EDC Ammo lifespan?

M

Madball6

New member
How long do you keep your defensive ammo before burning it off at the range and putting new ammo in your EDC setup?
 
Every time I go to the range, I burn off two to three magazines / cylinders of my "carry" ammo.

So as it moves through my practice schedule I'd guess 3 to six months.
 
I went to the range last weekend and fired off 2 boxes of .45 stuff I reloaded in 1998. No problems, although I don't think I would bet my life on it. I have heard of people shooting .45 stuff that was 20/25 years old.
 
I like to shoot what I carry after using up my range fodder. I just use up what I have loaded plus a backup mag. It's just to stay familiarized with how it handles. Then I reload using the good stuff, saving it for that "rainy day" or my next trip to the range. Depending on what I'm carrying that day of the week, I may or may not go through a whole box. This seems like a simple rotation schedule that works for me.

Ooops...Before my last trip about a week ago, I wasn't able to get to a range for about 2 months or so prior. But usually, it's at least once a month.
 
My EDC is those expensive "safety rounds".

I fired a mag to be sure they cycle well.

I'll be sure to test them in another ten years, God willing.
 
I used to change it out every 3 to 6 months. Then I realized how expensive and useless a practice it was to do it. Now I may do it once a year-ish.
 
8 months havnt changed out yet. I will after the summer months.

$35 a box for 50. Not something to shoot for fun.

I might just start carrying one magazine full HP rounds and the rest FMJ, I doubt I will ever get in a SD fight, but I carry 3 magazines always. Even if I did get in one, I doubt I use the whole magazine, so why waste $30ish on 3 full magazines? just carry 1 full of good ammo and the other two with FMJ.
 
I shoot my carry ammo once a year, even then it is dome more to check and verify the magazine function than because of ammo ...
 
I have several carry guns in my rotation. Some get carried more than others so I have adopeted a system. Every gun has an extra mag or speed loader whenever the ammo in speed loaader or the top round in the extra mag gets tarnished. I shoot the spare use the ammo in the gun to replacce the spare ammo and load the gun with fresh ammo.
 
Don't know as I have ever put a time frame on ammo. I replace it as needed. Over the years I have shot some some mil surplus ammo that dated to the late 40s-50s. Never had any not shoot.

Never understood why some folks think the powder degrades any faster in the cartridge VS storage. Might be interesting to find out how long the cartridges sat on a shelf before they were bought by the shooter.

I generally don't go swimming with my guns, so I can rule out submersion in water. Since I CCW, the gun is always concealed by an outer garment and doesn't see drastic temperature changes even in the winter.

Guess when to swap it out is a personal decision.
 
I think changing out active self defense rounds about once a year is good enough. Summer can make changes to ammunition that can be erosive. And it gives you a chance to shoot good self defense rounds that you carry.
 
Wow, huge disparities here, I was considering using my Birthday as a "buy new SD rounds day" but people here cycling out SD ammo every 4-8 weeks??!!? that seems abnormally excessive. I'm all for shooting what you carry, i always buy two boxes when i buy SD rounds, on to shoot, one to carry (gotta know it does what its supposed to) but I really can't see any modern bullet being of questionable reliability after 4 weeks.
 
I rotate my EDC ammo to satisfy my need rather than any worries over my ammo getting stale. Otherwise, I've never read anything officially stating that there was anything wrong with doing it periodically.

Different strokes for different folks.
 
Wow, huge disparities here, I was considering using my Birthday as a "buy new SD rounds day" but people here cycling out SD ammo every 4-8 weeks??!!? that seems abnormally excessive. I'm all for shooting what you carry, i always buy two boxes when i buy SD rounds, on to shoot, one to carry (gotta know it does what its supposed to) but I really can't see any modern bullet being of questionable reliability after 4 weeks.
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I didn't say I was worried about "stale" ammo. Maybe I misread the question. Stale ammo is a NON ISSUE.

The amount of carry ammo I shoot when I practice (at least twice a month) lasts about six months.

Worry about practicing more - not about ammo "going bad" what ever that may mean
 
Wow, huge disparities here, I was considering using my Birthday as a "buy new SD rounds day" but people here cycling out SD ammo every 4-8 weeks??!!? that seems abnormally excessive. I'm all for shooting what you carry, i always buy two boxes when i buy SD rounds, on to shoot, one to carry (gotta know it does what its supposed to) but I really can't see any modern bullet being of questionable reliability after 4 weeks.
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You didn't ask how long ammo would stay "good". You merely asked at what interval the shooters here changed out their carry ammo.

I have no schedule for changing ammo in my carry guns. When it gets shot up, I put more in the gun. I have one rimfire pistol that hadn't been shot empty in several years. After shooting a rabbit, ground squirrel, or 'coon, I'd top the mag off. The other day, my BIL and I were shooting, and I let him try that pistol. All of the cartridges fired and fed perfectly, which was no surprise at all to me. I would not expect otherwise.

I have a couple cases of shotgun shells that are some 20 years old, and they still shoot fine. I bought a new pistol chambered in .40 S&W last summer, and I've been shooting up a supply of ammo that I had from a previous pistol that I sold in 2002. It all shoots and functions perfectly, and I'd have no problem carrying it other than prefering a more "modern" bullet in my carry load.

If you change out your carry ammo every year, or even every 5 or 10 years, you should expect it to work perfectly. If you carry a semi-auto, just be sure that re-chambered ammo doesn't have a bullet that's slipped deeper into the case. I've never had a problem with this issue, but I've seen obvious evidence from those who have.

Daryl
 
I have Hydra Shocks that are 15 years young. Old Ammo, properly stored, has the same "boom" as the new stuff, and I trust my life to it. I did test a few when I first got it, but luckily I have not had to use any more. I can't see using the good (and expensive ones) just to get them gone when I know they are fine. I do take them out of the mag so I can assure the function of the magazine while practicing, but then they go back in. I have fired reloads me and Dad made 25+ years ago with no problems. Keep your ammo climate controlled and it will be fine.
 
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