How many rounds?

[Dietrich]

At what point do you deem a handgun reliable enough for carry purposes?Most of us choose some form of hollow point ammunition for self defense purposes so how many rounds of it do you put through the gun to make sure it feeds properly?I usually fire around 300 rounds of FMJ target ammo and then at least 100 rounds of JHP self defense ammo.If the gun functions perfectly firing those rounds,I feel that it`s good to go.I would like to know what the rest of you do to put a new gun through its` paces.Thanks,D.

[melissa5]

The Gen 3 Glocks are pretty much ready to go out of the box, but I still run 50 - 100 FMJs and 25 Gold Dots through them just in case.

Everything else, I double those numbers and then see how I feel about the gun.

[ripley16]

No set number for me. I've only carried a couple guns in the 36 years I've done so. I usually shoot several hundred just getting familiar the gun and shoot several boxes of whatever carry round I end up using, after testing several brands to find said round.

The only gun I started using after only one range trip was my HK P2000sk, but at that point I was already a HK fan and very confident in the quality of the brand.

When looking at the Kahr P45 as a potential CCW I shot over 800 rounds before dropping it from consideration.

When looking at the Kahr P9 as a potential replacement for the HK, I fired over 500 rounds before feeling warm and cozy with it's reliability. Based on prior bad experiences with the P45 and a CW9, I needed convincing.

The gun I shot the least was my old and trusty Seecamp. I can't recall how many rounds I put through it before it went in my pocket, but based on it's reputation and the actual results I produced, (no failures), it was, as I recall, only two or three mags worth, maybe as much as a full box of 50, but not more.

[jocko]

One can shoot these glocks, kahrs, smiths, HK for 500 rounds and never a glitch and then when u need it, it might go south. We can't predict what that next trigger pull will produce. If 50 rounds makes you feel good about your gun, then 50 rounds it is. 500 for some make sum feel good, so 500 it is.

all we can do is keep it clean, lubed and properly serviced and thenh shoot it like u stole it. sometimes I also think we blame the gun for a one or two time glitch that maybe is our fault to. Guns can't talk back, so for most it is always the guns fault. If my gun goes bang every time I can forgive it ,,, if it fails to lock open once or twice..

some buy a gun shoot it a 100 or so rounds kand load it up with defense stuff and then it sits and is hardly shot. I guess I take the other route, I feel my 3 kahrs are built like a brick sh-t house, so I shoot my defense gun 24/7. It is my defense gun and I want to know it as well as I do my wife, etc. U ain't gonna wear out a good gun, actually muy PM9 is so so so smooth today that it is not the same gun as 1000 of its first rounds, and I swear u can look at my PM9 today and it looks new, with virtually not a sign of wear anywhere. almost like the slide is riding on air. Maybe I just got a good one, but I think not. Would you trust your kahr less at 32,000 rounds like mine has thanone with a 1000 rounds???

[TheTman]

I like to put together 200 trouble free rounds at least. 1 FTF, FTE, or stovepipe, and the count starts over. I have one pistol, a Star Model 30 in 9mm, that has never passed the test. Mostly it stovepipes. So that one is put away and only comes out for target practice once in awhile.
One SD ammo, I can't afford a whole lot, so if can get 50 troublefree rounds after the initial 200 with FMJ, then I call it good to go.

[Bawanna]

I like to put together 200 trouble free rounds at least. 1 FTF, FTE, or stovepipe, and the count starts over. I have one pistol, a Star Model 30 in 9mm, that has never passed the test. Mostly it stovepipes. So that one is put away and only comes out for target practice once in awhile.
One SD ammo, I can't afford a whole lot, so if can get 50 troublefree rounds after the initial 200 with FMJ, then I call it good to go.

That's pretty much what I do. I really like to get at least 500 practice and 300 or so carry type ammo with zero glitches. At the cost of ammo thats hard to do for me anymore. I've pretty much got my carry wardrobe done now also so I seldom have to do that anymore either.
It's all about confidence as always, if you feel good with it and have faith in it, your there.

[knkali]

for me its 50 rnd trouble free. My gun is broke in and this weekend its to the range. I will put 50 through it. If it doesnt hiccup then I am good to go. I also include shooter error too. If the gun is really sensitive to my input as to causing the hiccup then it isnt good for me to carry either.

