Pistol 500 Round Break-In ~ A very silly myth

You might have heard, or perhaps have been counselled by a dealer, that a new pistol or revolver requires the firing of 500 rounds of ammo before it's broken in. GunBlue490 explains the utter nonsense behind this most ridiculous of claims that seeks to drain your wallet and will do absolutely nothing to improve your gun.

[@darylmullen5201]

Sir, i am a begining gunsmith. I am have seen all of your videos. They have kick started my learning curve into overdrive. You are a wealth of knowledge and i would like to personally thank you. Thank you for taking your time to help us knowledge hungry few. Also my heart is with you in your struggle with Benny. May God bless you and yours.

[@KingKodiacBear9]

Hmm… I have a Colt 1911 Government and when I got it brand new, I ran it very hard in training and had quite a few failures I was concerned about. But funny enough, after about 500-600 rounds, the gun felt real loose and I no longer have failures. Idk if my gun manual suggests a break in period but I’ve seen the suggestion in other manuals. Maybe the magazines got broken in? I’ve used the same 10 mags during all training. Anyway, I’m sure the break in period is a myth for many firearms, but I feel I have anecdotal evidence my gun needed a break in period.

[@SC68170]

I've heard many people say 1911s need a 500 rd break in period ..don't know if its true or not.. maybe some people with more knowledge about the gun can answer. Anybody?

[@wallacejeffery5786]

Had the same happen in my kimber

[@newenglandrider3189]

Most 1911 manufacturers recommend a break-in period, they even put it in their manual which no one reads. Check your manual, it will say the 1911 needs a break-in period.

[@ralfmohr1849]

Same thing with my Dan Wesson Specialist.

[@CitizenCarrier]

@@newenglandrider3189Which is why I don’t own a 1911. I want my shit to work properly from the first shot.

[@DOOMJESUS]

sounds like a good way to sell more ammo.

[@ScrewKeanu]

Thats ALL it is.

[@CC-te5zf]

Bingo! If it's a .45 ACP, that's an additional $300.00 at todays prices. No thanks. If it was good enough for a major manufacturer to put their name on it, put it in their box and ship it out of the factory with a warranty, I assume it will kill bad guys.

[@edwardprice140]

6:46 "The slide cycling doesn't require ammunition." RACK RACK RACK RACK !!!!

[@Bouzoukiellas]

lolol i loved that

[@The_SmorgMan]

Rusty Highlander I watched that video yesterday.

[@gregoryhall2967]

Yup save your ammo

[@mr.gunwrites2491]

Some say there is no need but I completely disassemble every firearm I buy and clean it throughly before I ever fire a round. I do that to completely familiarize myself with the piece more that the actual need to clean the gun. That said, I'm amazed at some of the crud(gritty gummy cutting fluids, grinding residue, etc.) I've found through the years. If happiness is a warm gun, then peace -of-mind is a well cleaned, properly functioning firearm. Mr. GunBlue490 Sir, Thanks for all you do for all of us who want to learn from the Master. It is greatly appreciated!

[@blusky7072]

That is a most excellent practice and helps towards being safe with an unfamiliar firearm. I do the same also, new or pre-owned. I like to know the little details, like cracks in the barrel, an unsafe and worn cocking sear, bent barrels, etc. And I also clean and lube as most firearms I have purchased were dry and carbon coated!

[@justindurante1740]

Yes and its good practice to know ur firearm i dont completely disassemble some firearms like my bar2 safari some shotguns and lever actions and pistol triggers and stuff

[@jc.1191]

I just got one a couple days ago. Manual states to clean it first because it's shipped with anti rust compound that must be removed. Lower receiver and the bore. A few manufacturers probably do that if not most.

[@jb111082]

That was a practice that my Grandfather got me into very early on, and it's paid off if you ask me.

[@maxmccain8950]

I agree completely. I’ve found all kinds of crud in new firearms. Machine oil and metal shavings are real common. Plus, some oils may not play well together. Now I KNOW that’s it’s clean and well lubed. If I have any malfunctions I know it won’t be because of the lubrication.

[@AGamersWorld1993]

Thanks, I just bought my first firearm two weeks ago. Everyone kept telling me I have to break in my gun, thanks for straightening this out for me. Cheers.

[@gradybird3336]

Indeed sir! I'm 67 and never heard of break-in periods until the last 15 years or so. Guns were expected to run. I purchased a Springfield Ronin 4.25" about three years ago. Since I'd bought it for EDC, I shot hollowpoints in it from brand new. The second-ever round was a FTF and since then it's been 100% with all ammo. Thank you for your contributions!

[@Al-Fiallos]

Thank you for your common sense explanation. I like to run about 200 rounds through a new gun but only to assure myself that the action and mags are reliable.

[@weldingjunkie]

Especially mags

[@antinatalist]

I came here looking for lessons on how to "properly break in a Kimber 1911". Instead I found some common sense. Thanks for this!

