What is reliability in a handgun?

[AEA]

I don't feel like I need to fire thousands of rounds though a new pistol in order to establish reliability, and my life is not cheap either.

I take a new gun to the range, run 150-200 rounds of practice ammo through it, and if it runs well, then I'll fire a couple of magazines of SD ammo through it. If it digests the SD ammo, then I'm good to go and I don't worry about it anymore.

My guns accumulate lint, pretty much like anyone else's. During summer, I'll get sweat on a pistol, although "soaked in sweat" would be a gross exaggeration. I inspect my carry pistols periodically between range trips for lint/dirt. If a rag and a Q-tip will take care of it, I wipe them down. If it looks worse than that, I'll strip and clean them. BUT... I am not anal about this stuff.

All of my carry pistols go to the range with me, and they all get fired. 50 to 100 rounds of practice ammo through each one is enough to satisfy me. Also, when I clean them, I inspect and function test them.

And then I move on with my life.

Well said!