Concealed Carry --> How often should you be shooting it at the range?

[John35y]

So I'm a relatively new shooter. Just got my LTC license a few weeks ago. I've been getting instruction from a friend who was an army ranger and he noted that I should be shooting my carry gun often so that I'm very proficient with it.

Now my concealed is a ruger LC9s. The only thing that worries me about his statement is the gun's durability using it on the range. Should you be firing off hundreds of shots with your concealed gun? Will it hold up with proper maintenance? If this isn't the case what is a good concealed gun that you can shoot often at the range for someone looking for a IWB carry gun that can be worn under a polo in the summer?

 

[xtry51]

You can shoot tens of thousands of rounds through a handgun and it will be fine. Shoot it as much as possible.

 

[usp45ct]

As often as you can afford to. It's not just a perishable skill, the better you are the more likely you and yours will live.

Train like your life depends on it, because it may.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Now my concealed is a ruger LC9s. The only thing that worries me about his statement is the gun's durability using it on the range. Should you be firing off hundreds of shots with your concealed gun? Will it hold up with proper maintenance?

A brand name quality gun will hold up with proper maintenance. This includes all Rugers, but does not include the S&W Sigma .380

Ruger has an excellent track record of providing service to any of their guns that develop problems.

 

[Palladin]

At a minimum, practice with it once a month

 

[CaseHardened]

I shoot it just once a year.

Just to remain familiar with all functions.

 

[AHM]

For the budget-minded, former gun blogger Kim du Toit recommends getting a .22 target pistol, and dumping tons of cheap ammo through it to perfect technique. (Of course, there was no .22 ammo shortage back when he recommended that). The other half of the plan is to finish each target session practicing with your carry piece, to transfer what you've just learned and refresh what you previously learned.

It ought to help if the target .22 has operation and controls similar to your carry piece. (I.e., same kind of action, the safety moves in the same direction; the magazine release is located in the same place).


If your carry piece feels the same to you firing expensive self-defense (hollow point) ammo and slightly cheaper full-metal jacket ammo, there's no need to break the bank shooting JHP instead of FMJ. But you have to shoot enough self-defense ammo for starters to establish that your carry piece operates very reliably with it.

No matter what your training regimen, if you carry a semi-auto pistol and don't shoot your carry ammo for target practice, then read up on "bullet setback". You want to avoid continually re-chambering the same cartridge every time you prep your gun for self-defense.

Hope this helps.

 

[45collector]

I shoot it just once a year.

Just to remain familiar with all functions.

Once a year? Damn. I would start to get depressed if that's how seldom I went to the range.

To the OP: Ruger makes excellent guns. I would not hesitate to shoot the living heck out of your LC9S. Oh and your Ranger buddy is a smart man. Listen to him. If you get to the point where you are shooting hundreds of rounds each week at the range, start thinking about reloading.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I have a couple of Ruger pistols that I treat just like all my other guns -- I shoot them all the time and clean them once or twice per year, and some less than once per year. They all work fine the way quality firearms are supposed to function.

I carry a Glock 26 most of the time, under a polo shirt. I shoot at least 500 rounds through it every year.

 

[minininjer]

Your Ruger is fine. As some others have already said, shoot it as often as you can. Start out with once a month, if you can. For me, ideally, I'd like to go every weekend but life happens and we don't make it to the range. When we do make it there, I often shoot at least 50 - 100 rounds through my carry gun. The more you practice, the better you are with your gun. You (probably?) can't get worse by going to the range

 

[kalash]

I have the same gun for carrying, home defense, range fun, and IDPA. I try to clean it every, oh I don't know, 800 rounds or so, just as preventative maintenance. I try to go to the range on average twice a month.

 

[ochmude]

You probably can't afford to shoot the gun enough to wear it out.

 

[peterthefish]

Concealed Carry --> How often should you be shooting it at the range?

You probably can't afford to shoot the gun enough to wear it out.

And if you can, the cost of replacing the gun is a rounding error in the amount of money you've spent on ammo.

 

[xtry51]

And if you can, the cost of replacing the gun is a rounding error in the amount of money you've spent on ammo.

So true. The cost of a firearm is pretty much moot compared to the cost of shooting it.

 

[StevenMcgrubber]

I try to go atleast once a month, normally fire between 50-100 rounds.

 

[radioman]

You probably can't afford to shoot the gun enough to wear it out.

This! That Ruger will out live you.

 

[Deleted member 12999]

There are thousands of things you can work on without even firing a shot. In case you didn't think of that angle.

For example: EVERYTHING ELSE YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO WITH A GUN besides learning to manage recoil.

 

[Chevy 2 65]

Shoot the shit out of it

 

[tuna]

Its a Ruger, you can't hurt it. And you're not going to kill any value by keeping it pristine, either. This is the beauty of Ruger guns and Estwing hatchet...they last forever no matter how bad you treat them.

 

[Sprocket]

So true. The cost of a firearm is pretty much moot compared to the cost of shooting it.