[@Junior-fd8ux]

I do believe Kimber actually did tell you to shoot 4-500 rounds before depending on 100percent. I’m not second guessing this man’s advice I’m with him but did read that info from Kimber. Mine ran fine from the start.

[@behindenemylines7623]

You sir, are one of the few truly honest and knowledgeable firearm channels! Your knowledge and experience is invaluable! THANKS, for your sincerity and not becoming an infomercial!

[@GunSam]

If there was any claim to the number 500 rounds, the only thing I would think is that maybe it's a claim from a century ago where guns were all hand fitted. I cannot imagine that a modern gun that is designed on computers and all of that would need more than one round to confirm it fires!

[@Richard-pt4ym]

The new production 1911's for the civilian market are being built with tighter tolerance then the one the US Army used. That is why they tend to have some jamming malfunction until that are run in, which is lapping the slide rails to the frame rails. The round count would very a lot from gun to gun. But brake in is a real thing.

[@B_R_]

With all due respect, you are wrong on this, and not because of group think being passed around. You might be used to older handguns that were built better, but newer stuff is often rough and junky inside. I've had several new guns lately that start out with mild hangups, that clear up after shooting a few boxes of ammo. You can rack the slide manually, but that's no substitute for the extreme pressure, heat, and speed of the slide when the gun is fired. It's much more friction on those brand new machined parts with crisp edges and tiny burrs. It's even mentioned in many owners manuals now.

[@mrarivv0007]

Just a marketing ploy to get you to buy more ammo. What you said is false. You just need to clean your firearms and stop buying junk.

[@B_R_]

@@mrarivv0007 Smith & Wesson, Glock, and Ruger don't make or sell ammo. It would be pretty stupid for them to try to get me to buy more ammo with marketing tricks. You must not have thought your comment through very well.

[@chrismead5446]

I’ll be honest here. I bought a brand new 1911 and I kept count of every round that went through it. I was having 2 malfunctions per 50 round box. After the 623 round the malfunctions ceased. I now have exactly 2,000 rounds through the pistol with a handful of the same quality magazines. I have not had a single malfunctions since the 623 round. So for 1,377 rounds the pistol has fired flawlessly. That is what I considered to be a break in period. And the funny part is that the manual suggests 500 rounds through the pistol before calling customer service. That’s my experience. I’ve also had 2 other 1911s that were having some issues straight out of the box, but the problems disappeared within the first 200 rounds. I’m not sure why this is the case, but that’s just my personal experience.

[@BR-pv6mj]

I appreciate your thoughtful, honest and intelligent commentary. I am glad I found your channel. I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@bandman1967]

Thanks ever so much for this video. I am a retired teacher, a newbie for sure. This video saved me a lot of money and I am so happy I found you!! God bless you.

[@Sandhill1988]

Finally someone who speaks sense and logic, thank you sir. Especially nowadays with computer-controlled CNC machinery everything is made precisely. You can do a break-in before you even get to the range handcycle like you said and you can even polish your feed ramp and chamber. I do that every time and I never have an issue.

[@backpackingbushcraft6391]

My Les Baer Custom 1911 came with a letter that highlighted the need to fire 500 rounds to 'reach normal performance levels' and they recommended that 'you DO NOT disassemble the pistol before you reach the 500 round break-in period' due to the 'extremely close tolerances in fitting the slide to frame and barrel fit' I am only commenting with this as an FYI if you will. All your assertions in this video seem logical and common sense based. I enjoy your content and find you to be the most knowledgable person as relates to firearms I have watched to date. Thank you for your content sir!

[@flyknuckle]

Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations because they actually made the firearm. Just because something makes sense doesn’t mean it’s actually the truth. I’m not saying anything negative about this gentleman. However, every new firearm should be shot before being carried on your person. 500 rounds is just an industry standard set by gun manufacturers.

[@worldhello1234]

@@flyknuckle "Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations because they actually made the firearm." Unless you are someone with reason and common sense who doesn't blindly believe anyone. "Just because something makes sense doesn’t mean it’s actually the truth." That is a bunch of claptrap because in this case it has to make sense to even qualify as truth. "500 rounds is just an industry standard set by gun manufacturers." It is rather you perpetuating a myth.

[@garagegunguy5089]

I always wanted to believe that the 500 round count came from Les Baer custom 1911’s he suggested that it be fired 500+ times before you call the shop with your issues. I believe that in a 1911 they require some firing to see what magazines are the most reliable in the gun, and things like that. If you go buy a higher end 1911 such as an infinity or higher grade competition pistol load it and enter a class with it. The best option is to buy a Glock 19 load it, test fire a magazine , then put it in the holster and move on with your day knowing it’s going to work

[@FierceMouse]

I am not a smart gunsmith, but I know from experience tolerances can loosen after a couple 100 rounds making the firearm more reliable.

