of ammo, and what it likes. That said, and with ammo supplies being what they are, I might have to slim my usual practice down a bit.

The more trouble free rounds get fired through a gun the more likely it is there will be some kind of failure.

It's certainly interesting to note the range of habits/philosophy...
Personally, I shoot whatever the gun/caliber was designed for first and whatever mixture I have on hand after.
If it comes with mags, clips, uses speedloaders, strips whatever, those are part of the mix.

 

[mcb]

Buy used, let someone else find the infant-mortality flaws. I like to take a newly acquired handgun and go shoot a USPSA or IDPA match or two with it. The drive to be competitive keeps me from babying the gun and forces me to use it in similar ways I might in a defensive situation. If it runs in competition it will run else where, if it won't run in competition I won't carry it.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I shoot a minimum of 500 rounds thru a handgun before it gets carried. That included several different personal defense ammunition to see which one functions and groups best

 

[edwardware]

It depends on the gun. Beyond a careful disassembly to inspect:

- A Major Mfg Plastic Fantastic that's into it's 3rd+ minor revision would probably warrant a couple magazines.

- A revolver warrants a careful timing check, and a couple cylinders of rapid fire to confirm timing.

- A 1911 would get a dry cleaning, and I would want to find out how dry/fouled it needs to be before FtFeed. That might take some time, but I'd rather not carry it until I know.

 

[alfsauve]

Typically I go from the gun counter straight to the range, if we're speaking handguns, and put at least 100 rounds through a new purchase before the ink dries on the receipt. I want to know right away, does it extract, eject, feed and fire with my carry ammo? With my practice ammo? With a full mag + 1 ? On the last round in the mag? With a "standard" mag? With an extended mag? How hard/easy is the mag release and drop? How hard is it to lock in a full mag with a + 1.

Then of course picky little things like what's the point of impact at 5yards? 10, 15, 20 & 25 yards. And what's the trigger feel like slow fire, rapid fire, & double tap.

Oh wait, look, broke in.

 

[Jim Watson]

Maj. Geo. C. Nonte said 200 trouble free rounds of your duty/carry load to vet a new gun.

I had a Commander go 197 rounds of SWC. So it gets hardball and roundnose reloads.

 

[e rex]

I shoot a revolver, just load and go.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I take my new guns out and shoot them. If they function with FMJ target ammo, then I try HPs. If they still seem to work, I carry them. Typical range session with me is 300-400 rounds.

If they don't function 100%, I take them out again and shoot them more. If still no go, then I try to have them fixed.

 

[Tallball]

Ideally, maybe something like four boxes of different ammo... so about 200 rounds.

That's plenty, IMHO.

 

[Meeks36]

What does everyone do if the pistol doesn't function flawless in 500 rounds? Sell it? Or send it back yo the manufacturer? Or try different types of ammo?

 

[edwardware]

What does everyone do if the pistol doesn't function flawless in 500 rounds? Sell it? Or send it back to the manufacturer? Or try different types of ammo?

I double check for ammo-induced issues, and then I fix the firearm or magazine that isn't working.

 

[mrt949]

BUY CHEAP GET CHEAP

 

[herrwalther]

Break in for me isn't just about testing the reliability. It also lets me see what holds are most accurate, what ammo is most accurate, and what ranges are most accurate. Vast majority of the time, a modern firearm is going to run reliably out of the box.

 

[P5 Guy]

Brand new Glock is broken in when the cooper never seize is worn off.
Maybe one magazine.

 

[JR24]

I like to put a couple of hundred rounds of various kinds of ammo through a pistol before carry for a couple of reasons. I want to be sure the pistol functions properly, and with each mag that I might carry. I want to see how it handles different kinds of ammo, and what it likes. That said, and with ammo supplies being what they are, I might have to slim my usual practice down a bit.

Pretty much this.

However I have a quirk wherein I feel the need to spend most of my weekly range time (ok, nearly all) with my carry gun, so even if it starts out with just a few mags before I call it "good", it'll get fully stress tested before too long.

 

[WestKentucky]

Thorough cleaning inside and out, a fun evening with a hundred or so rounds just to get used to the gun, and if I have to work out the kinks then I do and then try it again. Usually there are no kinks to work out.