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Do You Replace Your Self Defense AMMO

Of course this is written by folks who sell ammo. Doesn't mean it's not worth considering but doesn't make it gospel either. In over 50 years of carrying I have never had any reason to suspect a round or had one not fire. Inspection of your ammo and replacing it on occasion is probably wise but they make it sound like a daily or weekly must do.
 
I shoot it occasionally, then clean the gun and reload with fresh ammo, likely from the same case of ammo. By occasionally, every 6 -12 months.
 
Can't speak to the semi-auto issue since I'm strictly a revolver guy.

About every 5 years I check a few cartridges I hold in reserve because at one time I read articles like this, but I have NEVER found a round that didn't fire.

The one precaution I would suggest for revolver shooters is to pay attention to is the amount of lube in the interior and exterior surfaces of the firearm so that it does not migrate to the cartridges.

In my experience, there is absolutely no need to apply excessive amount of lube to a revolver. A very light coat of Hoppe's Gun Oil (mineral oil) applied with a "paint style" brush is all that is needed as a preservative on the interior and exterior surfaces. There should be no visible signs of free-standing lube on the surfaces. For the bore and cylinder chambers, after lubing with a very light coat of oil, I run a dry patch through which removes any excess free-standing lube. In my experience, this provides enough protection against corrosion and at the same time, has the firearm ready for use.
 
I START to get, a Bit Nervous WHEN, My Handgun ammo, is OVER,.. 25 Years Old !
I'm still shooting 80 Year old Gun Powder and 35 Year Old Primers ( Stored correctly ) but I won't Hunt Grizzlies with them. Don't get, any Oil, on your Primers as THAT can, Kill them and get You,.. "Hurt" !
I shoot My Semi-auto pistols every Month to, De-Compress, the Striker Springs and make sure that, My old, Trigger Finger still,. "Works"
 
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I START to get, a Bit Nervous WHEN, My ammo is,... OVER 25 Years Old
I'm still shooting 80 Year old Gun Powder and 35 Year Old Primers ( Stored correctly ) but won't Hunt Grizzlies with it. Don't get, any Oil, on your Primers as, THAT can Kill them and,. You !
I shoot My Semi-auto pistols every Month to, De-Compress, the Striker Springs and make sure that, My old, Trigger Finger,.. still "Works"
Are your triggers righty or lefty. Lol
 
You guys DO realize that, YouTube Vid's, ARE "Designed" to, GET,.. "Clicks" !
Most of, the Guys posting "Chit" on U=tube are,.. incompetent, NewBie,.. idjit's
But they make, Money and some inexperienced People,.. actually believe them !
I'd just be very careful about, WHAT,.. "You" believe !
IF stored properly, 20 year old, MAJOR Brand factory Ammo, WILL shoot,.. Fine
 
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I live in Arizona ; so it isn't as critical a issue as it is in the places with higher humidity , and cold winters . No issues with Salt corrosion , either , so different rules apply out here . I store things in a Bedroom closet that is air conditioned , and temps run at 80 degrees year round in that room and closet . Eighty is kind of the "Mean" Temp between our Summer Highs , and Winter Lows , and we only have a few weeks of outside high humidity during Monsoon season . I have handgun and rifle ammo that has been loaded for fifteen years , and it works just fine .

As far as guns are concerned ; I think the biggest issue we have to deal with in the Desert is our famous Arizona "Micro-Dust", that looks like powder , and gets on everything . I have several Horse-hair paint brushes I use to brush my gun periodically on the outside , scopes included . And lube according to the MFG instructions . Always being sparing in how much . Less is more .
 
About forty years ago I bought a mint Trapdoor. The LGS I got it from told me he had some ammunition for it. It was government issue, and the crate was marked 1886, iirc. I shot some, even hunted deer and Elk with some. About a year ago I got the last 20 rounds out and shot it. They all went bang. Of course I live in Idaho where the humidity is seldom over 25% unless it is raining or snowing.

This sounds like somebody who has a vested interest in selling you ammunition. I'd ask him if his company is turning out crap instead of quality...

ISS
 
When I was teaching this question came up frequently. I would recommend my students run a magazine, or better two, through their carry gun every 1-2 months (wheel guns 2-3 cylinders worth). I would then tell them not necessarily to cycle the ammunition, more importantly to get them to a minimum of self-training with their carry gun and the ammunition they have selected to carry. For those that carry auto-loaders and frequently unload and then load, to rotate the ammunition in their magazines so the same cartridge isn't slammed into the breech repeatedly and to inspect their ammunitions and magazines frequently.

I have ammunition that is almost as old as I am (and I'm older than dirt!) and would use it for serious business, however my suggestion to those that are concerned about ammunition age and use to rotate as often as their emotions guide them!!
 
Just a piece of advice here.
If you are using reloaded ammo for self defense, please stop. If you ever have to shoot someone, the attorney for the bad guy and or his family will make you out to be the mentally deranged individual that loaded this ammo for the sole purpose of inflicting undue damage to his client. Please use factory ammo in you carry guns and have the backing of the mfg. legal team if needed.
I'll put my flame suit on later.

Lloyd
 
Just a piece of advice here.
If you are using reloaded ammo for self defense, please stop. If you ever have to shoot someone, the attorney for the bad guy and or his family will make you out to be the mentally deranged individual that loaded this ammo for the sole purpose of inflicting undue damage to his client. Please use factory ammo in you carry guns and have the backing of the mfg. legal team if needed.
I'll put my flame suit on later.

Lloyd
Please give reference to your claim.

Just more internet myth.....
 

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