[JRWnTN]

I've read that when selecting defensive ammo for auto pistols to fire 100 rounds (or more, depending on the source), to make sure the ammo functions properly in the chosen pistol.

My question is whether to fire the amount of ammo at one time, without cleaning, or to stretch this into two or more sessions of 50 rounds each.

The basis for the question is that my Colt Compact will shoot everything I've tried for about 50-60 rounds. Then, with several brands of JHP's, I'll have an occasional feeding problem.

 

[Charlie Petty]

That sounds more like a dirty gun than ammo problem.

Today's ammo is much more carefully designed and it really is pretty rare to find any of the good quality loads that aren't reliable.

To me it is much more important to be comfortable with the gun and a couple of hundred rounds of cheap ammo can be more informative than 50- 100 expensive ones.

 

[JRWnTN]

Thanks, Mr. Petty. I was hoping for some of your advice. Perhaps I've been spoiled by the reliability of Glocks and Berettas.

 

[WaltGraham]

I had teething probs with my CDP early on. A wise man told me that new guns need some break-in time. Now, after a few thousand rounds, it'll feed most anything.

 

[Charlie Petty]

Let me expand on this topic just a little. Walt is right that shooting often solves problems and it might here, but I should also mention the importance of lubrication. On GM type pistols it doesn't take a lot, but a drop on each slide rail, one on the top of the barrel at the muzzle and another on top through the ejection port will do it. The gun's cycling will spread it around.

The compact or subcompact pistols are a little more susceptible to dirty gun troubles just because of their design. The slide travel of the smaller guns is somewhat reduced. The best way to see this is by looking at a full size gun and making a comparison. On the full size gun the slide travels back to a point where you can almost see the disconnector sticking up through the frame. You can see a goodly amount of clearance between the breech face and magazine well on the full size gun. With the shorter barrels and slides this clearance is reduced and you'll often see that the breech face barely goes past the edge of the magazine well. Anything that interferes with travel can contribute to stoppages. The itty-bitty guns need more frequent cleaning than full size pistols.

So do what Walt says and shoot it a bunch and see if it doesn't fix itself.

 

[JRWnTN]

Thanks, again.

Since buying the pistol several years ago, I've learned that there's more to making a smaller 1911 than cutting off part of the barrel and slide.

Over the years, I've probably fired close to a thousand rounds through it, using it for a long time in our range's monthly short-barrel program. IIRC, the malfunctions would occurr late in the day, and I my lead reloads are not the cleanest.

 

["yote"]

Pound it out all at once. That's how you find out if you have a
cleaning or feeding issue etc....