How many rounds do you fire before carrying a new handgun?

tricolordad

tricolordad

Banned
Usually, I fire about 200-300 rounds to test it's reliability, ammo preferences, feel and to gain a good level of proficiency with a new gun. Once I know it intimately, I carry it. So...400? I just bought a new one, so it got me thinking...how much testing do you put yours through?

My latest, 500 and some change. Not a hiccup, achieve an average of a 2.5" group from 20 or so yards. Putting it in the holster when I go out in an hour. I think I shot more because it's been a while since I got some practice. Feels good! Made some HP out of Serbian surplus, too!
 
With my Glocks, I shoot 1 or 2 rounds just to make sure it fires. After that, I check for wear around 10,000 or so.
 
300 is my standard. However, all weapons are different and some just perform better after 500 rounds. I get to 500 rounds pretty quick because I bring family and friends to the range and have them shoot my guns as well. My SR1911 had Failure to eject issues a few times during the first 50 rounds, after that not a failure of any kind. Tight springs are the reason for many failure issues. Also, a highly polished feed ramp helps to eliminate some issues.
Remember, these are just my personal observations.
 
I put a couple hundred through my 10mm before setting the 40 aside. I make sure if I switch up carry ammo that I fire a 50 round box to see if it eats them up ok.

I did see if I could make my glock fail by "limp wristing" it and sure enough, it can be done but it's scary doing it... My normal grip works well though.
 
Michael Ramsey said:
I put a couple hundred through my 10mm before setting the 40 aside. I make sure if I switch up carry ammo that I fire a 50 round box to see if it eats them up ok.

I did see if I could make my glock fail by "limp wristing" it and sure enough, it can be done but it's scary doing it... My normal grip works well though.
Click to expand...

On a serious note, I have run into limp wristing as well. It happened to me with a G27 that I couldn't get a proper grip on without the extension.
I considered a G29 for carry, and had a couple of them, but found my target reacquisition to be slower and the pattern of triple shots was 6-8" at 25 ft. So I carry a G30 and get triples in 3" at 25 ft. (Over the years, I have conditioned myself to always launched 2 or 3, never just one.)
I do have a G20 OD model with a picatinny rail and red dot for hunts, and do pretty well with that. :smile:
 
On all my pistols I take them down and dry them out so there is no lube in it. it is all baire metal then I run it hard on the range i run drills work on draws anything I can do for at least 300 minimal rounds then I go home and with my drimal I buff out every friction mark and run it with and only FrogLube. I shoot 3 gun and iron man and have been doing this for years never a issue.
 
With a new model/style I would not feel good with anything less than 100, with a 1911 I would test for ammo function and mags then if I group well I would carry. Glocks are funny, for me, and I would want to feel it if it were anything other than a Model 22 Gen 4.
 
JSDinTexas said:
On a serious note, I have run into limp wristing as well. It happened to me with a G27 that I couldn't get a proper grip on without the extension.
I considered a G29 for carry, and had a couple of them, but found my target reacquisition to be slower and the pattern of triple shots was 6-8" at 25 ft. So I carry a G30 and get triples in 3" at 25 ft. (Over the years, I have conditioned myself to always launched 2 or 3, never just one.)
I do have a G20 OD model with a picatinny rail and red dot for hunts, and do pretty well with that. :smile:
Click to expand...

I understand that feeling. I've been using a 20 mag with grip extension but couple weeks ago got a +2 for the 10 mags which gives very good grip. I like the +2 better than the 20 with extension because the extension gives you a tiny gap which will pinch the stuffing out of your little finger.

I have noticed that the second shot if done super fast is about 3" higher than the first at the 10 yard range so if I get my groups tight, it does take longer to get 3 shots down range. I've been looking at the extended ported 10mm barrels and maybe even a stiffer spring to get less muzzle flip.

HEh10GO.jpg
 
If I get 100 rounds without a failure, I trust it. I don't shoot a lot, but so far if I get 100 rounds without a failure, then I seem to make it to 200 rounds without a failure as well, and 300, and 400, etc. I have had a few guns in the past that had failures within the first 20 rounds. If it fails a second time within 100 more rounds, I sell it. But that's just me.
 
I shot 80 rounds, mixed loads per mag. It's on my hip every day.
S&W M&P FS.40 cal. I trust this gun to go bang every time I pull the trigger.Link Removed
 
Michael Ramsey said:
I put a couple hundred through my 10mm before setting the 40 aside. I make sure if I switch up carry ammo that I fire a 50 round box to see if it eats them up ok.

I did see if I could make my glock fail by "limp wristing" it and sure enough, it can be done but it's scary doing it... My normal grip works well though.
Click to expand...

I don't know that mentally I could hold the gun so lightly and pull the trigger. You just know bad things are going to happen.
 
100 - 200 rounds is the normal for me before I will start carrying it, sure I want to make sure there are no malfunctions but I want to be accurate with it as well. Probably 300 in my 1911, Several failures in the first 100 but determinied it was two of the magizines. Broke in nicely now. Never have had a failure in any of my Glocks, 100's of rounds in each. Really like the Glocks. I did have some failures in the LC9 when a friend was shooting it many months ago when it was brand new. This was determined to be caused by limp wristing as I have never had any issues with it.
 
The EAA Witness in 10mm had recoil slide lock issues. It took 500 rounds and several adjustments to the 3 mags before I found success. Also polishing the backside of the fireing pin surface was rough. Sending the gun into EAA found no resolution or nothing wrong when I first got the gun. Maybe some of the springs loosened up but zero failures after 500 rounds....YES!!!!:laugh:
 
Some firearms require a little "break-in" or minor adjustments before they function the way they should. Once I have reached that point (that could be anywhere from 50-300 rds or so...), for me, it's 200 rds with no malfunctions of any kind using the type of ammunition I will be using when carrying. Nothing is certain in life, but you want to be as certain as you can about your firearm's performance, since you may someday be relying on it to defend yourself or family. If I want to change ammo type? Another 200 rds of malfunction-free performance before it's "duty" ammo.
 
I honestly think the question should be "How many rounds do you fire through a specific gun type before you BUY it?" After I buy what I like, I'll shoot it until I'm comfortable with it. No round count. For my Ruger P95 After about 50rounds I was OK with it. It was similar to what I carry in the service, just a matter of trusting the gun, and familiarizing yourself with the position and function of the "accessories" (mag release, slide release, safety/decock etc.) With my LC9 It took longer. I have big hands and it took a little getting used to. I would not have purchased it without the "pinky extension" or whatever you call it on the magazine. Short answer, trust it and trust yourself with it.
 
Usually between 6 and 18. Sometimes a few more if I am shooting different types of ammo through it (different points of impact). But really, if the first six hit where they are supposed to hit, I am usually happy to carry it.


Ah, the pleasures of carrying a revolver . . .
 
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