how often to replace ammo

[HuntingFool]

I was wondering how often I sould replace the ammo that I am carrying in my handgun. A few people I know change there's every year. I wasn't sure if the reason they did that was because the humidity could degrade the gunpowder or just an "old wives tale". Any help here would be great.

[nathangdad]

A handgun needs periodic cleaning and lubrication.
The lubrication may constitute a problem
in that the smaller molecules of some lubricants
can degrade ammunition by either working their
way into the powder via the bullet/case contact
or the primer. Likewise, the primer itself may be
degraded by the smaller molecules of some lubricants.
These are not common events yet you cannot exclude
them from happening.

Although some people do need their handguns loaded
at all times an alternative does exist for the rest of us
in keeping a loaded clip near a semi-auto or having
a loaded speed loader near a revolver. In this manner
the handgun can stay protected in its case yet
made ready for use in fairly short order should the need
arise.

An old deputy sheriff (now deceased) once offered what
I consider good advice in this matter. On the first
day of each month he fired the ammunition in his
handgun to keep up his "draw speed" and accuracy.
Then it was cleaning/lubrication/reloading with
factory fresh ammunition.

[HuntingFool]

Originally Posted by nathangdad

An old deputy sheriff (now deceased) once offered what
I consider good advice in this matter. On the first
day of each month he fired the ammunition in his
handgun to keep up his "draw speed" and accuracy.
Then it was cleaning/lubrication/reloading with
factory fresh ammunition.

That is some good advice. I think that I will defitenly start doing that from now on. I keep mine loaded at all times simply because I work on houses in the bad areas of town. Most of the time I am alone,especially with summmer coming up.

[Orlando]

If you have to worry about how old your ammo is you aren't shooting enough!

[HuntingFool]

Good point. Typically I unload the ammo I have for self -defense & use the cheap FMJ stuff for target & plinking. Hell I'm always looking for a good excuse to get out of work! This just gives me even more reasons to now!

[Old Timer2]

I agree with Orlando. Exercise your equipment, more often, then there will be no worries.

[rondog]

Every time a round is chambered in an auto, especially in 1911's, when the bullet nose slams into the feed ramp it gets pushed back into the case a little. Called "bullet setback". Do this a few times and compare the round to a new one, and you can see the difference. What this does is decreases the space inside the cartridge for the powder to burn, thus producing higher pressures, which can be dangerous to the gun and the shooter.

A lot of guys will shoot up their carry magazine every time they go shootin', just to prevent any from getting setback too far. It's only a problem if you load and unload the gun repeatedly. You can end up with several short rounds in a magazine. More pronounced with the cheaper ammo, especially Blazer Brass.

[samuel]

rondog: +1. sam.

[Sooner Shooter]

Originally Posted by rondog

Every time a round is chambered in an auto, especially in 1911's, when the bullet nose slams into the feed ramp it gets pushed back into the case a little. Called "bullet setback". Do this a few times and compare the round to a new one, and you can see the difference. What this does is decreases the space inside the cartridge for the powder to burn, thus producing higher pressures, which can be dangerous to the gun and the shooter.

A lot of guys will shoot up their carry magazine every time they go shootin', just to prevent any from getting setback too far. It's only a problem if you load and unload the gun repeatedly. You can end up with several short rounds in a magazine. More pronounced with the cheaper ammo, especially Blazer Brass.

Thanks rondog: As Johnny Carson used to say: I did not know that!

[Skat]

Originally Posted by Sooner Shooter

Thanks rondog: As Johnny Carson used to say: I did not know that!

+1