how often do you change out your carry ammo

[pelo801]

i have had the same ammo loaded up for about a year. today i swapped it out for new stuff. i went to the range and fired off the old stuff. it fired just fine. it's not like i think it a perishable food or anything. but something seems right about changing it out once a year. what about you guys? every year? 6 months? reasons and philosophies?

 

[DiscoRacing]

I dont think I have ever left mine in for more than a month..

reasons

I usually dont go more than two weeks without shooting.

 

[bossman]

Every three years or when I run out. I tend to shoot the cheap stuff for range. As my SD is high dollar and SD will be up close and personal I feel there are no reason to shoot it up. I have a hard time trying to justify SD ammo anyway.

 

[glockcompact]

I'm with bossman on this. Every three for me. I think unless your weapon is subjected to extensive change in temperatres. i.e. you leave your weapon in your car a lot and the inside of your car reaches 100 plus degrees in the summer - things like that.

 

[armoredman]

Once a year right now - the good stuff ain't cheap!

 

[8shot357]

I fire them at the range about once a month.

 

[Gary L. Griffiths]

I shoot my carry loads annually. Will use the same box for up to 5 yrs, though!

 

[BfloBill]

I practice with cheaper stuff, but I shoot what self defense ammo is loaded in my gun once or sometimes twice a year and replace it with new ammo.
I just can't afford to shoot SD ammo every time I shoot.

 

[joneb]

I pay great attention when cleaning my firearms to make sure all solvents and oils are wiped clean of areas that ammunition will contact.

 

[RJay]

Almost never, I keep it clean and dry. 50 years from now it will still be going pop.

 

[texnut]

I go through 25 rounds per month of my actual carry ammo. So I change mine every 2 months.

RT

 

[Sport45]

Once a decade or two, maybe. I empty my revolver every time I put it away. I put the same rounds back in it when I get it out again. My box of Remington 158gr LSWCHP still has 45 rounds in it. The box looks much worse than the ammo....

But then again, I don't carry every day.

 

[ClydeFrog]

carry/duty rounds, switching...

I bring this topic up often with new gun owners/forum members.
If you have high quality factory made ammunition, you could safely store or carry it for several years w/o any major problems.
I advise buying & carrying new rounds every 4-6mo to insure the best use.
Dust, lint, grit etc could cause problems. I'd like to know the rounds I fire in a use of force incident would be fresh & new.
In my area, humid climates, high temps & bad weather are common. I check my firearm's ammunition & spare mags/speed-strips often for problems.

It's a simple step that could protect you later on.

 

[wheelyfun]

When I first get to the range, I like to draw my handgun from under a cover garment and fire off two or three rounds at speed.
I then empty the remainder of the magazine of it's remaining ammo.
That is my own method of insuring that my "carry" ammo is functioning fine in my weapon.

I do empty out my backup magazines (of carry ammo) and when my range session is over, I reload the magazines with "carry" ammo.

I don't fire my defense ammo because I am worried about it "expiring", but simply to see how it is functioning through my weapon.

 

[FALPhil]

I change mine out every time I go to the range.

A wise old man told me one time, long ago:

"Phil, I didn't get to be an old soldier by being stupid. Train like you fight. You won't be sorry."

So, I find a good handload that works for me in the guns that I might carry, and I carry that load. In my 45ACP, it's a 200 grain LSWC at 900 fps. In my 9mm, it is 125 grain Gold Dots at 1100 fps.

 

[egor20]

Every time I shoot a BG ; so...
about never

Seriously though...
About every year. I do change out my magazines about every six months, and let the other ones have a vacation

 

[Glenn Dee]

I try to reolace my carry ammo every two years.
BTW Great question and thread.

 

[Semper Paratus]

I make an investment in carry ammo for my autoloaders. I satisfy myself that it will work, after suitable initial cleaning and breakin, by shooting 150 to 200 rounds, yes I know its expensive, and then load up my magazines. I then change the ammo twice a year at the time change. Typically I have two different 1911s with 2 8 round spare mags and the service mag with one up the spout. So I spring for a box of ammo twice a year. I usually have part of an odd box around to account for the ammo removed from service from going in and out of the chamber. I do a visual each time I empty and reload my service mags and pull any rounds that look to be beat up or experiencing bullet set back.

My revolvers get a much abbreviated proving period but still get semi anual ammo change outs.

 

[cougar gt-e]

I advise buying & carrying new rounds every 4-6mo to insure the best use.
Dust, lint, grit etc could cause problems.

What problems? I shoot mil surp ammo that is 40-50 years old and older, works as well as new stuff. Maybe better.

 

[armsmaster270]

3 times a year at Quals.