cool45auto
Member
6 mos., 1 year, 2 years. What's good?
How often do you rotate your carry ammo?
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Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I replace my carry and home defense ammunition annually, although I'm sure it's good for decades.
Preacherman
Member
At a minimum, every quarter. I take the current loads to the range, shoot them off, and load new rounds. If they've been cycled through a semi-auto action several times, with the possibility of bullet setback, I set them aside until the quarterly "shoot-off" and replace them with fresh anyway.
VaughnT
Member
Interestingly, I don't really rotate so much as I buy new stuff when the gunshow comes to town.
I wear my pistol daily on the job and haven't noticed any problems with reliability even though the ammo is cycled countless times and exposed to all kinds of weather.
For the record, I carry Georgia Arms 230g +P Gold Dots. Accuracy and reliablity has never faltered, though I carry them for six months at a time.
I wear my pistol daily on the job and haven't noticed any problems with reliability even though the ammo is cycled countless times and exposed to all kinds of weather.
For the record, I carry Georgia Arms 230g +P Gold Dots. Accuracy and reliablity has never faltered, though I carry them for six months at a time.
geekWithA.45
Moderator Emeritus
6 months...
In fact, I'm overdue, thanks for the reminder.
The issue, as I understand it, has to do with oils seeping into the case from the mags and mechanism.
Either that, or it's an ammo co rumor designed way to get me to periodically spend $20 on a box of .45
(BTW, there was a documented case of that in the early 90's in Philadelphia. Contractors would tell you that you needed to use super expensive "Plenum" cables for networks due to building codes. I did my research, and called their bluff...nonetheless, I ran into it again, and again)
In fact, I'm overdue, thanks for the reminder.
The issue, as I understand it, has to do with oils seeping into the case from the mags and mechanism.
Either that, or it's an ammo co rumor designed way to get me to periodically spend $20 on a box of .45
(BTW, there was a documented case of that in the early 90's in Philadelphia. Contractors would tell you that you needed to use super expensive "Plenum" cables for networks due to building codes. I did my research, and called their bluff...nonetheless, I ran into it again, and again)
Redlg155
Member
If you routinely carry then you will pretty much be forced to rotate at least every 3-4 months with an auto. All the rechambering and extraction of live rounds scratch them up pretty good. You also have to really watch for bullet setback. Every few days or so I do a check to make sure my "chamber" round isn't setting back.
Good Shooting
Red
Good Shooting
Red
I rotate the 10 rounds I carry out of one magazine into another once a week. Since I've got 4 mags the carry mag gets 3 weeks empty one week full unless I go to the range in which case all get used (I go to the range once or twice a month - 3 or 4 times a month in the summer). About once every 2 or 3 months I'll shoot up the HP's that have been riding in the carry mag and reload it with fresh ammo. It takes about a year to shoot up 50 rounds of HP's that way. This insures that my carry ammo won't be more than a year old in my hands plus however long it sat on the shelves.
FWIW I shoot up the HP's more for the I'm shooting what I carry factor than any worry that it won't shoot because it's old. I've never had a single FTF, FTE, squib load or any other problem with any ammo I've fed my Glock (knock on wood). Hopefully it'll stay that way.
SIDE NOTE: When I shoot up my HP's I usually shoot milk jugs full of water, canned vegetables or anything else lying about that tends to blow up when hit with an HP. It impresses the hell out of my wife and oldest daughter. My daughter's husband acts like it's not cool but he's always trying to hit the can or jug first - hehe... he hasn't done it yet. Old bull, young bull - experience - the great equalizer.
FWIW I shoot up the HP's more for the I'm shooting what I carry factor than any worry that it won't shoot because it's old. I've never had a single FTF, FTE, squib load or any other problem with any ammo I've fed my Glock (knock on wood). Hopefully it'll stay that way.
SIDE NOTE: When I shoot up my HP's I usually shoot milk jugs full of water, canned vegetables or anything else lying about that tends to blow up when hit with an HP. It impresses the hell out of my wife and oldest daughter. My daughter's husband acts like it's not cool but he's always trying to hit the can or jug first - hehe... he hasn't done it yet. Old bull, young bull - experience - the great equalizer.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I use to rotate my duty ammo by shooting it at
qualification times; but now that its not free, I
would say approximately each quarter.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
qualification times; but now that its not free, I
would say approximately each quarter.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
45King
Member
I change every 6 mos. and shoot up the old ammo. I do it because of the possibility (admittedly slim) of oil/solvent contamination of the ammo; bullet set-back from repeated chamberings (these get set aside for "shoot-off" as soon as it becomes evident; ) and lastly, because after riding your belt every day for a long enough time, the powder could get enough shaking to make it start breaking down into smaller granules, thus changing the burn rate, thus changing the pressure. How would you like to touch off a .45ACP round with a pressure of 90,000 CUP? Can you say "detonation"?
Smoke
Member
Quarterly at the longest.....
It's not that I feel the ammo won't be good....it's just that I have a tendancy to want to shoot the stuff.
Smoke.
It's not that I feel the ammo won't be good....it's just that I have a tendancy to want to shoot the stuff.
Smoke.
Tamara
Senior Member
Aside from dedicated practice with the CCW gun...
Every couple weeks while plinking in the back yard, I'll draw my CCW du jour and empty it downrange, then fill 'er back up when I go back inside.
Every couple weeks while plinking in the back yard, I'll draw my CCW du jour and empty it downrange, then fill 'er back up when I go back inside.
fix
Member
I fire my chambered round every night when I get home.
RustyHammer
Member
Fix,
Always wanted to be able to do something like that when I retire:
Get up before sunrise, drink a cup of coffee, watch the sun come up, put up the flag, 'cycle' the weapon of the day, hop on the Harley and start the day ..... nothing fancy, but works for me.
(Right now I have to cycle my rounds about once a month at the range ... switching to second set of 4 mags in carry gun.)
Always wanted to be able to do something like that when I retire:
Get up before sunrise, drink a cup of coffee, watch the sun come up, put up the flag, 'cycle' the weapon of the day, hop on the Harley and start the day ..... nothing fancy, but works for me.
(Right now I have to cycle my rounds about once a month at the range ... switching to second set of 4 mags in carry gun.)
larry_minn
Member
Not really that big of a deal. You can rechamber top two rds many times before set back can occure. BUT IF it chambers hard/you notice anything take a look.
Personally I try to fire carry gun/ammo every few months. Heck even if I just fire top two rds then top it off for next time. You have to know exactly where carry ammo should hit.
Personally I try to fire carry gun/ammo every few months. Heck even if I just fire top two rds then top it off for next time. You have to know exactly where carry ammo should hit.
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