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With ammo prices being what they are today, I honestly can't afford to shoot 200+ rounds of TAP, Critical Defense, etc. through a pistol before trusting it as my EDC (maybe that's why I got a Glock ). I consistently see folks saying they use JHP / Defense ammo to test the trustworthiness of a side arm.

How do you test it?

(I fall in to option 2 being honest...maybe two mags of quality ammo)

I always shoot at least fifty rounds of my self defense carry out of a new weapon. First I shoot a 100-150 rounds of practice ammo. Then I run fifty rounds through her. On my future range visits, my self defense rounds are always the first rounds I shoot out of my everyday carry. I shoot all the rounds in it, then I empty the spare magazine. It helps me to feel confident that if I must use my weapon, the rounds in it will function properely. When done shooting for the day, I reload all fresh self defense rounds into my weapon and my spare magazine... of the same brand.

03Lightningrocks wrote:I always shoot at least fifty rounds of my self defense carry out of a new weapon. First I shoot a 100-150 rounds of practice ammo. Then I run fifty rounds through her. On my future range visits, my self defense rounds are always the first rounds I shoot out of my everyday carry. I shoot all the rounds in it, then I empty the spare magazine. It helps me to feel confident that if I must use my weapon, the rounds in it will function properely. When done shooting for the day, I reload all fresh self defense rounds into my weapon and my spare magazine... of the same brand.

I do the same.

Joe

Ditto here, a few magazines through the gun first (using the mags I will be carrying) then just shoot my carry ammo first at the range and refill with fresh carry rounds before leaving. I wouldn't want my defensive rounds to go stale, they taste terrible

JRG wrote:

03Lightningrocks wrote:I always shoot at least fifty rounds of my self defense carry out of a new weapon. First I shoot a 100-150 rounds of practice ammo. Then I run fifty rounds through her. On my future range visits, my self defense rounds are always the first rounds I shoot out of my everyday carry. I shoot all the rounds in it, then I empty the spare magazine. It helps me to feel confident that if I must use my weapon, the rounds in it will function properely. When done shooting for the day, I reload all fresh self defense rounds into my weapon and my spare magazine... of the same brand.

I do the same.

Joe

Your poll was limited in choices so I chose the closest thing,, option 3.
however.

My personal method is 1000 rds of what ever, run what ya brung. WWB, REM, cheapo, MONARCH, what ever... Once thats done, no repeated or unexplained FFT, FFE, and no more then a wipe down every range session (1000rds is 3-4 sessions) If it's running well.. then 3 box of three possible carry ammo (one box each), to check feed issues.. Pick one brand / style from that and fire 100 rds in a single session.. If all goes well... I now have a new carry gun.

Any stoppage in the 100rd trial means, fix the issue and try again.

I only shoot FMJ, even for carry, My Glock 30 has fired S & B 230 grain ball from the beginning. Never had a hiccup ( except when the slide stop broke and the slide came off). Every once in a while i'll shoot some other brands of ball ammo, but normally it's S & B.

Ammo costs are high
Medical costs are higher

I've been buying the Remington UMC 9mm JHP at Wal-Mart for $27/100 for practice. That makes for a pretty good EDC if you can't afford $1/pill for the good stuff. I carry PDX1 or Critical Defense, but I've only shot 8-10 rounds through each gun with zero problems. My XD isn't finicky...it just works every time.

I try to run enough rounds of affordable FMJ through a new gun to break it in and ensure reliability. I will then run a magazine or two of SD ammo through it to ensure function. During regular range trips, I use practice FMJ; and once in a great while, when I have carried a batch of SD ammo for a while, I will shoot it also and then reload with fresh ammo. I do this primarily to expend ammo that has been cycled through the gun several times while loading/unloading so as to burn up rounds before they can have too much bullet set back.

I realize that my methods are somewhat lackadaisical, but I do what I can afford to do. The comparison of ammo cost to medical care cost notwithstanding, ammo still requires cash on hand. I do what I can. What I need to do is get busy with reloading my pistol ammo for practice. Been loading rifle ammo for a while now.

My approach is much like that of bronco78. Lots of whatever ammo you can afford. I want at least a 1000 rounds through the firearm without inexplicable problems before I am confident in using it as an EDC. I test fire several brands of SD ammunition before I decide what I will carry.

Since I only have one carry pistol I've only had to do it once. I put 250rds of FMJ range ammo through it and then put about 50rds of my carry ammo through it. I recently switched from Hornady Critical Defence 185gr to Ranger 230gr +p and ran about 50 of those to make sure they felt right and worked. In between I've put another 200rds of FMJ through to stay proficient. Money is tight so I can't really shoot as much as I would like anymore and certainly can't afford to blaze away with expensive carry ammo.

So far not the slightest hiccup from my M&P 45c and I'm confident that I can shoot it as accurate as can be expected with adreneline pumping furiously through my veins, but I certainly won't be winning camp perry or anything...

I think we all do what "WE" feel works for us. The main thing is to get out there and shoot. I know too many who carry that NEVER shoot, or at least not more than once in a blue moon.

Me personaly I see no reason it should take 1000 rounds to see if a gun works. Sure, if during the first 100 it has problems then the problems need to be worked on till they go away. I like to run as much as I can through any weapon I am going to carry, however if it eats and poops everything I give it without a belch or a hickup I think we're good to go. Another thing I like to do is let other people shoot it too. It shows me it is not picky about grip, wrist, trigger finger, speed, etc. I did just that Friday with my UCII and my PF9 with two other shooters. No problems with either one.

First trip to the range with a new carry-intended gun is expensive... I try to pick up a variety of ammo and give it all a try... FMJ of various weights, HP's of more than one make/weight. As much variety as I can find.

Last time I picked up 100 rounds of WWB FMJ for a reasonable cost at Wally World, 50 rounds of Remmington JHP (not too expensive), had some Golden Sabre and Gold Dot JHP's in the house too.... Also, I had just joined the NRA using that BassPro deal so I had a $25 BassPro gift card that I used to pick up 2 additional boxes of SD ammo... I shot everything, including one box of the new SD ammo. Maybe 275 rounds total that day... Took the last box of the new SD ammo home, cleaned the gun and loaded it with the SD ammo.

For a new semiautomatic handgun intended for carry, this is what I like to do:

#1 General disassembly of the handgun into barrel, slide, recoil spring assembly and frame; inspect for anything that does not look right (this ought to be done before final purchase/settlement).

#2 General cleaning of the handgun to eliminate any overlubrication or barrel preservative from the factory, obvious or not, followed by appropriate lubrication.

#3 Shoot fifty rounds of inspected factory FMJ ammunition; clean the barrel after every round for the first five rounds, then clean the barrel after every five rounds until the fifty rounds are expended. This is what I remember from reading a certain manufacturer's recommendations for breaking in their stainless rifle barrels. It is probably over-the-top for handguns, but I feel better (cathartic? ) after doing this.

#4 General cleaning/lubrication of the handgun---essentially repeating #2, but with an objective of eliminating residue from #3, general re-inspection and preparing the handgun for #5.

#5 Follow the procedures outlined in the Personal Defense Ammunition Functional Reliability Test for Semiautomatic Handguns (http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs25.htm) as closely as range rules and other circumstances allow.