How many rounds equate to a proper new pistol break-in?

Status
Not open for further replies.

TopJeff

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
53
I hope this is not duplicated. Search showed zero results.

I am awaiting the new pistol I ordered through SA's LEO/IOP program and I am wondering what the prevailing thought is on the # of rounds considered adequate for break-im? The pistol is a 9mm 1911 4 inch EMP with the concealed carry contour.

Is it only for sufficient confidence build-up in flawless funtion?

I have copious amounts of FMJ on hand in various weights and numerous self defense ammo types/mfgrs to give me a good cross section of performance.

I am a lubricant and clean addict also, so I will not allow that to be an issue either.

What do the masses prescribe; 300, 500 or what?I

I'm leaning toward 500 rounds and the girl will be ready for daily use!

I do need to put sights on her though!

PI9229L_Featured.png
 
I generally hear that 500 rounds seems to be what’s said over and over.
I’d say once you go through a few boxes without any failures you’re good.

That said, it’s always better to exercise caution and if in doubt do a few more rounds.

Personally, I want to make sure the gun is functioning properly and that I’m comfortable with it. Once I am, I have no issue trusting it.

I’m finding on my new M&P 2.0 5” it’s getting better and better as I use it. So even after break in, things will loosen a little but and smooth out some. But that’s not an issue of being comfortable with it but just an issue of it shooting even better than it did initially.
 
My test of a new weapon is to fire 300 rounds, then thoroughly clean it, removing every trace of lube.

I then fire 200 through it, and if it is 100 percent reliable, when completely dry, I trust it. Clean and lube normally and carry it.

That's a whole lot of wear on "dry" components!Th

I certainly understand your reasoning but I am not sure I would be willing to do that.

A pistol is a machine, and machines require lubrication.

That's just me though.
 
Depends on the make. Some get 200 of carry load, others get several hundred FMJ before going to carry load testing. All brand new pistols are stripped, inspected, and lubed before the first round.

That is a handsome pistol. Enjoy it in good health.
 
That's a whole lot of wear on "dry" components!Th

I certainly understand your reasoning but I am not sure I would be willing to do that.

A pistol is a machine, and machines require lubrication.

That's just me though.
I do a couple hundred. Clean, lube then a couple hundred more, clean and inspect closely then lube and a hundred or 2 more. Enough to shake it up a bit. Average pistols don't need break in, its peace of mind. Ive had guns that couldn't run new - they get sent back.
As to the no lube thing, it's ok if it will take it. My carry gun gets exactly 2 drops of oil after cleaning, mainly to keep it from attracting debris, dry guns stay cleaner. That being said, i've never heard of a gun wearing out that wasn't used for competition, it's just not really an issue.
 
I do a couple hundred. Clean, lube then a couple hundred more, clean and inspect closely then lube and a hundred or 2 more. Enough to shake it up a bit. Average pistols don't need break in, its peace of mind. Ive had guns that couldn't run new - they get sent back.
As to the no lube thing, it's ok if it will take it. My carry gun gets exactly 2 drops of oil after cleaning, mainly to keep it from attracting debris, dry guns stay cleaner. That being said, i've never heard of a gun wearing out that wasn't used for competition, it's just not really an issue.

I am quite sure you are right Obturation!

I have been an aircraft mechanic most of my life and the thought of EVER operating a machine dry is just plain basphemy! It's difficult to pull over and check for bearing wear from 10,000 feet.

Dry = Excess friction.

I'll never shoot competitively any more but I need my toys/tools to work!
 
I am quite sure you are right Obturation!

I have been an aircraft mechanic most of my life and the thought of EVER operating a machine dry is just plain basphemy! It's difficult to pull over and check for bearing wear from 10,000 feet.

Dry = Excess friction.