[JimBianchi]

Since I've had a few guns fail me over the years, my testing procedure has evolved to a much more strict standard for carry weapons. All my SD guns now go though a rigorous test before I bet my life on them. (I've been carrying, were legal, since 1988)

Generally, a 1000rds of mixed ball and JHP ammo, all mags, all holsters. Practice shooting on the move, range time and from the holster.

I can do it over a week, two at the most.

During all this I will also shoot a minimum of 150rds of my carry ammo. In the rare case I run out of carry ammo (127+p+ became scare recently) I will start over with my new choice.

Currently all my 9mm's are using HST 147. I have enough on hand to remain proficient for several years, and I could even break in a new 9 if I needed to.

When I was carrying only my G30 6 years ago, Double Tap 230grn +p was my SD ammo. They raised the price so high that it became cost effective to switch to a more mainstream manufacture, Win Ranger T 230grn.

Just as important as gun reliability, are failure drills, drop drills and movement and cover drills. You should be as reliable as your gun.

While I am proficient with all my guns, I generally only carry a GLOCK (90%) or Kahr (10%). Both have similar triggers and I find I shoot them the same and can switch between them without any hiccups.

Practice makes permanent.

[knkali]

Since I've had a few guns fail me over the years, my testing procedure has evolved to a much more strict standard for carry weapons. All my SD guns now go though a rigorous test before I bet my life on them. (I've been carrying, were legal, since 1988)

Generally, a 1000rds of mixed ball and JHP ammo, all mags, all holsters. Practice shooting on the move, range time and from the holster.

I can do it over a week, two at the most.

During all this I will also shoot a minimum of 150rds of my carry ammo. In the rare case I run out of carry ammo (127+p+ became scare recently) I will start over with my new choice.

Currently all my 9mm's are using HST 147. I have enough on hand to remain proficient for several years, and I could even break in a new 9 if I needed to.

When I was carrying only my G30 6 years ago, Double Tap 230grn +p was my SD ammo. They raised the price so high that it became cost effective to switch to a more mainstream manufacture, Win Ranger T 230grn.

Just as important as gun reliability, are failure drills, drop drills and movement and cover drills. You should be as reliable as your gun.

While I am proficient with all my guns, I generally only carry a GLOCK (90%) or Kahr (10%). Both have similar triggers and I find I shoot them the same and can switch between them without any hiccups.

Practice makes permanent.

"Just as important as gun reliability, are failure drills, drop drills and movement and cover drills. You should be as reliable as your gun."

Great point!

[jocko]

"Just as important as gun reliability, are failure drills, drop drills and movement and cover drills. You should be as reliable as your gun."

not sure how old your are either but when u get my age some of those drills are just not something I practice or intend to practice. My gun is probably more reliable than I am, but it also doesn' have the miles on it that I have.

[O'Dell]

If the pistol doesn't exhibit any problems early on which is usually the case, about 250 to 300 with half being carry rounds does it for me.

Jocko, you seem pretty reliable to me, but then there's that PM9 of yours .........

[jocko]

so true, maybe more durable than reliable but if I like you, I will be there for u, but if I don't, well there's that damn PM9 of mine.!!!

[Bawanna]

so true, maybe more durable than reliable but if I like you, I will be there for u, but if I don't, well there's that damn PM9 of mine.!!!

Or the fish heads, don't forget the fish heads. And if they are really on the ca ca list horse heads rule the day. I feel qualified to talk, I have 3 under the bed so as not to scare the missus but they are getting a bit ripe.
Trying to be kind so I can move back to the fish head level, easier to dispose of.

[jocko]

but it took 3 horseheads for u to getthe point. I knew u were a slow learner. An with theeconomyt like it is, I have went to fish heads, the symbol is basically the same to those who receive one and it is better over all for the horse industry to. I use alot of carp for around here they are plentiful and we use um for fertilizer..

I have to make my yearly mecca to Italy to requalify to be able to send horse heads . U see the Italians eat the damn horses, so heads are everywhere. thats really the true story of how horseheads started to appear. The Italians just wanted to clean up their back yards alittle. Damn truth, so help me jocko

[melissa5]

Italy???? OMG, he's in the mafia! Is Jocko short for Giacomo?