[@GunBlue490]

In my years of experience as a certified armorer and police firearms instructor, I issued many hundreds of brand new revolvers and pistols, fresh out of the box, made variously by Smith and Wesson, Ruger, and Sigarms. Cylinder yokes and cranes opened snugly at first, but married almost immediately with the first few openings and closings, even before firing a shot. All revolvers functioned and fired perfectly. Auto slides were similarly snug. As with the revolvers, I led the officers through a simple process of racking the slides a dozen times without ammo, after which they fired them through the new issue familiarization qualification course. I will state unequivocally that any handgun that requires firing to become reliable is a badly designed gun that is NOT made to well established, industry standards for service and defense that have been the norm for over 150 years. It is furthermore a silly myth that a handgun must be very tight to be very accurate, or that common industry tolerances signify junk, run of the mill guns. I am an NRA Distinguished Expert, which means placing virtually every shot over a 60 round course of fire into the 10 & X rings of an NRA B-27 target with a service revolver or pistol. I personally test fired every handgun that the department issued, firing six rounds at 25 yards, and every gun had the capability of such accuracy out of the box, usually with little to no sight adjustment, and these were run of mill. A good gun loosens from an operational status because it doesn't leave the factory until it's working to specification. It does not become operational because it requires the owner to do what is the responsibility of the manufacturer. Loosening up should not be a requirement for reliability, which is the true mark of poorly made junk.

[@FierceMouse]

@@GunBlue490 - Well, I guess I can't challenge your expertise so I'll just concede. Great video as always and thank you!

[@Brownvillarats]

Hi GunBlue! I spent a week breaking in my new pistol using your method before watching your video. I took it to the range yesterday and it fired flawlessly...like its supposed to. The "break in period" should be time used getting to know your weapon in my opinion. Inspect it, clean it, play with it, sleep with it, eat with it, etc. Thanks for spending your time on making these great videos and I for one appreciate it very much. Keep up the good work and God Bless!!!!

[@leonardjanda6181]

Great job sir, hope you had a happy thanksgiving 🍁🍽. And nice seeing you again .

[@jakesshopandtracktalk1835]

I am not disputing you, I agree. Just as an fyi, in the manual for my Ruger LCP, a 500 round break in is recommended. shoots good now, shot good before. I think Ruger recommend s this for the shooter, not the gun. It's in a person's best interest to be very familiar with a firearm if they intend to stake their life in it. no, I didn't burn 500 rounds immediately, but it took a lot to be able to hit good scores with that tiny pistol.

[@darrinmcgann]

I find any time that I spend listening to this gentleman to be worthwhile!

[@nathanlambshead4778]

100% agree

[@jakeroberts3070]

A break in period is not a myth. Firearms are mass produced and any machine marks or burrs will be filed down and smoothed with operation. Very high end or custom pistols dont require it. Many guns even out and especially DA/SA pistols improve with round counts.

[@jakeroberts3070]

It isnt 500 rounds, maybe with a terribly made gun. Could be 5 rounds, could be 50.

[@jamescooper7272]

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@patmancrowley8509]

My guns have shot very well out of the box. Though I've put thousands of rounds through them over the years there is no performance change from bullet one to bullet 15,000. Thanks, Brother, for bringing up this topic.

[@TheTriptamineDream]

You are my favorite person for gun info on KZbin. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@MrMacacson]

I just ran into this video because KZbin suggested it! I recently purchased a SDS imports 1911 duty and got a lot of shit from a few friends that own kimbers and colts and higher end 1911s. They made the same claim that I would need to put hundreds of rounds through it before it became "reliable". I shot it the day I picked it up ( my FFL has a range) and I mag dumped 50 FMJ and 20 hollow points. Flawless!! No issues! Smooth and accurate! $439.00 gun and 5 mec-gar mags for $100. I would expect nothing less from a firearm that has a forged slide, forged frame, forged barrel, that is manufactured in modern facilities with the latest CNC machines! And after disassembly and cleaning I couldn't find one machining mark on the slide or frame! Maybe guns needed a break in period back in the day, but today, if there's an issue, it will show up within the first shots! Just my $.02. Happy shooting!

[@GunBlue490]

Standard practice in the firearms industry since their invention has been to produce reliable, functional firearms that shoot with full reliability before leaving the factory. That is what you should expect from any manufacturer, without exception. Anything that doesn't work with full reliability is by definition unreliable. Unreliable is, by definition, poor quality. In recent years, certain "custom" pistol makers have concluded that tightness of slide rails is a measure of quality, and are promoting a fad that requires their clientele to get their garbage working after production. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even in loose 1911 pistols, the slide is always in the exact same exact relationship to the frame at the moment of firing. Furthermore, the 1911 sights are always in exactly the same perfect relationship with the slide, and to each other. The grip frame has no relationship to accuracy. The only point of precise intimacy should be the barrel and bushing, which centers the barrel in the slide, but even that should not seize upon the barrel. My advice to anyone is to steer clear of such nonsense. Colt and Kimber are certainly quality oriented firearms makers who produce fine, quality firearms that can be relied upon from day one, but many others produce fine quality at competitive prices and should not be ignored.

