How do you "handle" your carry ammo?

[NewColonial]

When you get to the range, remove the magazine, leave the chambered round in the pipe. Load your practice rounds. First round out is the SD round. No worries about setback.

[gunderwood]

Okay… it seems things have gotten a little off the point of my original posting. Again, I appreciate everyone’s input on why the gun should stay loaded and their share of philosophies of handling, carrying, securing, and storing weapons, but… with all respect, my question was geared toward those who carry and handle their weapons frequently for practice like I do.
I apologize if I had mislead anyone to thinking I was asking for help or suggestions in how to set up home defense or carry, but that is not the case. Please accept the fact…I do what I do (for reasons right or wrong; doesn’t matter). I empty the chamber when I get home, so I can handle the weapon and practice with it. I empty the chamber at the range, too, and load it with FMJ target ammo. This may not be the best practice according to many of the recent posts, but…I know I’m not alone in this. I know others do exactly what I do, too.
So, for those who constantly empty their chamber for whatever reasons and have a concern of “bullet setbacks”, I ask for simple solutions that aren’t so tedious to track.
Thanks!

BTW, I do keep the firearm(s) loaded when I'm not practicing with it

Well, if you don't want to track it you're kind of left with two basic options.

1. Buy a second gun idential to your carry piece and do most of your practice with that. Make sure to rotate the two.

or

2. Shoot the SD ammo at some point. You could do as a previous poster said and just shoot the round on top everytime you go to the range. That would solve the range part of the problem but if you are doing it at home enough, it could still cause a problem.

I usually just do #2. I like to rotate my carry ammo anyways because when being carried it is "exposed" to lots of humidty, potentially sweat, gun oils, etc. All of which can cause ammo related problems. Most good ammo is sealed, but there are no guarantees, so I rotate.

[zephyp]

@Garrett - kills me when one of these "concerned" folks who only handle a gun when they visit the range ask whenever they see a gun "hey is that thing loaded?"

No, its a cigarette lighter...need a light? Here's your sign!

[Diomed]

So, for those who constantly empty their chamber for whatever reasons and have a concern of “bullet setbacks”, I ask for simple solutions that aren’t so tedious to track.

Simple and easy? Set the ejected rounds aside and segregate them together, burn them off next time you go shooting.

[YuDanJa]

Hmm...I'm wondering if I should just top off the mag and chamber a FMJ target ammo; let it be the rotating round I fire off at the range every week or two. In a SD situation, I'd fire off multiple rounds, anyway. This could be like a very painful warning shot.

[newdovo]

I'm glad this thread came up. I carry a revolver, so I had never considered it. If I do switch to semi-auto carry, I'll keep all of this in mind.
That being said, when I go to the range with my CC gun, I'll shoot the ammo that has been carried in it since my last range trip. Typically this is the stuff that has been in the cylinder and another 5 or 6 rounds from a speed strip or speed loader that I carry.
I still think I would do the same range routine if carrying a semi-auto. Shoot some good practice stuff as well as a magazine of my preferred SD ammo. As Garrett noted, carry ammo can get exposed to varying elements. After a couple weeks of pocket carry, a speed strip of JHPs gets a nice patina on the copper jacket.


Parry

[allingeneral]

I had to go look up "patina". My Navy mind would have understood verdigris much better

As for handling of ammo..I agree with everyone who has said to just shoot it up after it's been chambered a couple or three times, then go to your stash and replace it with a nice shiny new round.

[YuDanJa]

... shoot it up after it's been chambered a couple or three times, then go to your stash and replace it with a nice shiny new round.

That is kind of what I did...every Sunday, the next one in the mag becomes the chambering round, while the top one gets sent to the bottom. When all 17 rounds get through their cycle, they get blasted at the range. It was a good system...fresh ammo scheduled every 17 weeks or more, but...I found it too easy to lose track.
I don't know...I think I'm going to try what I mentioned earlier (topping the mag with a target cartridge).

[NewColonial]

I don't know...I think I'm going to try what I mentioned earlier (topping the mag with a target cartridge).

I would certainly not do that. In a self defense situation, the first shot may be all you have. (And warning shots will only get you arrested. If you have to pull your weapon, it better be because you need to protect life and limb. Warning shots for civilians are evidence you weren't in that danger yet.)

[YuDanJa]

I would certainly not do that. In a self defense situation, the first shot may be all you have. (And warning shots will only get you arrested. If you have to pull your weapon, it better be because you need to protect life and limb. Warning shots for civilians are evidence you weren't in that danger yet.)

Oh, that was actually a hint of sarcasm/humor in my first statement. I was thinking someone may come up with "that 9mm FMJ target ammo won't kill him" so when I mentioned "painful warning shot" I'd actually hit'em with it, and he probably won't die since it's not a JHP round.

[WRW]

... shoot it up after it's been chambered a couple or three times, then go to your stash and replace it with a nice shiny new round.

That is kind of what I did...every Sunday, the next one in the mag becomes the chambering round, while the top one gets sent to the bottom. When all 17 rounds get through their cycle, they get blasted at the range. It was a good system...fresh ammo scheduled every 17 weeks or more, but...I found it too easy to lose track.
I don't know...I think I'm going to try what I mentioned earlier (topping the mag with a target cartridge).

Or you could do as stated previously and put the previously chambered round in with your target ammo every Sunday. No need to wait 17 weeks and get all confused just so the whole magazine can be replaced at one time. The fresh out of the box round could go to the bottom of the magazine and you would still have a 17 week rotation.

[YuDanJa]

Or you could do as stated previously and put the previously chambered round in with your target ammo every Sunday. No need to wait 17 weeks and get all confused just so the whole magazine can be replaced at one time. The fresh out of the box round could go to the bottom of the magazine and you would still have a 17 week rotation.

