thjk

Several gun owners around here believe we should use the 'real' bullets to fire off our newly purchased gun rather than the 'practice' bullet.

Is this belief true or not and why?

andybothel

Are you talking about SD rounds rather than cheap target ammo?

Never heard that before. You'll want to run some of your carry ammo through it before carrying it or as your home defense weapon but don't think it matters what ammo is 'first'.

I have always run some factory ammo first before reloads, but thats for my own reference for when I build loads for it rather than any other reason.

Spike12

That's a new one on me too.

I think the myth of 'breaking in' a barrel is largely dispelled. Modern steels and modern manufacturing have given us guns and other things (cars) that are pretty much beyond that. Folklore dies hard.

It is strongly suggested that you at least field strip and clean it before firing that first shot. Some guns have been found to have metal filings in them, be way over lubed or bone dry.

onelonehorseman

Agreed. ALways strip, clean, and lube to the specs in the owner's manual before firing. I always start shooting with a reliably consistent factory load that I am familiar with to see how the gun shoots; but that is just a personal preference.

Cheers,
Tim

bwinters

For a revolver I tned to shoot jacketed rounds first to remove any rough edges along the inside of the barrel. Then I shoot either lead or jackets as my budget dictates.

Nutty Ned

What ever ball ammo I can get, usually WWB.

SicSemper

ใช้แปล bing เป็นอินเทอร์เน็ต ใช่
Tranaslation
Use bing translator it is the internet, yes.

TMD

Ok I give up. Whats a real bullet and whats a practice bullet?

SicSemper

SD bullet is real bullet and practice bullet is FMJ

spartan88

I shoot a lot of cheap FMJ first. You need x amount of rounds to break a gun in I prefer to use cheap ammo for a break in.

Sal1950

Cheap, ball, full metal jacket stuff.
Easy to feed and smooth out-break in the bullets fiction surfaces in the weapon. Specially important if you think you may run some lead later on.
Sal

KJS

I suppose .38 could be called practice "bullet" & .357 the real thing. I don't know either.

b.thomas

Use whatever you have at hand. Hollow-point (hp) or full metal jacket (fmj)..............it don't really matter!
Most folks use fmj for practice and hp for hd.
I have two 9mm range pistols and neither one has ever had hp ammo shot in it, always fmj target ammo.