How many of you have fired 500 rounds thru your carry gun? Did that process iron out which ammo was more reliable for you?
No. Why would you want to unnecessarily make your gun eat 500 rounds?
Combat practice, targets are one thing.
It's "broke in" when in comes from the factory.
Every round you fire takes life off the gun.
Absolutely no need for a break in.
How is shooting 500 rounds unnecessary?
How significant of taking “life off the gun” is shooting 500 rounds in a gun with a lifespan of 50,000 rounds?
My attitude about 500 round break-in is somewhat different than the rest of the forum. I view shooting 500 rounds on a new to me gun as “breaking-in” both the gun and the shooter.
I do not go to the range and blast through 500 rounds. I usually shoot 100 – 150 rounds a range session. The purpose for several range session is teaching myself what the controls are on the gun, learning the trigger pull, how to grip the gun most comfortably, where the p.o.i. is on it, etc. Shorter range sessions lets me work on the fundamentals and focusing on learning about the gun.
Another reason is gremlins. They are out there. Just waiting for the chance to cause problems.
Another reason is humans are not perfect when it comes to making things. We goof. We miss things. I brought a Makarov a while back. Field stripped it and had a devil of time getting the slide back on. Finally got the slide back on the frame and a large metal shaving came out of the back of the gun when I racked the slide.
Another important reason that has already been mentioned is testing the magazines on a semi-auto. I have a couple of dozen of used magazines I have brought over the last few months. Testing has shown some of them to be unreliable so I have replaced the springs with new extra power Wolff Springs. I want at least a couple of range sessions with these mags before I feel confident with using them.
Since I reload my own ammunition 500 rounds does not represent a significant financial burden.
When it comes to revolvers I remember a interview I read once. A gun writer asked a Smith & Wesson Representative what was the best way to improve the action on their revolvers. The S&W Reps reply was...
"Shot it. Shoot it a lot."
After several range sessions I have a pretty strong opinion about the gun. Speaking for myself 50 rounds is not a long enough training session with a gun that I am going to use for self-defense.