CYCLING ROUNDS

[K1LLROI]

I searched and came up with nothing..
I have heard two sides to this story..so Calgunners please help..
I posted in general gun discussion because this goes for rifles, handguns, and shotguns..

Is it safe to cycle rounds without firing them.? I do this to my handguns occassionaly..I "heard" that if the bullet cycles and exits without stovepiping then its good to go..is this true for rifles and shotguns..?
Is this true period.?

This is what I've been told to do to check if a handgun is good or if its a jammer..is this right??

Ive got some new toys, and well haven't had time to test them..but I want to know if they're ready to go..in a HD situation I want to know if they go bang..don't want my babies to jam..especially when family is at stake..

So is this the correct way? Or am I causing more harm than good to my babies..
Maybe I just need to get out and test them..

All feedback is appreciated...Thanks.

[joelogic]

Usually people will cycle live ammo to check a build they just completed. But if you have store bought guns why dont you just go shoot them.

[aermotor]

Though not economical in all cases, I use action proving rounds when testing my guns, you never know when there might be an accidental discharge, and if that happens and you've got live ammo, you better have that thing pointed in a safe direction and whatever is beyond that direction needs to be safe as well.

As a personal rule of thumb for me, I don't ever load and test live ammo in my guns at home, perhaps keep them loaded, but not so much cycle them to make sure they are working good.

I'm not saying it's not safe at all, it probably is fine, but better safe than someone seriously injured or dead.

[Geo]

So called "cycling rounds" is for idiots. You are well on your way to having a negligent discharge by following this practice anywhere you wouldn't want your gun to discharge.

Moreover, so called "cycling rounds" WILL NOT determine if your weapon will function in a SHTF situation.

Take your firearms to an appropriate place and shoot them.

[Tweak338]

If you are going to cycle some live ammo, remove the firing pin.
Or do it at a range.
Dont be stupid and have a ND

[aermotor]

Take out your firing pin if you are going to do this.

Good solution.

[Mikeb]

One other problem with cycling rounds is that the bullet can be set back in the case and increase pressure. The round hits the feed ramp and pushes the bullet back into the brass case. This can effect accuracy and increase pressure.
take care
Mike

[B Strong]

I searched and came up with nothing..
I have heard two sides to this story..so Calgunners please help..
I posted in general gun discussion because this goes for rifles, handguns, and shotguns..

Is it safe to cycle rounds without firing them.? I do this to my handguns occassionaly..I "heard" that if the bullet cycles and exits without stovepiping then its good to go..is this true for rifles and shotguns..?
Is this true period.?

This is what I've been told to do to check if a handgun is good or if its a jammer..is this right??

Ive got some new toys, and well haven't had time to test them..but I want to know if they're ready to go..in a HD situation I want to know if they go bang..don't want my babies to jam..especially when family is at stake..

So is this the correct way? Or am I causing more harm than good to my babies..
Maybe I just need to get out and test them..

All feedback is appreciated...Thanks.

Unless you'e in an area where the discharge of the weapon would do no harm to you, others, or private property, I'd never do it.

They make dummy rounds for you to use in any other situation, and be darned sure that's what your using if you're doing this at home.

[rolo]

Riding the action to see if it is going to jam won't tell you anything about the actual operation of your firearms. Many 1911's will jam every time you ride the slide to watch the rounds get stripped out of the mag, they need to "snap" into place which you can't make happen slowly.

But, like everyone else said, don't do it, you'll shoot your eye out, or kill someone you love, think of the children. If the plastic snap caps won't do it for you (some guns won't feed them) use the aluminum function-check dummies that are usually found next to the snap caps. But really the only way to function check them is to go out and shoot them. You need to get familiar with them before you can rely on them anyways.

[bill104]

Now if your cheap like me, and you reload, take a few fired rounds and load them with just a Bullet NO powder or new Primer, they make cool snap caps, I painted mine so I don't use them for anything else. the only time I run out rounds is att he range.

[K1LLROI]

Right on..
Thanks. Good advice...as always gentlemen.

The few times this happened..it was in the safest manner possible. I was buying a handgun through a PPT..and I had a chance to see it beforehand. I cycled a couple of those suckers..and well the dang thing never jammed on me ever again.

That's where the theory made some sense..and well I never thought it would discharge without pulling the trigger and with the safety on.

Well it won't happen again. I don't want a ND even if its the safest environment.

Guess i'll be going to the range this weekend. Hope I can find some local Calgunners.

Thanks again..forgive my grammer..its a freakin Iphone...
and I got the GF giving me dirty looks...

[Vinz]

There was a thread about the very subject about 5 months ago. It turned into a giant pizin match where several members were banned. Its nice to see grown ups discussing this very touchy subject in a civil manner. BRAVO!!


not safe to do, but if you must....take firing pin out. I like that.


vinz

[bohoki]

i cycle a clip* of my reloads just to make sure they don't have too much bulge and need to maybe crimp on my .45


*thats what i want to call it sue me

[Texas Boy]

I agree with the others here on using dummy rounds to cycle.

The only time I ever chamber live ammo at home is for the weapons I keep loaded and ready. Of course I have to clear these weapons for transport when I take them to the range - so this does mean a round is cycled - but that is it. And yes, always point the gun in a safe direction when doing so as the potential for a slam fire or accidental discharge is always there.

[Turbinator]

*thats what i want to call it sue me

You will be served your papers next week.

Back on topic - my favorite thing! To the OP - yes, do some searching here, we have hashed this over several times. Please do not cycle live ammo at a non range environment for the purposes of "testing". If you need to see if your firearm will cycle ammo reliably, please get some Action Proving Dummies from Brownells.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=24442&title=CENTERFIRE%20RIFLE%20ACTION%20PROVING%20DUMMIES

...or go with any of the other non-live round solutions other members have posted here.

Turby