Ammo durability

Z

Zundfolge

New member
I have 10 Corbon 135gr JHP I keep loaded in my Steyr M40.

However when I go to the range, instead of burning through my last 10 hollow points, I flip all the rounds out of the magazine and leave them at home. Then I put them back in the magazine when I return.

I've noticed several scratches on them and am begining to wonder if what I'm doing is wise.

How many times can I keep pulling the bullets out of the magazine and putting them back in before they start to wear out?
 
I don't think you have a thing to worry about. You might want to get another magazine...you can leave it loaded with the defense ammo...then you can change it out with another magazine once every other month to give the magazine spring a break.
My .02
VF
 
I think the main thing you want to do is rotate the round that you keep in the pipe, since the extractor is what will chew up your cases the most.

You'll probably want to replace your carry ammo with fresh ammo at least once a year, so I doubt magazine wear will be appreciable after a year of use -- I've had no problems with mine.

You may also want to consider getting a couple of spare range mags and just leave your defensive mags loaded all the time.
 
It will take a lot of scratching to harm the cases. I think I would take any sharp edges off the magazine lips, though, on general principles.

Speaking of general priniciples, I do not like the idea of practice with one kind of ammo while carrying another. There is too much chance that a gun/magazine which functions perfectly with the practice ammo will fail with the carry ammo. Also, there is a better chance that the two won't shoot to the same point of impact.

I recommend that each range session end with shooting up the carry load in the mag(s) (and some more of same) and then reloading with that ammo. This keeps the ammo fresh and also checks out the gun/mag with the carry ammo each range session.

(I had a discussion with a guy who had kept his few expensive HP super rounds for carry and shot el cheapo on the range, with no problems. One day he decided to shoot the "good stuff" that he was staking his life on. Result was 12 jams in 15 rounds. Nuff sed.)

Jim
 
Many will recommend that you rotate your carry ammo every six months or so anyway. If it starts looking bad, I would fire it and replace it.
 
I worry more about bullets working themselves loose while carrying instead of scratches from reloading the magazine. Keeping a magazine for your carry ammunition is something that I do and I rotate magazines about once a month.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top