Rounds fired

[Fox Mike]

I hear, many times individuals say that they have fired (xxxxxxx) number of rounds through their various guns. What is the reason for keeping track of how many times any gun has been fired? Is this strictly a 'my gun has been shot more than yours' kinda thing? What is a logical reason?

 

[eveled]

Helpful for replacing springs, but other than that I have no idea.

I don’t keep track of mine, most were used when I got them. I replace springs and figure I will never wear them out again.

 

[gunzo]

Monitoring barrel wear, deteriorating accuracy, velocity changes resulting in the need for drop charts to be updated, maintenance intervals as to replacing springs per round count or previous history. Predicting failures or learning when failures might arise.
Kind of pertinent if one is on top of things & spends a lot of time with a gun or shoots it a lot. So much to be learned. So many problems to be predicted or avoided if one knows their guns history.

 

[Jeepnik]

Some folks are anal. Personally, I shoot for fun. Counting rounds seems like work. Cleaning isn't like an oil change in your car. You don't do it every so many rounds. Since I clean after every outing I certainly wouldn't need to keep count for that reason.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

On certain guns I keep a log. Especially my 1911's and M1A. I keep the same maintenance routine that I did as a military armorer. Every weapon was logged in when received from CRANE. They came with a card documenting round count, which was low as it was usually just test fire. Every weapon had a PMS card that documented the round count and routine maint and inspections. When it reached the round count required for overhaul it was sent back to CRANE with the cards.

When I was competitive it was crucial to keep round count to ensure proper operation. Things wear out quickly when subjecting to high round counts.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I forgot to count the rounds everyone shot out of my 1911 on Thanksgiving. I knew how many before that. Why? Because I bought it barely used and the seller knew how many were through it when I got it. Also helps if you choose to sell. Shows you care.

 

[peachhead]

I forgot to count the rounds everyone shot out of my 1911 on Thanksgiving. I knew how many before that. Why? Because I bought it barely used and the seller knew how many were through it when I got it. Also helps if you choose to sell. Shows you care.

So because I don't count rounds, I don't care about my guns? That's a little ridiculous.
I can see it if you are a competitive shooter. Otherwise, if you just makes you feel good to know, that's fine. I don't need to know.

 

[Fox Mike]

I forgot to count the rounds everyone shot out of my 1911 on Thanksgiving. I knew how many before that. Why? Because I bought it barely used and the seller knew how many were through it when I got it. Also helps if you choose to sell. Shows you care.

I probably take as good care of my guns as I do myself (which is very good) and have never seen the need to count how many rounds have been fired through each gun I own. I have one gun that was my grandfathers and it still shoots as well as it did when I was a kid. No idea how many times it has gone 'bang".

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I don't keep records, but have a rough idea of how many rounds I've fired . . . emphasis on "rough".

And I've noted a few folks for whom it appears to be "bragging rights" . . . particularly among "gunwriters".

 

[DGW1949]

Sometimes it's important from a maintenance perspective, sometimes not so much.

DGW

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I never even heard about round count until the internet came around.
Back in those days you could look at a gun and see how well it was taken care of.
Apparently not any more.

 

[rkrcpa]

Best I can say is approximately how many bullets I have purchased of a particular caliber. Since this is spread across multiple guns and decades it is of limited value. I find it easier too just perform maintenance on an as needed basis, I am not at risk of wearing out any of my guns.

 

[contender]

I never counted rounds as a kid & while growing up. Heck,, if I was out hunting or whatever,, I'm focused on the activity & not worried about round count.
I clean a gun when I think it needs it,, and that depends upon it's use & such. I have a 1911 I shoot in USPSA occasionally now,, but it used to get shot a lot. I shoot a revolver now,, and never bothered to worry about it either.
Quality firearms can survive decades with normal maintenance. I tend to enjoy things more than worrying about round counts.
But everybody has their own methods & desires. If counting your rounds fired works for you,, perfectly fine by me.

