While properly stored ammunition has a nearly indefinite shelf life (as covered in our “Ammo Storage 101” blog), your carry ammo is a bit of a different story.
Your carry ammo is exposed to temperature fluctuations, and moisture such as humidity, rain and sweat. All of these things can degrade your ammunition, potentially having a negative impact on its reliability.
Additionally, some folks that carry a round in the chamber, have the habit of ejecting the chambered round, and then reusing that ejected round. We strongly advise against this practice. Each time the round is chambered, there is a chance that the projectile can be pushed deeper into the casing, potentially creating a problem that could cause catastrophic failure.
Even though all Defiant Munitions 9mm ammunition is cannelured to help prevent this from happening, we strongly advise against reusing a round that has previously chambered and ejected.
Depending on your environment and daily activities, it is advisable to inspect your carry ammo frequently. We suggest monthly at a minimum, weekly is better. Don’t forget to check your back-up/spare carry magazines as well…you’d be surprised how much lint, dust and moisture can accumulate in your magazines over a short period of time.
Check thoroughly for scratches, or dents, as well as for signs of moisture, such as discoloration of the casing and/or projectile. Any rounds showing signs of wear and/or degradation should be removed from use and replaced.
Because of the exposure of carry ammo to moisture, dust and dirt, we recommend that you replace your carry ammo at least every six months. Many law enforcement agencies, experienced instructors and enthusiasts suggest you do so quarterly. We agree that this is a good practice.
As always, ensure safe gun handling practices at all times by adhering to the primary tenants of firearms safety.
- Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.
- Never let the muzzle point at anything that you are not willing to destroy.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to shoot.
- Be sure of your target and everything around and behind it.