[@SleeplessInFl]

Even if the firearm doesn't require a break-in period, most Shooters do.

[@daltonwade9441]

G.I. Company Irrelevant to the discussion however.

[@ricfly52]

Yep! I noticed my last new pistol took about 200 rounds for me to get a good group. But it was me that was being broken in not the pistol.

[@legionp229saoconvertedme4]

@@daltonwade9441 how is a valid point not relevant? It was joke your comment was unnecessary

[@daltonwade9441]

FNS ON THE HIP!! The point had no validity to this conversation. Ever comment here is “unnecessary”, so what?

[@legionp229saoconvertedme4]

@@daltonwade9441 it is usually the shooter and not the gun read between the lines

[@mdub1955]

If the weapon "requires" a 500 round break-in, buy a different weapon.

[@gregoryhall2967]

Yup!

[@JohnDoe-zg6fn]

Nope.

[@mbenjamin292]

Amen

[@ScrewKeanu]

Agreed. A "500 round break in" is a scam started by ammo companies and repeated by suckers. This guy is absolutely right... you're going to fire the weapon 500 times so you can do what? Fire it some more? What can the gun do after 500 rounds that it wasn't able to do before 500 rounds? Fire? You've already fired it 500 times. This is basically saying you need to fire the gun so you can fire the gun. Its bullshit people. Stop wasting your ammo.

[@JohnDoe-zg6fn]

@@ScrewKeanu I just don’t understand how it is that firing your duty pistol or carry gun 500 times is a scam. You want to fire your weapon as much as humanly possible. Train, train, train, then train some more. Put 500 rounds a thousand rounds 1500 rounds through your pistol. Now I understand that if you can’t afford that then fine, but when I see guys walking around with rmr and recoil reducing guide rods and surefire weapon lights etc I find it hard that you don’t have the money to actually shoot your weapon that you are trusting your life to.

[@itinerantrebel1799]

Thank you for another great and informative video. You’re increasing my knowledge level!

[@juani3880]

Fact, when the Colt 45 ACP pistol was tested by the US Army Ordinance in the year 1911, the Board it passed over 100 rounds while still functioning. It did not repeat did not take several hundred rounds to break in!!!

[@mr.gunwrites2491]

I've never heard of a 500 round break-in period. All my firearms will eventually fire 500 rounds or more. It may take years for some rifles but it will happen. I have however, heard of a 200 round break-in period. Not because the gun requires it, rather because you want to prove to yourself the reliability to not malfunction should one day, God forbid, your continued existence on our planet depends upon it. That reliability relies as much on the ammo as much as the firearm itself. Perhaps more? To believe a firearm REQUIRES the break-in period is folly. Any firearm that malfunctions unrelated to its ammo is as subject to malfunction at 10,000 rounds as it is at 10 rounds and should be replaced with a quality piece ASAP. I once bought a "Saturday Night Special", an inexpensive small Lorcin .22LR semi-auto. Big mistake, as it malfunctioned from the first magazine until I returned it two days later and MADE the store accept the return which has never been their policy, ever. Yes, it was that bad and they quit carrying that product line. How any firearm that crappy could make it to store shelves and the consumer in this day & age of litigation is beyond my ability to comprehend. As usual, GunBlue490 is spot on in his assessment. You want to learn? You go to the Master. GunBlue490 IS the Master. Listen and learn. Carry on

[@charlieb308]

I bought an insanely expensive Kimber 1911 once and it was terribly unreliable, after 300 rounds I called Kimber and they said you need to fire more rounds to break it in. Well, 6,000 rounds later and 10 stops to gunsmiths it never ran 100%, sold that gun for $1000 and bought 2 Glocks and never had a malfunction with either of them. Lesson learned

[@mrarivv0007]

Should've gotten two caniks. I don't see how you're getting two Glocks for 1k anyways.

[@TacticalTerry]

@@mrarivv0007 G17 and G19 go for $400 to $500 each around my area. Possible to spend a grand on 2 Glocks

[@stevecooper2873]

WOW, sad

[@charlieb308]

@DesertRat556 I’ve had many 1911s, the only models that worked great were old colts, gold cup, 70 series, 1991A1.

[@hectorrivera2624]

A bad person is trying to break into your home, grab your Glock and it will go “bang” for sure

[@dannyhardesty3692]

Great video! I have several Glocks--each fired flawlessly right out of their plastic case. No need for a break-in.