 

[kmoore]

For the high power match rifles. M14s. M1s ARs its some what important as doing (PM) preventive maintenance before something might break during a match. Smallbore match rifles I kept a round count by cases of ammo fired. Round count was not really important as those rifles were built simple and strong compared to the semi auto high power rifles.
With other firearms I can guess the round count by boxes of bullets I used when reloading. Work guns where easy because yearly firing was a known number.
I say for firearms used in competition or military it is important. Others not so much.

 

[Jakeintexas]

I don't keep an exact count but have a general idea of how much my guns have been fired. Like has been said it's mostly to keep an eye on wear and potentially replace wear parts like recoil springs on very high use guns. I've put Chrome Silicon springs on my M4s which should last a lifetime. Most other springs have pretty long lifespans; perhaps 5-10,000 rounds or more (I do have a high round count CZ scorpion pistol where I did replace the recoil spring after around 6K rounds).

I did have a firing pin break on a Kimber K6S revolver (suspect it was the older brittle titanium pin) and it was useful to know and they asked how many rounds through it when I sent it back for warranty service -- it had broken after maybe 5-600 rounds and less than 1500 cycles. Which shows a genuine manufacturing deficiency. It came back fixed with hopefully the new steel firing pin.

With the Ruger SP-101 and blocks o' steel GP-100s it's probably wholly unnecessary. Although some very high cycle revolvers can have possible firing pin breakage due to wear and ALOT of dry firing (thinking in the tens of thousands of cycles). Had this happen once on a Smith 64 Brinks gun with a hammer mounted firing pin.

I think the LCRs recommend taking the grips off and moving/lubing the hammer pin area every 1000 cycles or so.

 

[gunzo]

Round count is a highly important thing to know when it comes to precision centerfire rifles. Anyone who knows them will not disagree or scoff at the thought.

Revolvers? Meh.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

I don't count, exactly. I have a rough idea of how much ammo I used each time at the range or whatever, because I have to replace it. However, I would think it's a good way to gauge the reliability of the weapon, and also the same for types of ammunition.

 

[jimbo1096]

I wished I shot so much that I needed to keep track of round count. But I don’t.

 

[coach]

Since I shoot mostly revolvers I never kept a record. Haven’t had one break yet.

 

[TestEngineer]

I don't count rounds all the time or on every gun. But counting rounds is really the only way to answer some questions.

Who makes the best extractor for this gun?

How long can I go without cleaning before problems arise?

How reliable is my modified gun compared to the OEM configuration?

The list goes on, but trying to answer without round counts only amounts to a guess or an opinion.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I say for firearms used in competition or military it is important. Others not so much

Exactly.....some folks don't realize that in a simple deployment work up some weapons can go through thousands of rounds in a very short time....probably more than the average Joe Schmo fires in a lifetime.

 

[Fox Mike]

I shot a M-16 in competition for a number of years. I have no idea how may rounds went downrange between practice and actual events . Normal PM was all it ever required.

 

[GasGuzzler]

So because I don't count rounds, I don't care about my guns? That's a little ridiculous.

Just because counting rounds does show potential buyers I care about the details when it's time to sell does not therefore automatically mean not counting means ... anything. Taking things out of context or twisting logic is a little more ridiculous than counting rounds. I have no clue on any other gun because I usually don't buy new and didn't keep track on the two I did.

 

[GunnyGene]

I'm counting for the breakin of the Colt. First time I ever bothered with it, but it gives me something to do.

A simple wordpad table. Feel free to steal it.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I shot a M-16 in competition for a number of years. I have no idea how may rounds went downrange between practice and actual events . Normal PM was all it ever required.

