Topic: Concealed Carry Ammo

[tankermedic]

How long do you keep your ammo that you carry on a normal basis? Is their a safe limit of time? I have had my ammo for 6 months since I started carrying my 30sf. Appreciate any input. Thanks.

[TylerC]

I don't think ammo expires. so unless its in a moist enviroment I wouldn't think there is a limit.

[tankermedic]

I have heard of people rotating their ammo every few months or once a year. I wanted to see what other people suggested.

[MarkinIdaho]

I don't think ammo expires. so unless its in a moist enviroment I wouldn't think there is a limit.

I think this is right... shouldn't be a problem.

[Orbital-Burn]

as my CCW ammo is winchester white box, I rotate it out every time I go and shoot it.  However often that is.

(I use win white box 9mm because it's the only thing I've found to feed reliably, I need the gun to go bang when I pull the trigger.  One of the reasons I carry a glock or an HK now instead of a 1911)

[TylerC]

as my CCW ammo is winchester white box, I rotate it out every time I go and shoot it.  However often that is.

(I use win white box 9mm because it's the only thing I've found to feed reliably, I need the gun to go bang when I pull the trigger.  One of the reasons I carry a glock or an HK now instead of a 1911)

what are you shooting that only feeds ball ammo reliably

[Orbital-Burn]

Hk usp, glock 19, browning high power, S&W something or other, beretta 92,

never had a 9mm that would eat anything other than ball very well.  Of course, my 1911 wont even eat that very well.

[Nomad]

 General we rotate out once yearly on pistol and rifle ammo.......
 Seem smart and on CCW stuff a idea as well, as for the time now hard to get new stuff......

[TylerC]

Hk usp, glock 19, browning high power, S&W something or other, beretta 92,

never had a 9mm that would eat anything other than ball very well.  Of course, my 1911 wont even eat that very well.

That is so weird I've never owned a modern combat 9mm that didn't eat everything I've fed it.

[9Shooter]

Hk usp, glock 19, browning high power, S&W something or other, beretta 92,

never had a 9mm that would eat anything other than ball very well.  Of course, my 1911 wont even eat that very well.

I also carry a G19 and have had no issues with feeding JHPs.  I have 147g Hornady TAP JHPs in there now, and have used Speer of the same weight and variety in the past also with no issues.

[bourneshooter]

If your glock 19 won't feed JHP ammo reliably, you should give it to me for safekeeping.

I've owned and shot several G19, G23, G17, G22, G21, and G32's and never had a malfunction with JHP ammo. Only malfunction I had was on a my current CCW/OC/Off-duty G19 with one round of Wolf Military Classic. Malfuntion was a type 2, but I cleared it instinctivly so I can't give you more info than that.

[luvmy45]

For self defense I carry Remington .45 230gr Gold Sabre. Because of the recent shortage of ammo, I also have a box of Winchester Hollowpoints.

Both feed reliably out of both of my 1911 .45's. I try to shoot a couple of mags of carry ammo every 6 months to refresh my carry mags and to remember what it feels like to shoot full power loads.

I know 1911's can be finicky with hollowpoint ammo, and you have to try different brands till you find one that works reliably. Personally I won't carry ball ammo for self defense, unless it's the only alternative, and I don't want over penetration and possible shoot through. with today's shortage's and costs, I may have to abandon this practice and actually load my own hollow points, which I have avoided for liability reasons, but availability may trump that issue.

Brian K

[TrooperBrian]

as my CCW ammo is winchester white box, I rotate it out every time I go and shoot it.  However often that is.

(I use win white box 9mm because it's the only thing I've found to feed reliably, I need the gun to go bang when I pull the trigger.  One of the reasons I carry a glock or an HK now instead of a 1911)

Whoa now, NEVER use ball ammo for self defense! Unless you plan on shooting more than one person with one bullet.


I've been told every six months, but as long as it isn't being soaked in water or otherwise put in extreme environments, it should be good for at least a few years. I bought Hornady TAP, and don't exactly feel like shooting it every few months. Of course, after I dump money on TAP, a few months later, Critical Defense comes out. 