Firearms are like children - almost anyone can afford to make/get one, but the proper care and feeding once acquired is the hard part. That said, unplanned guns need love too.

Furthermore - In the words of my mother - I had five children, they were all may favorite just not all in the same way.

 

[greencobra]

i shoot my carry gun every time i go to the range, 1-2 times weekly. it's with me anyway so why not? i don't shoot several boxes thru it each outing but at least 3 or 4 magazines, just to keep me familiar with the gun.

 

[ioman2]

2 mags every range trip. After a while its amazing how a new gun feels very familiar. Doesnt happen overnight though.

 

[fencer]

Shoot as often as you can, but it is better to shoot 50 rounds per week than 500 rounds every 3 months.

I won't even consider a gun for carry until I have 500 rounds through it without a problem. Then I have to put a hundred or so with my carry ammo through it. Some guns have trouble with hollow points.

If you can't make it to the range, dry firing can be useful to help with trigger pull. A long time ago, someone recommended I try dry firing while trying to balance a penny at the end of the barrel on a double action revolver. In a week it made a huge difference in my shooting and trigger control. And it had the added benefit of driving my wife crazy as I shot at tv characters while making pew pew, and kaboom sounds. Good times...

You should also spend some time drawing your unloaded carry gun from a holster and dry firing and shooting with your weak hand. Pew Pew sounds are optional.

 

[chris_1001]

I shoot my carry guns very infrequently, on average less than once a year in rotation.

However I shoot IDPA and steel shoots 2-3 times a month with a full size gun.

When I do shoot my carry guns, I do well. So as far as I'm concerned, its the shooting in general that keep me sharp.

I would say if you do practice with your carry gun, get some time on drawing from the holster and mag changes at speed. Punching paper is easy, the rest take some skill under stress.

 

[Chet0729]

I try to shoot my carry gun on every range trip( couple times a week) . I try to shoot at least my main and backup magazines through it. it helps to stay familiar and function checks the gun and mags. Every 2 -3 months or so I also shoot the carry ammo and replace it with new ammo

 

[kmanick]

I try to hit the range twice a week.
I cycle through my guns almost everytime I go
50-100 rounds with my Ruger SR22(sometimes I just keep shooting this one it's so much fun)
50-100 with my Shield 9
50 with my M&P 9C (although I may replace this with a P320)
50-100 with my XDM 3.8 .45 (love this gun I'd love to get the 9mm version of it)
I cycle through all of my mags.
Sometimes I just bring one and shoot that exclusively (usually that's my shield)
so I regularly shoot at least 200 rounds twice a week.
I'm not a great shot but I'm getting very good (finally, it's costing me $$$$) LOL!
I got my shield in December last year and I've put over a 1000 rounds through it
I shoot it as often as possible.
Luckily FS is one stop from where I work and Wally world in Walpole is pretty close
to so I am always looking for bargain priced ammo
My thoughts? if you're going to buy it , shoot the shit out of it

 

[Rugerfan]

I carry the LC9S as well. It gets used every week at the range, 50 rounds or so practicing a specific drill. Then another mag or 2 just plinking. Round count is at 2000 or so, and the gun still looks like new and shoots even better.

Like others have said, your life or your loved ones life may depend on your ability to use this tool. Practice like you mean it. Have a plan. Execute the plan.

 

[John35y]

Shoot as often as you can, but it is better to shoot 50 rounds per week than 500 rounds every 3 months.

I won't even consider a gun for carry until I have 500 rounds through it without a problem. Then I have to put a hundred or so with my carry ammo through it. Some guns have trouble with hollow points.

If you can't make it to the range, dry firing can be useful to help with trigger pull. A long time ago, someone recommended I try dry firing while trying to balance a penny at the end of the barrel on a double action revolver. In a week it made a huge difference in my shooting and trigger control. And it had the added benefit of driving my wife crazy as I shot at tv characters while making pew pew, and kaboom sounds. Good times...

You should also spend some time drawing your unloaded carry gun from a holster and dry firing and shooting with your weak hand. Pew Pew sounds are optional.

Thank you all for the advice! I may have fallen in love with the sport and already put 200+ rounds through it. I clean the gun after every time I go to the range and haven't had a problem yet, except that my wallet is feeling a lot loss heavier .

I'm going to give this a try. I'm sure my girlfriend is going to love it

 

[Andy in NH]

The only thing that worries me about his statement is the gun's durability using it on the range. Should you be firing off hundreds of shots with your concealed gun?

In 2009, Chuck Taylor had a Glock with 750,000 rounds fired from it.

(I have not been able to Google any recent info on his torture test.)

Not an endorsement for Glocks specifically, but more of a testament of what modern firearms are capable of.

 

[Beardy 508]

Even when i go to the range to shoot other guns i always shoot my 2 carry guns. Every time when it comes down to it those are the gun's i need to be most proficient with. Had my shield roughly 7 months probably put 7-8000 rds thru it. Take good care of your guns and they should last a long time (unless its a Hi-point)