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How many rounds on a new Glock's first range outing?

  • 50 or less

    Votes: 9 5.9%
  • 51-100

    Votes: 39 25.5%
  • 101-150

    Votes: 30 19.6%
  • 151-200

    Votes: 34 22.2%
  • 201-250

    Votes: 24 15.7%
  • 251-300

    Votes: 7 4.6%
  • 301-499

    Votes: 5 3.3%
  • 500+

    Votes: 3 2.0%
  • o its in the sock drawer unfired!

    Votes: 2 1.3%

How many rounds for a new Glock?

4K views 46 replies 40 participants last post by  Sadie1300 
#1 ·
I was wondering what is the advice for a new Glock's first range visit. How many rounds?
 
#10 ·
Pistols?

Given my druthers, I prefer to run between 25-50 rounds per magazine through the gun for the first range session. It's not just the gun I want to confirm offering normal operation and functioning, but each magazine. (Yes, I prefer to do the same thing for each new magazine I may acquire for the gun, over time.)

This is more of a personal guideline, than a rule.

Obviously, if I'm taking 3 magazines to the range, and I use closer to 50 rounds through each magazine (than 25 rounds), I'll end up shooting probably 150+ rounds through the new gun. Using only 2 magazines, and/or using closer to the 25rd lower limit, it could result in only shooting 50+ rounds, which is a bit lighter than I'd prefer to go for confirmation of normal operation. I like to run at least 100rds for normal confirmation checks.

If possible, I prefer to use whatever JHP ammo it is I've been using (or which has previously been issued or authorized). That may be just the current JHP load, or it may be a mix of current and previous JHP loads (especially if I'm going to be using any previously established carry loads for normal retirement carry).

Now, this is all only taking the gun and magazines into account. Having invested many years as a firearms instructor, I've already gotten an idea of the extent of the "shooter-influence" that is usually at work. ;)

Then, there's the ammunition influence. If a new brand/line of ammunition is involved, generally meaning something I've not previously used (or at least not used in that gun), or something that's just hit the market without much in the way of LE/Gov usage, I may "up" the count a bit.

Now, for revolvers? My confirmation range time is likely measured more in the number of cylinder-loads, often numbering 5-10. Even if it's a relatively "new" load, as long as it's a quality or "premium" line of one of the major makers, I may only run a couple of cylinder-loads through a particular revolver. As much to assess felt recoil, primer sensitivity and POA/POI, as normal functioning of the revolver. (I inspect the operation and functioning during bench inspection and dry-fire, and having been trained as a S&W revolver armorer helps me check for things before I hit the firing line. ;) )
 
#13 ·
When we're talking about a major make/model that's benefited from exhaustive use in LE hands, that's seemingly often not a problem ... unless it is.

One of our guys had the RSA disassemble itself, and lock up the gun, when he brought his NIB G27 to the range for the first time (for a qual). Nothing seemed problematic until he tried to fire the first magazine load through it. ;)

Normal inspections (including proper hand cycling) can help catch some obvious issues. However, sometimes something that may require correction can still pop up during initial live-fire.

In another instance I remember, when we were preparing to begin some T&E with a couple of NIB SIG's we'd received, being a P220 and P226, we decided to run a few mags through them before they were put out for T&E (by the people selected to participate in the T&E program). The ammunition was the current duty .40/.45 loads. The guns were hand-cycled and visually checked, confirming nothing appeared out of the ordinary, and each gun was confirmed as being "noticeably" lubed with the TW25B SIG was using at that time. The magazines were loaded with the current JHP ammo. Each gun was fired by a different instructor, while I observed.

Each of the instructors experienced a single feeding stoppage during the first magazine load (think middle to later in the mag loads). What the hell were the chances, right? Oh well.

Once those hiccups were out of the way, the guns ran just fine for the rest of the session (and I fired both, myself), as well as during the subsequent T&E program.

