Using the Same Bullet to Load and Unload your CCW
- Thread starter chemcal
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boatdoc173
New member
I am no expert but I believe the following
Just as you should rotate your loaded magazines to reduce spring wear and keep them in top shape, you should rotate the ammo in th e magazines(especially if you load and unload your carry gun daily) to reduce wear on the casings and primers again JMHO
Just as you should rotate your loaded magazines to reduce spring wear and keep them in top shape, you should rotate the ammo in th e magazines(especially if you load and unload your carry gun daily) to reduce wear on the casings and primers again JMHO
I'd say that so long as the bullet is not set back into the case, ie. reducing the internal volume of the case and thereby increasing pressure, you're good to go. I also think that minor imperfections to the bullet nose induced by continued re-chambering, will not affect its performance on target. YMMV, Rod
USMC 77-81
New member
Loading/unloading autoloaders can cause bullet set back as previously mentioned.
If your reason for unloading your carry gun is to relax the springs in the magazine then perhaps you might want to consider keeping the same round in the chamber, then, just change magazines.
Personally I would just leave the gun/magazine loaded.
If your reason for unloading your carry gun is to relax the springs in the magazine then perhaps you might want to consider keeping the same round in the chamber, then, just change magazines.
Personally I would just leave the gun/magazine loaded.
Ammunition has a long shelf life.
If some unusual event occurred like the submersion of the ammunition or a physical damage to it, there might be a point to it.
If a firearm is in good operating condition, there should not be any setback of the bullet into the brass. An eye test of the primary round you are referring to against another round next to it should show whether there is any significant setback to effect the round.
I have read of forum members rotating their carry ammunition into their range training. I bet none of them can detect any difference in the way it fired against new ammunition.
We are making a mountain out of a mole hill. All of this is said if ammunition is properly maintained and no accidents like chemical spill or with extreme damage to the ammunition.
I have ammunition I still shoot that was reloaded many years ago without any noticeable deterioration or performance adversity. I will add this ammunition has been stored in sealed containers and in an environmentally controlled atmosphere. It might be different if you are marching through jungles with monsoon rains and high humidity. Although, it did not seem to effect the ammunition in my M1911 or my M16 in Nam. I also never saw it have any ill effects on shotgun rounds or other weapons.
P.S. - You will want to keep your ammunition clean and not caked with krispy cream donut filling.
If some unusual event occurred like the submersion of the ammunition or a physical damage to it, there might be a point to it.
If a firearm is in good operating condition, there should not be any setback of the bullet into the brass. An eye test of the primary round you are referring to against another round next to it should show whether there is any significant setback to effect the round.
I have read of forum members rotating their carry ammunition into their range training. I bet none of them can detect any difference in the way it fired against new ammunition.
We are making a mountain out of a mole hill. All of this is said if ammunition is properly maintained and no accidents like chemical spill or with extreme damage to the ammunition.
I have ammunition I still shoot that was reloaded many years ago without any noticeable deterioration or performance adversity. I will add this ammunition has been stored in sealed containers and in an environmentally controlled atmosphere. It might be different if you are marching through jungles with monsoon rains and high humidity. Although, it did not seem to effect the ammunition in my M1911 or my M16 in Nam. I also never saw it have any ill effects on shotgun rounds or other weapons.
P.S. - You will want to keep your ammunition clean and not caked with krispy cream donut filling.
Factory ammo, as mentioned, has an extremely long shelf life.
I'm talking several decades, not days. I've shot 45 Ball, from pre Vietnam, and found it shoots the same as late produced 45 ball.
Unless your ammo has been damaged, dented, deformed, by mis-handling, don't worry about it.
If you experience "bullet set back" then replace that ammo with quality ammo, Factory ammo shouldn't be subject to set back by carrying or shooting. If it does, you have crappy ammo and that brand should be avoided at all cost.
I'm talking several decades, not days. I've shot 45 Ball, from pre Vietnam, and found it shoots the same as late produced 45 ball.
Unless your ammo has been damaged, dented, deformed, by mis-handling, don't worry about it.
If you experience "bullet set back" then replace that ammo with quality ammo, Factory ammo shouldn't be subject to set back by carrying or shooting. If it does, you have crappy ammo and that brand should be avoided at all cost.