[@lit1023]

I'm betting if someone was to spout off on a lawnmower forum that you had to break in a lawnmower blade that people would start to believe it. Thanks Gun Blue for sharing your wealth of knowledge to people and trying to help them think outside the box, and to use some of the common sense God gave us.

[@OutnBacker]

When I bought my Shield-9 las year, the first thing I was told on forums was that I needed to replace that "awful trigger", and shoot the heck out of it to break-in the springs - which I will admit are yery tough. I never bought into that . I shoot it just the way it is, and it's fine. it's my job to match the weapon, not the other way around. Now that I have about 3500 rounds through it, it does feel a bit slicker, so all is fine, but it shot perfectly right from the get-go.

[@sixmanadventures4175]

Another great video, and thank you for your service! I love the Lee Loadmaster videos and my all time favorite "Dropping the Model 1911 slide ~ The Truth!"..

[@blusky7072]

The break in period involves all of the new parts wearing in to each other and smoothly functioning. Just like a new key in a lockwork or an engine in a motor vehicle!

[@worldhello1234]

That is the myth. It is not an engine and should work from the get go.

[@bluracer766]

I recently got a new Abus Granit padlock and I had to unlock - lock it hundreds of times before it broke in and functioned smoothly. No one's going to tell me the same thing can't be true about a gun. Some may operate smoothly out of the box but not all are.

[@kennethking3520]

@@bluracer766 You hit it on the head. SOME but not ALL. I don't believe this 500 round "break in" applies to all guns, it seems to have become a blanket requirement or 'suggestion' for all models. However I do believe for 1911's it is true simply because of the design. Personally I would not want to trust my life with a gun that hasn't had some run time to ensure reliability. That in itself is common sense. Would someone install a new engine into a vehicle and start it for the first time and say "oh well, it runs" and embark on a cross country trip immediately? I wouldn't. I'd drive it close to home a few days or weeks to make sure everything was working properly before a long trip. Not saying something could happen, but it is best to find out early on if there is an issue rather than at mile 499.

[@daltonwade9441]

Common sense is a beautiful thing!

[@mawe42]

...and not so common.

[@kotmartnoskin2322]

It’s very hard to find it in American society tho....🤕🤕🤕

[@garrettforchrist2700]

2 years ago I was looking into getting a Kahr .380 for a carry gun. There were youTubes out there and reviews saying that it would take 500 round to break it in because the ejector is too tight and not machined correctly. I thought that was rediculous, so I decided to buy the Ruger lcp .380 and it has worked flawlessly from the very first round!

[@GunBlue490]

You had the correct intuition.

[@stevethekiwi9468]

My CZ75 SP01 was 100% reliable from day one, but the trigger was gritty, somewhere between 0 and 1000 rnds later you can see where the trigger bar disconnect has rubbed up against the slide and its now mirror smooth, trigger is fantastic now. This is why there are vids out there that showing you how to polish trigger components to make them run smoother, or you can just put rounds down range like I did for the same result, my gun is now broken in!

[@charlesbyrneShowComments4all]

For the record I don't necessarily "break in" a pistol with a 500 round count. I just keep count of the rounds I shoot before I use it as a defensive pistol at home or for carry. I don't go to the range and shoot 500 rounds. I'll become familiar with the pistol and shoot a box or two of target and my normal brand of defensive rounds with each of the mags. Usually after several range visits or when I get to 5 boxes or more without any issues I'll consider it a reliable pistol. It makes me feel better so it is what I do. I do this with both new and used pistols. Some may think it is wasteful, but to each their own. Thanks for the knowledge and wisdom.

[@2015DMJG]

But you DO keep count of the rounds. So….

[@frankedgar6694]

Charles, you say 5 boxes…. Are those 50 round or 100 round or 200 round or 500 round boxes?

[@jimdent351]

Perhaps I'm missing the point, but I've seen accomplished shooters like Hickok45 pick up a brand new firearm and have problems with it within the first few magazines. As the gun is fired, hang-ups become fewer and further between. I think people like use the 500 round rule as a point in which the firearm is to be be considered defective or trustworthy. Even Les Baer will say that his guns can experience hang-ups for the first while.

[@GunBlue490]

If what you say is true, Les Baer is attesting that he sells unserviceable firearms or ones that he does not trust when he boxes them. That, my friend is the definition of junk, if true, and is without excuse. I hope that's not what he sells. Not all people who make guns should be doing so. In this country, Americans are entitled to expect firearms made worthy of 100 percent service from the box. Period. Keep excess oil away from guns and they will work. Spray oil on them and expect malfunctions.

[@python56]

GunBlue490 it's true Les Baer says don't even call him until you fire 500 rounds. He calls it the break in period.

[@kmoecub]

@@python56 That "break in period" is also known as the brush-off period. It's a common tactic by some menufacurers, used to limit their volume of warranty work.

