How many defensive rounds do you test in your handgun?

[milemaker13]

Dont know... Dont use Hollow points as a defensive round (I can hear the gasps now)

Poison tipped high explosive incendiary rounds?

 

[ray15]

I have not seen in 10 years a snub load HP that is consistent in expansion results (yes I've seen insert whatever brand here)

There are hollowpoints available that will reliably expand at snub velocities - including the Federal load you mentioned.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

There are hollowpoints available that will reliably expand at snub velocities - including the Federal load you mentioned.

Not that I have seen, not talking about gel tests either I prefer tests that encompass real world simulations or as close to it as can be which is to include skin, bone, flesh and fat. Paul Harrell just videos on just this kinda thing and his last .38 vids have really supported my view.

 

[tomrkba]

It depends upon my commitment.

I usually do 20-50 mixed with ball ammo in the mags.

 

[bluzman]

Pretty self explanatory. How many hollow points do you run through your gun to test reliability? I run 100 at a minimum (typically 150-250) to verify reliability in my auto loaders. In a revolver it has been as few as 20, mostly checking for crimp jump in the lightweight snubs.

I know several people that only run 1 magazine of hollow points and call it good. I couldn't possibly feel confident in my defensive ammo/gun with so few rounds tested.

Totally agree - 100 to 200 failure free rounds before I'll call it good.

 

[BobWright]

"Testing cartridges" is sort of akin to testing flash bulbs. (Remember those?)

Bob Wright

 

[Klint Beastwood]

For training in the specific disapline of self defense with a ccw type gun, I run the exact load im carrying. It’s expensive yes, but for me it comes with the territory. Most other types of shooting ie marksman ship training, box drills, failure to stop, hammers, doubles etc ( fine motor skill, muscle memory training) is done with regular ammo mostly.
No matter how you do it, train how you fight.

 

[oldbear]

"I know several people that only run 1 magazine of hollow points and call it good. I couldn't possibly feel confident in my defensive ammo/gun with so few rounds tested."
I have to agree with you on that. Yet, as I carry/shoot revolvers testing ammo is not as critical Vs. an auto.

I should also note that my range ammo is the same as my S.D. ammo.

 

[Browning]

It used to be that I wasn't happy unless I shot at least 200 rds. Now it's a 100 rds and then I shoot one mag of JHP's a month.

If it comes out of the chamber for any reason I put that rd to the side and shoot those collection of rds next time I go. Repeated cycling of rds in/out of the chamber makes them less likely to go off when you need them.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Usually about 20 rounds.

 

[mcb]

Little late to the thread... For a carry revolver I usually just fire one box of my chosen carry ammo to make sure I can hit what I am aiming at. Rarely does the ammo (high quality carry ammo) cause functional issue in a revolver in my experience but it checks that too. For my semi auto carry guns I always try to get at least 50-100 rounds, malfunction free, through it before I carry it. Ideally I take it to a USPSA or IDPA match and run my current carry setup at the match. That seems to be the best way to prove out the ammo, gun, holster, etc under about as stressful a situation for both me and the gun as is practical.

When I first got into USPSA my carry gun was my competition gun. For USPSA that is no longer the case as I am competing mostly with a 627 but carrying a 442. But my Tractor gun I carry when working on the hunting property is my current IDPA Revolver division gun, an Model 10 Heavy Barrel. Same exact setup for both activities.

 

[Col. Cornelius]

I like to run several hundred rounds of different bullet weights (ex for 9mm: 115gr, 124gr, 135gr & 145gr) and nose profiles (RN, TC-FP, JHP).
My theory is the more different types/weights of bullets the auto can reliably fire, the more intrinsically reliable the gun is.
After this, then I start working with the chosen factory self defense load (Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST, Hornady Critical Defense, Critical Duty ect.)

 

[Danoobie]

With my Berettas or FNs, a couple mags. They're pretty much good to go from the box.
My 1911s get a couple hundred rounds, split up over a couple range trips.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I guess I'm not really sure.
Each gun I've carried for SD has been around the house since I was a kid, and I've put God only knows how many rounds through them.
I do know that if I acquire a new magazine, I make sure they run from full to empty without any problems, at least once. If I change a part, I'll cycle a few dozen.
If I am working on a cartridge combo, I'll run at least a few mags through to make sure everything's happy. (And that the load is happy in every firearm I have of that caliber)

Ugh, I lied accidentally. My 238 I bought new, and it had teething issues. Debris floating in the firing pin channel causing misfires..... Fixed it.

But then, once you get to a point that it's running like a fine Swiss sewing machine, you finish up and call it a day, not worrying anymore about whether it's going to work.

 

[AJumbo]

My carry piece is an LC9S. I ran about 230 rounds os 9MM ball through it to prove the gun was mechanically sound, then found a couple of boxes of Critical Defense for way under retail. I burned up both boxes doing controlled pairs and mag dumps in order to test both the ammo and the pistol. No issues were encountered, so I bought more Critical Defense and more ball and make it a point to practice every two or three weeks. I don't worry about "rotating" my SD ammo; I shoot mostly ball and save the CD for social situations.

 

[z7]

i run 500rds of ammo through a handgun before I consider it "good to go." these are reloads or plated or FMJ rounds. I was given a very nice gift of about 500 Winchester Ranger hollow points in the caliber I carry and was able to shoot quite a few of them in my guns for a function and accuracy test. I shoot glocks so there was no issue with function and accuracy was good enough i.e. i was the weak link.

I like my defensive guns to be broken in, my rifles are the same way, I want to see 500 or so rounds fired so I can see if the gun has any quirks or hiccups. so far in 5000rds of 40sw through 3 glocks I have not had ANY malfunction, so I think they are good to go.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

"Testing cartridges" is sort of akin to testing flash bulbs. (Remember those?)

Bob Wright

I wonder how many youngsters here had to search "flash bulb".

I've never counted but at first I shoot enough SD ammo to verify both function and POI. Every week or two I shoot some of my carry ammo and replace it.
I reload my own SD ammo so it isn't that costly.

 

[Dr.Rob]

200.. it can get pricey.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Most ammo-related problems are either unknowable because it's a batch issue, or they become readily apparent within the first magazine. I think probably 80% of the problems you might have are obvious within the first magazine you shoot out of a semiauto. Shooting a hundred rounds through it probably ensures against 99% of possibly detectable issues not related to failure to perform preventative maintenance.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Warp]

For a reputable manufacturer of semi auto I like to do at least 150 FMJ and 50 of my specific chosen JHP round before considering it for carry, but I prefer and generally get more than that. Basically two range trips of about 100-150 round each time, with at least 50 and possibly as many as 100 of the specific JHP load. That's for a new gun.

If it's an established gun that has proven reliable for me already, and I'm just switching to a different defensive/JHP round, about 30-35 or so rounds might be all I test (box of 50, leave enough to fill one magazine once, shoot the rest).



STORY TIME

I once bought a new Glock 30SF. I took it to the range and fired something like 100 FMJ and a 50 round box of Winchester Ranger Talon. I then loaded it up with Winchester Ranger Talon +P (RA45TP, the first 50 had been RA45). Next range trip I shot the RA45TP that had been in the gun, and I had two failures out of 11 rounds!

It turned out to be a lemon, it would not reliably work with JHP, trying 100+ Ranger as well as HST. Sent to Glock, got it back, still bad, exchanged it with Glock for a G21 SF that was perfect.

So, yeah...test that stuff before you trust it...

 

[Garandimal]

For a proven pistol?

A 50/box or so through all the mags.




GR