Unfortunately it has been an issue with LEO's not having the round go off when needed. While it may never occur to one person, when the number increased to a larger pool of users with the same guns and habits there is a propensity for bullet setback and failure to ignite. Two separate issues but the lesson learned and being implemented by more departments is to rotate the ammo anyway.
We aren't talking Barney's one bullet in his shirt pocket, but it you were to unload once weekly for a quick wipedown it wouldn't amount to the number of rounds most of us shoot in 6 months. Why not use them at the range? Do you want ammo that's relatively fresh or something from a box dated 2013 you've battered into the chamber numerous times over the last two years?
Your assessment, your risk, but better to make an informed decision. It's not only setback, it's about contaminated primers from carry.
We aren't talking Barney's one bullet in his shirt pocket, but it you were to unload once weekly for a quick wipedown it wouldn't amount to the number of rounds most of us shoot in 6 months. Why not use them at the range? Do you want ammo that's relatively fresh or something from a box dated 2013 you've battered into the chamber numerous times over the last two years?
Your assessment, your risk, but better to make an informed decision. It's not only setback, it's about contaminated primers from carry.
I posted this in another thread, (as a reply to a fellow who won't chamber the same round more than once,) but it applies here, as well. I am not posting this as any kind of recommendation, simply an example of one extreme that I have personal knowledge of.
PROPERLY built ammo does not "setback". However, I don't think a lot of ammo makers are making it "properly" any more. They are making it to a "good enough" standard (it's cheaper).
Two of the rounds at greatest risk for setback (9mm & .40) are also the two where bullet setback poses the greatest risk. Small case capacities, fast powders, and mostly the fact that they are loaded to very high pressure to begin with makes reducing their volume through bullet setback a real risk.
the .45ACP, while also subject to the same "risk" of setback, isn't as much of a concern if setback happens. (To a degree, of course, how much a bullet sets back does matter) The .45's much lower working pressure means that an amount of setback that causes a dangerous pressure spike in 9mm/.40 might not even be noticeable in a .45acp. Or if it is, is much less likely to reach the failure point of the gun.
If it does concern you, simply change out the ammo. Compared to EVERYTHING else (especially your life) ammo is cheap.
Theohazard
New member
I used to have this problem with some types of ammo, but then I realized that it was pointless to unload my carry gun each evening. Instead, I just take the whole holster off and store it in my safe. As long as my gun stays in the holster I see no need to clear it, and that way I avoid the issue of bullet setback entirely.
Also, some of the most likely times to have a negligent discharge are when holstering and unholstering and loading and unloading, so if someone just leaves their carry gun loaded and in the holster they're automatically lowering their chance of an ND.
Also, some of the most likely times to have a negligent discharge are when holstering and unholstering and loading and unloading, so if someone just leaves their carry gun loaded and in the holster they're automatically lowering their chance of an ND.
Looks as though we are going to have differing opinions. 
Nothing better than a good debate. It is best when there is test evidence.
I like it when there are specifics like in this test:
http://sigtalk.com/ammo-reloading/48373-does-anyone-worry-about-bullet-setback.html
Go to the 8th post down in the link above with the graph. In the past, I have read similar reports on bullet setback and the implications.
Nothing better than a good debate. It is best when there is test evidence. I like it when there are specifics like in this test:
http://sigtalk.com/ammo-reloading/48373-does-anyone-worry-about-bullet-setback.html
Go to the 8th post down in the link above with the graph. In the past, I have read similar reports on bullet setback and the implications.
OAL etc. aside, the only part of a bullet that matters is the base. Anyway, if the bullet is moving in the case there's something wrong with how it was crimped.
"...to reduce spring wear..." Flat springs DO NOT lose temper from being compressed. The bends of a flat spring can work harden over a very long time, from repeated compression and decompression, but they do not lose temper or wear.
"...to reduce spring wear..." Flat springs DO NOT lose temper from being compressed. The bends of a flat spring can work harden over a very long time, from repeated compression and decompression, but they do not lose temper or wear.
marine6680
New member
Loading and unloading the weapon is the times where it is most likely to experience a negligent discharge. Really any time you handle the weapon, the chances increase drastically.