[@jimdent351]

@@python56 It's my understanding that Beretta uses some kind of automated machine that racks the slides to simulate a break in for much greater reliability right out of the box. Obviously, Les Baer's hand fitted small operation won't have this technology. I'd love to have a Les Baer custom.

[@drumhd1]

GunBlue490 Kahr firearms are the same way. Unless you’ve wasted 200 rounds on their required “Break In” period, they do not even want to hear your problems. And there are many problems that are not cured by their 200 round break in. Absolutely absurd!

[@tacokiller101]

Same relations I’ve found with engines. Proper lubrication and a couple heat cycles and off to the races. If you need to go easy and break anything in that long then the parts are improperly fitted or machined

[@nickydumas9455]

“The trigger doesn’t whittle down”. Sensible. But i still hooted at “pretty soon you wouldn’t have a trigger”!

[@elingeniero9117]

I believe a certain builder of 1911's was the maker of this myth. The were inundated with hundreds of new gun owners calling customer support because they were limp wristing their high recoil arm causing malfunctions or panicked that their new gun had "worn" down because the finish of the rubbing parts had worn down to shiny metal.

[@szabib2144]

I always heard that at least 50-100 rounds is more for the owner to familiarize the gun owner with the gun and get sone of the moving parts to get set in, but 500 rounds is definitely way too much

[@josephklish3508]

Thank you for your very professional presentations. I really enjoy your site and frankly your the only one I trust for factual information. Thanks again and keep up the great work.

[@CaptainRon956]

I love it how some people (especially on online forums) as soon as they encounter what they perceived to be a "malfunction" of a handgun is to immediately start talking about how to file this down or polish that.

[@GunBlue490]

In all my 45 years of being a trained armorer, I've encountered absolutely no instance where a gun mechanism in any way benefits by filing. We use lots of specialized files in the trade, but not on working parts. Show me twenty malfunctions, and I'll show you nineteen oily guns, clipped springs, tune kits, "tuned", or reworked guns. And half of the 20th are operator error.

[@Bouzoukiellas]

Once again, another excellent production. You are by far one of my favorite channels on KZbin! God Bless. IC XC NIKA

[@kolschesky]

I agree, every pistol I’ve ever purchased shot pretty well out of the box. However, a replacement barrel for a G17 with a fully supported chamber did take over 200 rounds before it would group consistently.

[@davidturkington2983]

Always excited to see a new video posted from you! Thanks again for a common sense approach.

[@mikejohnson6611]

Farmer hear lol you are the best thank you I was in a gun store wend the sale man told the costumer he need to fire 200 round to break the gun in i left the store at the price of the ammo he could buy another gun thank you again god bless you

[@user-se9tb5ew2x]

As a gunsmith, competitive shooter and NRA pistol instructor, my opinion is that a new gun should run right out of the box. Companies telling you a gun needs to be broken in is BS. If a gun won’t run, it needs to go back to the manufacturer to be repaired. That being said, my personal requirement is that if I am going to carry a gun for self defense, I will not trust the gun until I run 500 rounds through it without a malfunction. I have seen new guns break after the first round. Most importantly, you get what you pay for. Buy quality and you usually will not have a problem.

[@victor_lar]

Some of the new guns function perfectly right from the start, but some jam and after few trips to the range started to fire without failure

[@jacobseraphin685]

The tolerance of a 1911 is very tight. I have a Ruger SR1911 was so tight that the slide got stuck because the barrel slightly expanded after 39 rounds.

[@nohandle257]

I haven't heard the 500 BS but I HAVE heard 'multiple' rounds. A few mags worth. Common with 1911s. I've had a couple or three, have one now. They all shot fine from the get go.

[@johnwaddell4107]

Finally someone with common sense about trusting the operation of your firearm.

[@surferbum65]

Thanks again for a very informative video I have watched many of your videos and they all make perfect sense! I wish someone would come to see you so you can write a book to pass on your knowledge and information. Happy holidays and bless you and your family my friend!

[@AstanaxKnight]

I just bought a Tisas 1911A1 US Army clone. I looked inside the manual after watching your video and two videos recommending the 500 round break in period. One man demonstrated using 500 rounds of ball ammo to allow hollow point since the gun was originally intended to shoot ball ammo. Another said Rock Armory recommended 500 round break in with cleaning and lubricating every 100 rounds. My Tisas manual said nothing about needing a break in period. So my conclusion is there is no need for a break in period, but enough rounds fired using the same new gun and new magazine could loosen things up enough to where newer tech hollow points won't hang up.