If that was your personally owned Service Match Rifle then that's on you and your preference. If it was a issued rifle then shame on the Armory when it was checked out. I can't speak of other branches of course. But when assigned to the Armory we logged all rounds fired through match grade pistols and rifles. For that matter service grade as well. I know for a fact a member of this forum checked out a Match Grade pistol before I arrived at the Armory at Miramar. He was a match shooter, and we did check out pistols/rifles for matches. We both know the Ordie who checked did the check out. When we discussed it and I discovered how it was done I was shocked (well not totally, the Armory guy was a dork). The way it was checked out was incorrect and would have lead to a missing weapon during weekly inventory if he was conducting the inventory process correct (which he wasn't). When he checked the pistol out he should have also issued a card to log the number of rounds fired. He didn't so the pistol could have missed the max round count. When I arrived as Armorer shortly after, he had moved on to the range as a SAMI (how he survived SAMI School is beyond me). I found a lot of processes not done correctly. I'm surprised there were no missing weapons. He should have been removed from that Division in my opinion but I was a lowly E5. Anyway, when you returned the weapon, you were expected to return the round count log. Only issued match ammo was to be used. The match ammo was strictly accounted for.
Now, the match grade weapons were not shot as much as the service grade. The service grade met max round count and were returned to CRANE more often than the match grade. Same for the DMR rifles.
The service grade 1911s were old. Some had been returned and overhauled dozens of times. Sears and disconnectors would at times fail near the max round count. This was really apparent during Operation Desert Shield and the ranges were filled and hot non stop during the build up. Most of the weapons that malfunctioned were 1911s near max round count.
If weapons were returned to CRANE after max round count, the OIC was notified....and it wasn't a pleasant chat for the folks in Ordnance Control/Admin or the Armory.

 

[Fox Mike]

Ref the above ^. WE were not allowed to do anything to the rifle except normal cleaning. The Armor was tasked with any other maintenance done or needed.

 

[peachhead]

Just because counting rounds does show potential buyers I care about the details when it's time to sell does not therefore automatically mean not counting means ... anything. Taking things out of context or twisting logic is a little more ridiculous than counting rounds.

I don't think I was taking it out of context based on the way it was written. I understand your point now that you've clarified what you were thinking

 

[vito]

It has never even occurred to me to even wonder how many or how few rounds I have fired. Years and years ago I might have kept a rough count with a new gun on the basis of the old practice of firing at least a few hundred before trusting the gun to go bang when needed. As to maintenance, other than cleaning I do nothing. If something stops working I would find a gunsmith to fix it. That hasn't happened in the last 20 years or so. Then again, I probably don't go through more than maybe 1,500 to 2,000 rounds total a year.

 

[mikeyr]

I forgot to count the rounds everyone shot out of my 1911 on Thanksgiving. I knew how many before that. Why? Because I bought it barely used and the seller knew how many were through it when I got it. Also helps if you choose to sell. Shows you care.

I disagree that it shows you care when you sell. If I buy a gun, I look at its overall condition, I don't believe (no matter how honest I think you are) when someone says only X number of rounds through a gun, that is a used car salesman talk and absolutely unbelievable. But even if you didn't keep count, it's easy to know how many you fired on turkey day, how many rounds did you go up with and how many did you come home with. I don't go to the range without minimum of a 100 rounds for every handgun I take with me, I go up with my ammo in those cool little plastic boxes that hold a 100 rounds, I usually come home empty you know how many you went up with so do the math. What shows you care is the condition of the gun, only that, nothing else.

 

[Peter]

I think some of the reason for round count is that is how people determine when to cleaning (every 500 or 1,000), when it needs to go to a gunsmith for a checkup (I have only had one gun go to a smith and that was because the safety switch broke while I was sighting it in. So I took it to a local gunsmith (about 50-75 from home), told him that the safety switch had broke (popped of where it came through the stock) please fix and check all the connecting parts!
I think those who do maintenance by round count have been in jobs where their life depended on the gun going bang each and every time they pulled the trigger, military, high end LEOs, undercover types.
I do know some guns require cleaning at lower round counts than others. I have pistols that I have cleaned once in the time I have owned them with no issues (aka malfunctions). I have another that started malfunctioning at a lower number of rounds than the others had on them.
I saw a guy on the net who said a gun should be cleaned every +/- 500 rounds or when the gun begun to malfunction. He added, "So mine are cleaned every 500 rounds because in former life I needed my gun to go bang every time I pulled the trigger!" Not sure I would be that anal, but I think every New Years, Birthday, Saint Rose of Lima Day, Saint Barbara Day, or Saint Michael the Archangel Day (chose one) would be a good Idea, depending how often you shoot; I know a guy who shoots almost daily and shoots 1,000-2,000, he may want to clean after each days shooting.