Any firearm I keep for defense and loaded, stays that way unless I am cleaning it or other administrative tasks. If you lock up the weapon at night, it can remain loaded. Some would say in that scenario, a separate lock box is best, to separate it from other firearms.
Springs will not wear out just because the magazine is loaded cycling the spring is what causes wear. Rotating the mags would wear them faster, as you are cycling the spring. This is dependent on the magazine design, as some magazines, especially those in higher capacity small pistols, as the springs may be pushed up to or slightly past their elastic limits. If you are concerned, replace the spring one a year, they are cheap.
Bullet set back is possible with repeated loading of the same round, but quality defensive ammo should be highly resistant to it, taking many loadings to be noticeable. Just visually check the round any visually noticeable but minor setback means you should rotate that round. With minor setback it's "probably" safe to shoot, but continued loadings would increase the chance that the round sets back farther to being dangerous. So rotate it to the bottom of the mag... or if you are worried, remove it from use. If you use standard pressure rounds, setback is less potentially detrimental, the increased pressures in +P and +P+ can make setback a more serious an issue.
Any firearm I keep for defense and loaded, stays that way unless I am cleaning it or other administrative tasks. If you lock up the weapon at night, it can remain loaded. Some would say in that scenario, a separate lock box is best, to separate it from other firearms.
Springs will not wear out just because the magazine is loaded cycling the spring is what causes wear. Rotating the mags would wear them faster, as you are cycling the spring. This is dependent on the magazine design, as some magazines, especially those in higher capacity small pistols, as the springs may be pushed up to or slightly past their elastic limits. If you are concerned, replace the spring one a year, they are cheap.
Bullet set back is possible with repeated loading of the same round, but quality defensive ammo should be highly resistant to it, taking many loadings to be noticeable. Just visually check the round any visually noticeable but minor setback means you should rotate that round. With minor setback it's "probably" safe to shoot, but continued loadings would increase the chance that the round sets back farther to being dangerous. So rotate it to the bottom of the mag... or if you are worried, remove it from use. If you use standard pressure rounds, setback is less potentially detrimental, the increased pressures in +P and +P+ can make setback a more serious an issue.
lee n. field
New member
I tend to agree.
I ease the slide down. (I know, I know. If this was a problem in this gun, I wouldn't do it.) I visually compare the extracted round with the one under it. On commercially loaded ammo, I've never noticed a difference. (My handloads are a different story.)
Will Beararms
New member
Put the pistol in a rigid kydex holster when not in the safe and leave the thing loaded. Keep it out of the reach of idiots, criminals and children. You don't own a safe? Then get one. Bullet setback is real. It can ruin your world. Marking bullets with a sharpie? Are you kidding me? Folks are making his way too hard.
All ammo is subject to the forces that create setback, but not all ammo will be setback.
again, it is something that should not happen, but in today's world, often does.
Yes, it is real, and can do that, when the stars line up, and the entrails are favorable...
But in handguns, it's rarely the case.
In big game rifles, it can be quite a different matter. Read Capstick's Death in the Long Grass for an example of how it nearly killed him. Also note that in Capstick's case, the round was the .458Win Mag, and the setback was NOT from chambering the same round, but from having the same round in the magazine during several loading and firing cycles. RECOIL battered the slug and set it back deeper into the case, and the result was higher velocity, TOO HIGH for the optimal performance.
Not going to be an issue with a handgun, I'm thinking, but bullet setback, none the less.
Military pistol ammo doesn't seem to have issues with setback, perhaps because of the lacquer(?) sealant used to seal bullets into the cases.
Look at old pistol brass, you find many of them have cannelures in the cases, to PREVENT bullet setback.
They don't seem to do that much, these days. I suppose it costs a little more.
Too many people simply accept that setback is something that is going to happen, when the reality is that it happens more today because we simply accept that its going to happen.
I've read a LOT of the gun literature from the early 50s on up and for decades, bullet setback in semi autos was almost never mentioned. It was possible, always has been, but it almost never happened. When it is mentioned in those old books, it is in the context of reloading, and what a "bad" round is.
WE accept it, we're used to it, but it wasn't always that way, as a rule. You, or I can MAKE ammo that WILL NOT suffer bullet setback. The major ammo makers COULD, and they used to, but they don't anymore.