[@frankrodriguez1977]

Very true sir. My 1911 shoots the same as day 1 and I have just over 1200 rounds through it. Thank you and God bless

[@jeffwise6398]

New subscriber here. I'm glad I found your channel of common sense. I believe what I'm hearing on Gun Boards is just people who carry are depending on the firearm for life-death situations and some want to experience the gun's performance before carrying. I've seen some guns, in my case a Kimber 1911 in .45 fail to go fully into battery. It would fire, cycle, and then the slide would just stop about 1/2" from battery. I could push it closed however with very little effort. The gunsmith I brought it to suggested that I should put a couple hundred rounds through it. I sold that Kimber.

[@GunBlue490]

Wise decision. Unless it's a kit, nothing made for any purpose should ever leave a manufacturing facility before it's functioning perfectly, whether it's a TV, car, or gun. That is not the consumer's responsibility.

[@stephen8433]

Thanks for making a lot of people feel more confident about their handgun.

[@GunSam]

Watching video!

[@jerand8767]

Honestly, I never heard about the 500 round break in, til I got on some forums and understood it to be a norm. I'm no stranger to firearms, been shooting since I was a kid, 40yrs plus. Owned many 1911's and never had issues. I know it's a B.S. myth, I wish people would spend more time at the range instead of on the computer.

[@ardvarkkkkk1]

Jerry August This myth, like most, has been distorted since the original. Originally, it was not 500 rounds inclusive. It was 500 rounds without a malfunction. It was not meant as a "break in", it was a measure of reliability.

[@jefflee4225]

The 500 rounds has nothing to do with revolvers or rifles. All competition rifle shooters break in the barrels. Les Baer will tell you the 500 rounds or until the weapon is functioning properly. So does Jerry McCulek. They recommend that before you trust your life with them. Les Baer builds some of the best 1911s you can buy

[@StuninRub]

@@jefflee4225 Not a single F-Class shooter breaks in their rifle.

[@raleighparker7046]

Hey old timer, am 66 here, I’ve heard others justify this break in interval as a time where “self clearing” wear occurs where tightness “wears-in” thereby achieving proper clearances for intended function. Me, that just says the pistol isn’t even mil-spec. And we all know milspec to be loose but functional with acceptable accuracy that is not necessarily that great. It’s a myth and IMO, a hodgepodge to justify poor fit. Keep um coming.

[@fanman8102]

It is my opinion that the “break-in” period is used to explain away why so many expensive pistols malfunction (failure to feed or eject) straight out of the box. “These malfunctions are due to the lack of break-in the pistol needs prior to the pistol functioning without a failure.” It’s just a cover up for the fact you spent major bucks on a pistol that will repeatedly malfunction until the action is worn smooth. Interestingly enough my Bersa Thunder Pro and multiple Glocks needed no break-in period.

[@alaskaimage395]

My buddy is in smithing school... now that is not an appeal to authority... just that the other day we where talking about this exact thing. He said when tolerances are too tight things do not work correctly. Maybe those $$$$$$$$$ pistols need a break in too wear some of the parts down? I really dont know as I'm a novice to all of this.

[@peternorthrup6274]

I just looked at my owners manual on my colt 45 government. It said it would shoot perfect on the first round. 2000 rounds later. It still shoots perfect.

[@GunBlue490]

Yes, that's the way all 1911s should be, and require no break in.

[@autumnfragrance6326]

I heard that 1911's needed a 500 round break-in period with hollow points.

[@Colt-ii4qn]

A rare man here, God bless 🙏

[@dennisdavid9588]

I have no doubt this man has forgotten more than I know about guns, however there is a place for the break in process. It smooths imperfections in the feed ramp, allows you to try different ammo (hollow points, FMJ) as well as different weights (115gr, 124, 147 etc) and figure out if your gun has an issue with any of these before you need the gun. Glocks in particular will see the trigger smooth out over time. Most importantly, firing a lot of rounds and not having feed or failure to fire issues helps build confidence that your weapon will perform when you reach for it. I love this gentleman’s videos, but this one in particular didn’t land. How many rounds does it take to break in a particular gun? Who’s to say, 500 is a number a lot of people agree will likely mean you’ve accomplished the things I’ve mentioned above.

[@murphymmc]

Agree completely. My carry gun is advertised as being built with "match grade" parts and tolerances. It functioned flawlessly from the beginning. Superbly accurate and reliable. The only times that there were any feeding issues was with hand load development where OAL was off a bit or other factors. The firearm was never in question, which made the solutions easier to track down and correct. I've watched a multitude of KZbin vids where brand new firearms are being shot for the first time. Your assessment of tightness being worked out in a couple of magazines is always the norm. Beyond that, as you said, call the service dept. because "break-in" ain't gonna be the answer. As usual, good info. Blessings.

