Time change is time to refresh your carry load

[Anchorite]

It’s that weekend….the dreaded time change. This is when I refresh my Colt Agent with 6 new rounds and I unload my G22.3 magazine and load another one with fresh 180s. Same for the Secuity Six house gun.

That 38 and 40 ammo goes into the range bucket. I also replace the batteries in my flashlights (and tv remotes!). It’s been my ritual for almost 30 years now to freshen up at time change in the fall and spring. Who else does such things?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I shoot my carry guns , Always fresh ammo in them.

 

[Spats McGee]

It’s that weekend….the dreaded time change. This is when I refresh my Colt Agent with 6 new rounds and I unload my G22.3 magazine and load another one with fresh 180s. Same for the Secuity Six house gun.

That 38 and 40 ammo goes into the range bucket. I also replace the batteries in my flashlights (and tv remotes!). It’s been my ritual for almost 30 years now to freshen up at time change in the fall and spring. Who else does such things?

Traditionally, I haven't rotated on a regular basis, but it's not a bad idea at all.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Clean the filter in the septic tank.

 

[Charlie98]

Clean the filter in the septic tank.

I thought Election Day wasn't until the 7th?


I try to turn my carry ammos over about every 6 months... in fact, I just ordered 2 boxes of Gold Dots as replacement stock. I generally cycle the magazine I have in my carry pistol when I go to the range, even if that's not the pistol I'm shooting, but the past few years I had to be careful... I needed to make sure I had replacement ammos for it!!

 

[dh1633pm]

I practice enough with my carry (not that I carry, the one next to the bed) that the ammo is always fresh. In fact I am going to shoot it today.

 

[FL-NC]

I was given a few boxes of +p+ Federal 9mm 10+ years ago that I loaded into all of my Glocks (I have a substantial amount of them) that I keep loaded and at the ready. Some was also in my carry gun (shield 9). I decided a few months ago that it may be time to put something newer into my pistols, so I fired off what was in them, in the guns they were loaded in. All worked without a single hiccup. The only thing I rotate is magazines. I got LOTS of magazines, and they are color coded on the floor plate. Right now I have white mags loaded. Thanksgiving I will unload them and put the ammo in the red dot mags and reload the pistols. I will repeat the process on my birthday in late May (about 6 months after thanksgiving, give or take a couple days). I have another stash of mags haphazardly thrown into a rubber maid bucket for the range.

 

[jmorris]

Now you have me wondering how many people don’t shoot their carry guns for so long they feel they need fresh ammunition in them.

I wouldn’t think shooting the thing at least twice a year would be a bad idea. I don’t think I would have much confidence in something to save my life if I used it that little. Much less if I never used it and just swapped the ammo I kept in it.

 

[Buzznrose]

Good thread. I admit I’ve got some old carry ammo in mags that is definitely due to be replaced.

Need to think about this one….

 

[Charlie98]

I wouldn’t think shooting the thing at least twice a year would be a bad idea.

It always astounds me when I talk carry pieces with people and they haven't shot it since certification/recert, or last year, or last decade. I'm not exactly Smooth Operator or anything, but I at least shoot my carry piece once a month.

 

[trackskippy]

I change the batteries in my optics this time each year. Ammo in the guns/mags gets shot here and there throughout the year.

 

[armoredman]

Well, I change my ammo once a year, but being in AZ, I never change my clock.

 

[The Night Rider]

I have a reminder in my phone every year on January 1st I change my carry ammunition

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

William Fairbairn wrote that when he served with the Shanghai Police he had his officers fire off their carry ammunition and replace them with fresh rounds every 3 months.

 

[HudsonFan]

When y'all are practicing with your carry guns, do you 100% use your carry ammo, or some range ammo also? I use the good stuff sometimes, but for how much I shoot can't justify the cost.

 

[trackskippy]

I use my reloads that duplicate the weight and velocity of what I carry. I get to shoot a lot more for the same money.

 

[lightman]

It’s that weekend….the dreaded time change. This is when I refresh my Colt Agent with 6 new rounds and I unload my G22.3 magazine and load another one with fresh 180s. Same for the Secuity Six house gun.

That 38 and 40 ammo goes into the range bucket. I also replace the batteries in my flashlights (and tv remotes!). It’s been my ritual for almost 30 years now to freshen up at time change in the fall and spring. Who else does such things?

I don't exactly do this but I should start. I'll also add changing the batteries in the Smoke and CO2 alarms.

 

[Anchorite]

I don't exactly do this but I should start. I'll also add changing the batteries in the Smoke and CO2 alarms.

I used to do this on my birthday, but decided it made more sense at time change since I had to change the clocks/watches. Just became habit for me over the last twenty plus years. I feel better knowing I’ve “touched” everything twice a year, if that makes sense.

 

[armoredman]

William Fairbairn wrote that when he served with the Shanghai Police he had his officers fire off their carry ammunition and replace them with fresh rounds every 3 months.

With the wild fluctuations in ammo availability from the Plandemic, that was simply not an option. However, things have gotten better and I shot off my old carry rounds just a few weeks ago, with predictably good results.

 

[epags]

Clean the filter in the septic tank.

Eh? Is that a 'snipe hunt' type comment? Like a left handed monkey wrench?
I hope so since I have had two homes with septic tanks (with distribution fields) for 7 years each and never had to touch them.
Please elaborate.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Eh? Is that a 'snipe hunt' type comment? Like a left handed monkey wrench?
I hope so since I have had two homes with septic tanks (with distribution fields) for 7 years each and never had to touch them.
Please elaborate.

Newer septic systems have a plastic filter that needs to be cleaned a couple time each year. Takes just a couple minutes with a garden hose.

 

[epags]

Thanks for the update. Glad I am now on city (town) sewer system.

 

[Riomouse911]

Always a good idea to rotate carry ammo, change batteries, check tire pressure, etc. on a schedule like that.

When I was first anointed head rangemaster at my former employer I had the sworn staff shoot their duty rifle ammo optimally every year, but at minimum every other year. (Some guys missed range days for various reasons like injury leave, but it was always preferable that they do it annually.)

Sidearm duty ammo was fired, or at minimum replaced, annually.

I started this back in 2009 because I found out guys had duty ammo in extra mags that was so old the leather magazine pouches were starting to form verdigris on the cases and bullets. (Completely unacceptable!!)

Stay safe.

 

[hutch51]

Carry three mags loaded with SD ammo, one in the weapon and the other two in the left rear pocket.. Shoot it up about every 6 to 8 months and load fresh. Bought a case a few years ago and still working on it.
Otherwise range time is ball ammo.
Both are 230 grain 45ACP.
No problems.

 

[2zulu1]

Fortunately we don't need to change our clocks, when the West Coast changes their time, the Mountain states change to our time, which stays the same all year.

I recently came across a 50ct box of handloaded 2008 .357mag ammo, still accurate and all fired in a Colt Python.