Sometimes it may not hurt to run a few more rounds through some NIB pistols, meaning in addition to whatever function-check rounds may have been fired at the factory before shipping. ;)

Or, you can not do so, and hope the particular gun you're carrying isn't one of the ones that may exhibit a hiccup during the first magazine load in your hands, and especially if you desperately need it not to have a "hiccup", essentially out of the box.

FWIW, I don't remember the number of factory "test" rounds Glock may currently be doing for newly produced guns, but according to my notes a couple of recerts ago, we were told they shot 2 "proof loads" and 5 "regular" loads in new guns. A "proof" load was defined (in the class) as being 130% of standard pressure.

In my various M&P pistol armor recerts, I've heard that they test-fire each M&P with 15 standard rounds (brand of ammo varies), using 3 different "test" mags (not the mags packaged with the guns). Nothing was said about production inspections using proof loads, outside of those use during R&D, done by engineering.

I can't remember what SIG told us regarding test-fire in their armorer class.
 
#14 ·
As many or as few as you want.

I tend to the "A new gun, yay. Lets shoot it a lot." crowd. But there is no requirement. There are a lot of people on this forum that buy guns and have never fired them. I am puzzled by this personally but its certainly their right.
 
#16 ·
Me, usually just 2 boxes or so (100-150 rounds) but I prefer to continue the same weekly/biweekly until I am pretty sure (or at least satisfied) that there were no factory-produced issues.

As a handgun shooter for almost 40 years, I can say one thing with complete certainty; when you become tired or sore, STOP shooting. At the point of fatigue, you are simply putting money in Winchester, Federal, or Remington's pockets.
 
#18 ·
the minimum just to check for function is at least a 100 rd value pack or two

and I always empty a few magazines in rapid fire to test reliability, and also shoot it on paper to make sure it's on target and the sights are lined up

also try some one handed firing to see if it's reliable shooting it one handed.
 
#19 · (Edited)
I just load each mag a couple times and blast away. I want to be sure it feeds and cycles with each mag full and with one left in the mag. I never kept count as I always had some left from a 100 rd value pack. Just got the G35 and took two 50 rd boxes of Federal I got cheap. There's still some ammo in one of those boxes.

I've been pretty fortunate. I haven't had any issues with any of my Glocks, so far, or any of the magazines, FTM.

eta - Ah...I voted 51 to 100. Who the heck has the discipline to be happy with less than 50?
 
#20 · (Edited)
I voted 100-150 but it is variable, I tend to shoot more (150-200) when it is 9 mm and less (50-100) when I am shooting .380 or .45. This is my general practice for most range outings, 2x-3x a week I run 100-150 rounds through one of my 9 mms, and 50-100 rounds through one of my .380s or .45s. On a new gun I always make sure to load all new magazines to capacity and shoot several loads through them.

At some point I also run SD ammo through each magazine. I live in Los Angeles and cannot carry but I still want to make sure there are no feeding issues on any of my guns.
 
#22 ·
I few years ago, I had an opportunity to talk to a Sig engineer about break in periods. He stated that Sig (and most firearms) didn’t need a break in period but that the practical realities of manufacturing were such that it was prudent to ensure your gun went bang every time. So his personal recommendation was “a few hundred rounds with zero failure”. So to this day, I test fire my new guns at least four hundred trouble-free rounds before I call it good.
 
#24 ·
I usually run at least 200 of at least 4 different brands of range ammo. Then one hundred or so of a couple of self defense loads.

My newest g19.4 got 300 rounds of range and a big Ziploc bag of assorted hollow points. There was at least 150 rounds of assorted weights and brands. And no failures of any kind!
 
#25 ·
I'm not saying people are wrong about breaking it in, but that does not mean it has to happen at the first range session.
 
#26 ·
First range visit? No preference although I prefer at least 1000 rounds of mixed ammo (various grains, standard FMJ and self defense ammo) before I consider it trustworthy. I have used as little as 100 rounds on a first trip for a firearm and as much as 500.
 
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