Recycling Carry Ammo

[Deserteagle]

How often do you guys switch out your carry ammo with new rounds? I just realized the ammo I carry is from August. I don't believe ammo goes "bad", but I'm tempted to put this carry ammo down range and replace it with some new stuff. Some casings have some minor marks from swapping mags over the months but nothing significant.

Just looking to see how often you guys swap out your carry ammo

 

[sszakacs]

Once a year for me... don't even have to do it that often but i do anyways.

 

[rksap]

I share your concern. Particularly with the chambered round, which I cycle out so as not to leave unattended firearms loaded. Usually I fire off the jhp rounds in my carry mags whenever I go to the range and then practice with fmj. But range trips can be few and far between when the budget gets low!

 

[kelcarry]

IMO, which is only that and I am not so pretentious to believe it is g-d's law, I believe you answered the question yourself in your thread. Unless Hornady or Speer or someone else says differently, ammo does not go bad--it is just resting in your mag like it would be in your ammo storage box. I can maybe see the bullet in the chamber but even then, it is just "resting" like the rest of it.

 

[Deserteagle]

IMO, which is only that and I am not so pretentious to believe it is g-d's law, I believe you answered the question yourself in your thread. Unless Hornady or Speer or someone else says differently, ammo does not go bad--it is just resting in your mag like it would be in your ammo storage box. I can maybe see the bullet in the chamber but even then, it is just "resting" like the rest of it.

Although you do raise a good point, I also like having excuses to go make purchases at the gun store :wink:

 

[Doug Rowan]

Carry ammo

I usually fire my carry weapon with it's ammo when I head to the range, and then reload out of my stash. But like others said, sitting in a box or in your mag, probably not a huge difference, although I would say my carry ammo is exposed to more changes in humidity, given winter, cold, warm air, cold, warm air, again probably mostly the chambered round. In winter I'm lucky to get to the range once every other month, vs. nice weather once a week

 

[sszakacs]

IMO, which is only that and I am not so pretentious to believe it is g-d's law, I believe you answered the question yourself in your thread. Unless Hornady or Speer or someone else says differently, ammo does not go bad--it is just resting in your mag like it would be in your ammo storage box. I can maybe see the bullet in the chamber but even then, it is just "resting" like the rest of it.

Although you do raise a good point, I also like having excuses to go make purchases at the gun store :wink:

I enjoy spending money at the gun shop as well... but with good self defense rounds costing around $1 a round... i would rather spend my money on something more fun... like a new 1911

 

[Phillip Gain]

My opinion: "Once a year, or as often as you can afford, otherwise."

The less often you change your ammo, and the more often you load and unload your gun; the more often you should inspect the top round in the magazine for bullet setback. This is especially prevalent in .40S&W ammunition for some reason.

 

[Nightmare45]

Although not necessary, as stated ammo does not go bad, about every six months for my carry ammo, just because, visit range about twice a week every week shooting mostly hardball and reload.

 

[Deserteagle]

My opinion: "Once a year, or as often as you can afford, otherwise."

The less often you change your ammo, and the more often you load and unload your gun; the more often you should inspect the top round in the magazine for bullet setback. This is especially prevalent in .40S&W ammunition for some reason.

Thanks for the video!

 

[Grognard Gunny]

I tend to "shoot out" the ammo in my mags first, and go on from there while at the range.

As for ammo "longivity"..... I finally fired out the last of a box of .25 cal I had since '81 just a couple of years ago. Nary a problem.

Good "tip" about the top bullet's potential for slug letback. Comes to follow that giving a mag that little extra "ooomph" to click it in place, will, if the slide/bolt is home, put some pressure down and back on that bullet.

Only load mags when the slide/bolt is open would go a long way to preclude that from happening. On the other hand, the guns I have stashed around the house do not have one in the tube, so I typically shove the mag in with the slide home.

Carry guns? I load with slide open before going out the door, as I carry with one in the tube.

GG

 

[NCIC105]

Yearly for me...

 

[Retired Grunt]

About twice a year for me as well!

 

[Rich M]

Ya know... I havent yet. Only been a year for this gun. Guess I should since I stille have the same load in the carry mag and I dont recall ever replacing bullet 1 for any reason. Just gets put back in the mag when the range mag & rounds get pulled out.

Next trip to the range I think I'll do just that and freshen up.

 

[Finlander]

I worry more about magazines and stripping a round from a magazine than the age of ammo. I've shot a couple boxes of 30 yr. old 357. service ammo w/o any trouble.