I think I have an idea of what you are talking about…but, honestly, I'm confused of whether or not I'm understanding correctly.
Anyway, I was thinking simpler. Since I go target practice every week or two, the target round will get spent, and replaced by another target round. That would be the rotation. And the rest of the JHP 14-rounds buried under would never get racked into the chamber, and can be left alone for a long period of time without worry. I’m a money-saver…anything to save a buck or two. I’d like to replace my pricey ammo only once a year rather than 3-4 times; maybe even every two years. I know there may be some controversy in leaving ammo in storage too long, but recently I found a fully loaded mag buried way in the back of the safe from one of my older handguns…must’ve been sitting there since 2006, and they all shot off well when I used them at the range a few weeks ago.

[WRW]

I guess I could have been more lucid, but no need for that, as you have no concern for the qualities of the first round.

[gunderwood]

Or you could do as stated previously and put the previously chambered round in with your target ammo every Sunday. No need to wait 17 weeks and get all confused just so the whole magazine can be replaced at one time. The fresh out of the box round could go to the bottom of the magazine and you would still have a 17 week rotation.

I think I have an idea of what you are talking about…but, honestly, I'm confused of whether or not I'm understanding correctly.
Anyway, I was thinking simpler. Since I go target practice every week or two, the target round will get spent, and replaced by another target round. That would be the rotation. And the rest of the JHP 14-rounds buried under would never get racked into the chamber, and can be left alone for a long period of time without worry. I’m a money-saver…anything to save a buck or two. I’d like to replace my pricey ammo only once a year rather than 3-4 times; maybe even every two years. I know there may be some controversy in leaving ammo in storage too long, but recently I found a fully loaded mag buried way in the back of the safe from one of my older handguns…must’ve been sitting there since 2006, and they all shot off well when I used them at the range a few weeks ago.

HPs are not just to stop the threat quicker, they also reduce the risk to innocent bystanders who may be behind your target. With FMJ, penetration is so deep that you could end up killing or harming someone behind your target. I would recommend you not use FMJ for SD.

If cost is an issue, buy in "bulk" and buy the LE ammo when available. You can get 50 rounds of LE ammo (same thing, different box) for the cost of 20 rounds at your local store. Here are the very good RangerTs: http://www.tds-us.com/catalog.php/tds/d ... _Talon_LEO
There are others who sell it too. Saving money that way is a much better idea than putting a practice round in the chamber IMHO.

Ammo, stored properly, will last longer than you will live. Lots of the military surplus we shoot up is decades old. Proper storage is key...cool, dark and dry. The problem with carrying the gun/ammo around is that it is far from proper storage so degradation is possible. I've had mags loaded for years (SHTF ammo) that worked just fine. Possible, not guaranteed.

[newdovo]

I had to go look up "patina". My Navy mind would have understood verdigris much better

I watch Antiques Roadshow sometimes. Patina is the word they use.

[allingeneral]

I had to go look up "patina". My Navy mind would have understood verdigris much better

I watch Antiques Roadshow sometimes. Patina is the word they use.

Ahhhh...Antiques Roadshow. Have you seen the Geico commercial?

[Diomed]

How about a revolver?

[ShortMan]

Hydrashoks are a buck each. I only shot 7 of them just to see how they handled, and since they handle exactly the same as target ammo, I dont need to burn any more of them.

When I get to the range I draw my weapon and point it towards the target as if I were going to shoot, then I unload it and empty the carry bullets and load up the cheap stuff. Actually, its pretty much exactly the same as normal target shooting. You always have to remove and reinsert the magazine there, as well as load of fresh rounds. So really it doesnt matter much. Can't see how it would be a safety issue. Gun ranges are already dangerous cuz theres live fire going on all the time. People keep it safe by paying attention and observing the rules. Not the least of which is having your muzzle pointed down range all the time.

As for home use, I do not load and unload the gun all the time. Thats just asking for an accident and is unnecessary. What if an intruder breaks in? I would not want an unloaded gun. If you are worried about safety put the gun in a quick draw safe and slide it under the bed. And stop loading & unloading the same bullets over and over. Even if you rotate them I cant see that as being a good thing.

[YuDanJa]

Hydrashoks are a buck each. I only shot 7 of them just to see how they handled, and since they handle exactly the same as target ammo, I dont need to burn any more of them.

When I get to the range I draw my weapon and point it towards the target as if I were going to shoot, then I unload it and empty the carry bullets and load up the cheap stuff. Actually, its pretty much exactly the same as normal target shooting. You always have to remove and reinsert the magazine there, as well as load of fresh rounds. So really it doesnt matter much. Can't see how it would be a safety issue. Gun ranges are already dangerous cuz theres live fire going on all the time. People keep it safe by paying attention and observing the rules. Not the least of which is having your muzzle pointed down range all the time.

As for home use, I do not load and unload the gun all the time. Thats just asking for an accident and is unnecessary. What if an intruder breaks in? I would not want an unloaded gun. If you are worried about safety put the gun in a quick draw safe and slide it under the bed. And stop loading & unloading the same bullets over and over. Even if you rotate them I cant see that as being a good thing.

I'm not sure at which point you began reading this thread, but please refer to my post on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:03:07...maybe it'll clear up some confusion(?)
I'm totally lost on the point about your procedures at the range about being dangerous, observing rules, muzzle downrange...(unless it was directed toward someone else's post. If that's the case...sorry).

[CowboyT]

In that case, I'd recommend getting a second (or third/fourth, as the case may be) magazine and filling it with snap-caps for this kind of practice. You're right, frequent practice is necessary and good. This is a yet safer way to do that.