how many rounds of a new kind of ammo before you have confidence in it?

T

TearsOfRage

New member
Let's say its a pistol that is 100% reliable with ball ammo.
How many rounds of some new type of hollowpoint would you want to shoot before you feel confident that they will function properly?
 
The formula that I read and use is, 16 magazines full plus 1 in the chamber without a malfunction. Forgot where I read that but I guess I liked it because I have used it for years now.

So if your gun holds 10 rounds, it would be 170 rounds.
 
My recommendation is the same as for a new gun/magazines, a minimum of 200 consecutive rounds with the carry ammo. That is 200 consecutive - if you have a problem, start the count over.

Will it cost money? Yes. If you are carrying a gun for serious and not just for fun, your life depends on it. How much is that worth?

Jim
 
I usually think three magazines full. Since I usually rotate through four magazines that is 132 rounds (four times ten time three plus twelve--I always start with a full tube). I also like to run at least one of each magazine when I hand chamber the first round which is another forty rounds--it gets expensive fast at roughly $80 per hundred for premimum rounds (and downright painful with hi-caps).

I do think it is important to include all your carry magazines in your testing even if costs more. The new good news is you usually can find out pretty fast what your pistol does not like (e.g., I recently tried 147 grain Golden Sabres and had five FTFs in the first eighteen rounds--no need to try a second box).
 
I would also agree with the above already stated. If your on a budget (and who isn't with the cost of good defensive ammunition :eek: ) I would say at least 50 rounds up to 100. Although I've been know to only shoot a couple of boxes and be confident enough in it (about 20 rounds per box = 40)

P99
 
20 to 50 rounds. We're talking about a gun that has already been tested with ball, and has been reliable, so what are you going to prove in 200 rounds that 20 to 50 won't reveal? What if the only failure happens at round 199? Somehow I'm supposed to disregard the first 198 rounds and start over? This makes sense to somebody? If it does, more power to them. I don't need to spend 150-200$ on premium priced hollow points to figure out my pistol likes, or doesn't like, a particular cartridge.

When you buy a car do you take it for a 200 mile test drive?
 
Hi, blades,

If you are that sure there will be no problem, and that concerned with money, why test fire at all? You can just load up and go and it won't cost anything. If the gun doesn't work when you need it, you save even more money, which can go to buy flowers that you won't ever smell.

Jim
 
There is no magic number of rounds to fire. Just shoot until you feel confident and ready to trust your life to it. Might be 10 rounds, might be 1,000. You're the judge.
 
I try to put at least a couple of boxes through my guns before feeling confident enough to carry that load. I also like to "loosen" up the gun with a couple hundred rounds of standard FMJ's to diagnose any potential problems before trying JHP's.

Just because the weapon allows you to hand cycle a mag or two without problems doesn't mean that it won't jam on regular firing. I had a Russian Mak .380 that would allow you to hand cycle Federal Hydra Shoks all day long, but when it came to actual firing, the weapon jammed.

I usually try to test all my weapons with something like Corbons. They are high pressure and have extremely "agressive" hollowpoint cavities. If they feed those reliably, I can just about bet my weapons will feed most anything.

It all boils down to whatever makes you comfortable. I'm not a millionare by any means, but I can at least afford a couple boxes of my chosen load to test for reliability.

Good Shooting
RED
 
Personally, I run a box of 50 through each magazine for the pistol. (I normally have 3-4 per pistol). So 150 to 200 is about right for me.
Generally I've seen more problems with the mags than with the guns.
 
...as many as it takes...
bandit.gif
 
I never carry more than two spare magazines. So I figure if my gun/mags/ammo combo will fire all the rounds on me, everything is cool and groovy. I always fully test my mags before carrying them, and change out the mags and ammo every other month or so, depending on the conditions. I fire all the rounds in the gun and all spare mags just like I would if I HAD to. I can't figure out why I should even remotely care if my carry gun/mag/ammo combo will go 2 or 3 hundred rounds straight thru without a malf. I always carry a clean, lubed gun, not one I haved fired for hundreds of rounds and is all crudded up. True, I put a lot of ammo thru the gun and mags while checking the mags, but I don't get all hinky if the gun burps after a couple of hundred rounds. Unless it's a breakage. Then I get nervous. I have high capacity semi-auto rifles for whem I'm hunkered in the bunker. Those babies run those hundreds of rounds. And THAT'S expensive! Stay safe.
 
What I have found is that if a gun does not like a particular brand/type of ammo, it will let you know in short order. Take for example, the Walther P99, and the P5. Both my copies of these guns do not like Speer Gold Dots. They let me know that fact within three, or four rounds!!! It took only three rounds to find out that my friends Kahr MK-9 did not like Remington Golden Saber. Guns are like small children. They will let you know you rather quickly what they like, if you listen to them. With that in mind, I buy one box of several kinds of ammo to try in a new gun. By the time I am through, I know what it likes... ;)
 
After proofing the gun with at least 300rds of ball. I expect at least the last half (150rds) to be flawless. If it fails this "break -in" period, I look at mags and other areas to diagnose the problem and discern whether repairs/mods are needed and start over. Once that's accomplished, 40-50rds of JHP's without a hiccup and I'm satisfied. I rotate my ammo frequently and practice often enough to reinforce my confidence in my guns/mags reliability. I also have confidence in my malfunction clearing techniques that I also practice.

Rick
 
Well, if I set down and start counting I guess it adds up to over 100 rounds (six 7-round mags). Funny how time (and ammo!) flies when you're having fun. I have noticed the same thing mentioned by denfoote: if a gun doesn't like a particular mag/ammo combo, you know real quick. I have had more number of malfs due to mags than ammo, but you never know until you check. Stay safe.
 
Hydra-Shocks have been reliable......

......in my 200 round tests.

I run the Federal Hydra-Shoks through all of my carry magazines, and when I get new magazines, I make sure to run the Hydra-shocks through the new mags, when rotating the carry ammo.

The Hydra-Shok has a nickel-plated case and a bullet profile that feeds like ball ammo. I have found the Hydra-Shoks to be very accurate.

IMO, if you start your testing with the Hydra-Shoks, you are more likely to complete your testing without failure, and this will give you a high level of confidence in your gun/ammo combination.

-Mk.IV
 
When testing defensive ammo in limited quantites, I suggest...

1. Using a stong two-handed grip, fire each carry magazine through the pistol from a fully loaded plus one in the chamber condition until the slide locks back.

2. Repeat using strong/dominate hand only hold.

3. Weak/off hand only hold for the final round of testing.

If you carry a 1911 style .45 with one extra mag, then a box of ammo is adequate for this proceedure. A Beretta 92 with two extra standard capacity mags will require nearly three boxes (144 rds).

This should be considered a bare minimum!

Besides checking for function, don't forget to check accuracy, point of impact/point of aim, muzzle flash under low-light conditions, and shoot something other than just paper targets to get a first hand idea of what your new load is capable of doing, if possible.
 
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