I'll never shoot competitively any more but I need my toys/tools to work!
Auto mechanic here.
I do trust in oil for premature wear prevention, a couple mags here and there never hurt anything though. If im headed to the range i do lubricate, but for carry i like 'em dry- just easier to clean up. Been doing that for over a decade and they always go bang dry or dripping. I have found excessive fouling in striker channels from too much oil when it mixes with carbon but we're talking a lot of shooting.
Looks like a sweet pistol you picked up.
enjoy it, friend.
 
Thank you ALL for feedback!

One good thing about getting older, you realize you are not ALWAYS correct!
 
I have been shooting handguns for 16 years, off and on.

Semi-Auto #1: 2005 production Colt O1091 .45ACP. First jam at about 125 rounds, and occasionally thereafter no matter what i do.
Semi-Auto #2: 1999-2000 production Glock 23 .40 S&W. Slide locks open with one round left in the magazine. Every mag, every time I've shot it. Any ideas how to fix this, BTW?

Semi-Auto #3: 1999-2000 production Glock 30 .45 ACP. 1 jam after about the first hundred rounds. No issues before or since.

Semi-Auto #4: 2014 production CZ 75B 9mm. 400 rounds through it, plus or minus 50. No jams. Has not been cleaned or lubed in over a year.

Czech dude working on assembly line: "Of course go bang. Is pistol. What use is pistol, if pistol not go bang when pull trigger?"
 
I have some small pistols that actually reccomend a break in period (LCP, P32 and DB9 recently). On each of them I cleaned the gun, lubed it sparingly then racked the gun a few hundred times. Each of these gun that have been said to be somewhat tempermental while breaking in have been 100% since the first round and I now have many hundreds of rounds through each them.

I do own several other pistols... I can't think of any that I have purchased brand new though... Oh wait, XD mod 2 in .45acp. I took the slide off, wiped it down, put it back together then started shooting. It has also been 100% reliable and is at the few thousand round count now. I do also have a Remington R51 that has not made the cut as a carry pistol. My Karh CM9 was one of the first guns I racked several hundred times and it also has been 100% reliable from the first shot.

I do believe that reliability has something to do with the shooter. I have a complete NEWB friend that was able to get my Beretta 92 INOX to malfunction multiple times. I have owned that gun for over 25 years and it has been completely reliable for me. The 92 grip with the Hogue finger groove on it was just to big for his hand and he hasn't developed a good secure grip yet. He bought an XD mod 2 in .45 as his first gun because he shot mine so sell.
 
Last edited:
I personally like 250 rounds... 5 boxes... To feel confident that it runs.

It might defy logic, but I think "older style" guns could use a break in (1911 or all steel or even hammer)... like a cast iron skillet

But the newer plastic fantastic generally don't need aging or seasoning, and seem to run pretty standard... Just like a microwave
 
One of the most common things I've heard about CZ Pistols specifically the 75b is that you need to shoot about a thousand rounds through it before the trigger starts to smooth out. I think that whoever had my 75b before I did already did that because I had a pretty smooth trigger to begin with.

I'm not sure if broken in is the right terminology but I don't consider my handgun suitable for carry until I put them through a defensive pistol class.
 
I have a standard ritual. I rack the slide and let the recoil spring take a set for 48 hrs. Load all magazines to full capacity and let the springs take a set. Then shoot 500 rds of mixed ammo. I then run two boxes of my preferred carry ammo. Is this all necessary? All I can say is I am lucky, all my guns run fine and no problems. My Kahr CW380 did take about 200 rds to break in due to the tight tolerances, but runs great now. I expected that before I bought the gun. However my CM9 ran great from day one.
Last two recent purchase's in the past two months were two more Beretta Nano's and have run with perfection just like the original. And also a third Pistol, a Keltec P32 which had run fine although I only have shot it with three kinds of ammo and my carry ammo, now have 300 rds with no problems.
 
Last edited:
I load up the magazines that came with the gun. If it goes through each of them twice it's good to go. If I get a single failure in that time the gun either goes down the road to someone else or back to the manufacturer. Life is too short to have to deal with unreliable guns.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top