[NoviceHunter]

I replace carry ammo every 10 years or so.  Usually when some newer technology leads to a better choice (for my 9mm, that was corbon 115gr +p+ transition to 147gr Federal HST's.)  We live in the desert, so unless you take a dunk, it's going to last longer than we are.

That's not true of the stuff with lead-free primers or aluminum cases.  But I don't know of any good carry ammo that uses either of those.

[crombenevolant]

Ammo is not good indefinitely, but pretty darn close.  Over time (and by time I mean decades) the powder does age and you will loose some velocity.  My father-in-law collects WWII rifles and regularly shoots ammo made during WWII (as many of these guns shoot oddball cartridges) without problem.  I would say you have nothing to worry about at 6 months.  For me, I try not to cycle through my ammo on a 5yr rate.  Considering the up charge for good hollow point rounds, that works out well for me.  

[Norton1]

My S&W Model 59 eats anything I feed it. In 50,000+ rounds it's only failed to function once - stove piped on a reload that I shorted on powder - -

[shotokan94]

I carry 115 gr Federal tactical loads or personal defense loads in my HK USP, and the same in 145 gr in my P2000. Springfields and glocks with the same loads have functioned flawlessly. I do have a spare mag at home with federal frangible, as I have little kids and am concerned about the possibility of overpenetration. For this reason, in the summer I typically only carry frangible due to lighter clothing.

[Leanwolf]

Hk usp, glock 19, browning high power, S&W something or other, beretta 92,

never had a 9mm that would eat anything other than ball very well.  Of course, my 1911 wont even eat that very well.

Whew!! You must be the unluckiest man around to have had that many handguns that would not feed hollowpoints.

I've shot upward of 1,000 9 mm Federal and Winchester H.Ps. through my L.E. Dept. issued Beretta 92FS, and about 750 of same through my personal Beretta 92FS, without so much as a hiccup.

I've also shot approximately 700+/- of the same H.Ps. through my S&W 6906, without any problem.  In fact, just last week ran a box of Winchester 147 gr. H.P. Subsonic through it, without any problem.

As for Govt. Model 1911s, I've never had any trouble of non-feeding with several brands of H.Ps., in my Colts.  I will say that of my two Colt Govt. models, one has a Bar-Sto barrel and the other with Colt factory barrel was  ramped and throated by a very well respected .45 'smith. 

My carry pistol is my old Colt's Lightweight Commander .45 ACP, and I've shot many rounds of various hollowpoints in it without any failure-to-feed problems.  It too, has a Bar-Sto barrel.  My buddy has a Colt Combat Commander with standard factory barrel, unaltered,  as his CCW, and he has shot a lot of hollowpoints in it, without F-T-F issues.

Guess we were just lucky and did not get lemons.   

Just my experiences.

L.W.

[Orbital-Burn]

If your glock 19 won't feed JHP ammo reliably, you should give it to me for safekeeping.

to be fair, I've not tried anything in the glock other than ball yet.  But I wouldn't give it to you as it does shoot ball well, and that's plenty good enough   

[NoviceHunter]

It's a glock.  It'll probably feed rusty corkscrews reliably.

[TylerC]

It's a glock.  It'll probably feed rusty corkscrews reliably.

lol but no lead

[tankermedic]

Thanks for the replies.
I have 500 rounds of Federal LE HST, and 500 Speer Gold Dot for my pistols in a dry box with dessicant. I just want to know how long the rounds will last stuffed in a magazine in heat, cold, and humidity. I just want to make sure that the carry ammo will go bang each time.

[NoviceHunter]

You'll likely get a lot of opinions on this one.  I'm not sure there's any really wrong answer.  If you get it wet and sweaty regularly, like a revolver against skin on a hot day or falling in a creek, then swap it regularly.  Otherwise...  The military trusts stuff that's decades old.  Somewhere in-between will be your comfort zone.  Mine is 8-10 years unless something exceptional occurs.  Most folks seem to have a shorter number that keeps them happy.

Doesn't really hurt anything except your pocketbook to cycle it more often.

[Farlo]

If your glock 19 won't feed JHP ammo reliably, you should give it to me for safekeeping.

...and I'll keep that Hi Power nice and safe.

[jard]

I usually shoot my SD ammo every other year, to make sure it is still working for me, and to keep cost down.