[@8bitboss929]

I don’t know I’m not an expert but I just got a 1911 and on my first box of ammo I had about three times work did not load correctly and I had to clear it to start again. I suspect that as time goes on that will happen less and less frequently. Due to things breaking in and loosening up a little bit. I don’t think it’s a faulty gun. When you buy a brand new car, you’re also supposed to break it in and not take it out on the freeway for a little while or rev it too high I would assume it’s the same sort of deal. As metal slides over metal, it wears on itself and any little parts that were a bit tight will loosen up and we’re down. This may cause the gun to function better. And it may not be exactly 500 it may be 100 it may be 200 500 number is probably just a roundabout number so I may take slightly longer so may take slightly less. Some you may never have an issue with that out of the box and good for you, if that’s your gun.

[@playerzero2236]

I have to respectfully disagree to an extent. Some of these pistols, they need a little polishing along the slide, barrel, feed ramp, throat, extractor and running a decent amount of brass through it will smooth things out. Some 1911's like RIA's, they add bluing and parkerizing to the entire slide and frame which causes a lot of friction, especially when the gun becomes dirty. You can accelerate this process with some really fine grit sandpaper, some polish, and a bit of elbow grease. I've had to do this to one of my weapons.

[@playerzero2236]

I'd like to add, if you do this and put that much ammo through it and you are still having issues, send it for repairs or hire a smith.

[@CoinShow]

Great video, as always. I loved the quote about "shampoo commercials"!

[@justusbryant7366]

1911s do require a break in to smooth out the parts. If you buy a 3000 dollar one they may file them out by hand ahead of time. Usually doesn't take 500 rounds.

[@dennisst.pierre210]

I cleaned up my sig 1911 with Flitz sanded nitron finish off rails softened off all sharp edges of which there were very few and this gun doesn’t even hiccup!

[@allenw969]

The manual for a Kimber 1911 recommends a 500 round beak in period. It also recommends a particular lubricant, and even specifies where to apply the lubricant and how many drops to apply in each location.

[@Tundra21dc1]

Hey Allen...just bought a Kimber Rapide in 10mm ...the day I picked it up Scott from Kentucky Ballistics comes out with a video on 10mm and has the same kimber I just picked up. He couldn’t even get one loaded in the chamber..then had malfunction after malfunction...wtf! Getting some range time this weekend 🤞🏻🤞🏻...hopefully all goes smooth...say a prayer. Shouldn’t happen with a brand new gun.🙏

[@allenw969]

@@Tundra21dc1 I would strongly recommend you clean and lubricate it per the manual before you fire it the first time. I hope it is reliable and works out for you. My Kimber Custom TLE ii in .45 ACP is very reliable and accurate.

[@thebrucechannel8061]

I think my Ruger American 9mm pistol was broken in with the first shot fired, same goes for my PSA AR-15, what a coincidence. I always enjoy hearing your common sense wisdom!

[@slightenigma]

Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for another great video.

[@ColtDee]

sensible conversation well done very interesting

[@jimmcdade7689]

Many makers of high end auto pistols recommended a break in; Wilson, Chen, Brown, Baer, etc. This is typical for pistols with long, tight fitting slide rails such as 1911’s, Hi-Powers, Berettas, etc. I’m not going to question the masters when my pistols are fired regularly anyway. The other thing to consider with pistols under $2,000 is the extensive use of MIM. Although MIM can be as strong as forged, bar stock, it can also have casting flaws that may not be immediately evident. Personally, I put 1,000 rounds through any pistol I plan on carrying to defend myself and my loved ones. If an MIM part were suspect, I’m confident it will have failed within the 1,000 rounds fired, allowing me to replace the failed part. After 1,000 rounds and any tuning or magazine issues resolved, I can carry the gun with complete confidence.

[@stevecooper2873]

But, replaced with another MIM part ?

[@crownandbrim9261]

500 is a rule of thumb, not a precision number. Most manufacturers call for a break in period, as do Bill Wilson and Masad Ayoob. I’ll take their advice.

[@GunBlue490]

You're speaking of certain ridiculously priced guns that don't work as intended from the factory. When I spend that kind of money, I want 100% perfection, and not something that requires me to invest in $300 worth of ammo with frustration until things work as they should to begin with. I don't buy into the philosophy that a 1911 must be made so tightly that it can't cycle reliably, because I've shot all manner of 1911s and know better. I know Masad and have shot with him. He's a shooter and part time cop who could win matches with an old WWII Government issue .45, so I take whatever he says with a grain of salt. But, he's not an armorer. Equipment doesn't win competition, only people who practice do.

[@gthomas7371]

Maybe an over priced Kimber needs a 500 round break in period, but I wouldn’t trust those with my life. My Springfield and Colt 1911s fired without issue right out of the box. Even my 9mm Taurus G3C has had zero issues over 1000 rounds in. I choose to carry that over any Kimber. And yes, I’ve owned 3 Kimbers and all had issues to the point I got rid of them.

[@garys5540]

LOL Damn dude!! Quit making so much sense...Im feeling stupid here!!!

[@craftsman89d92]

I knew it!! Lol how about the myth about barrel break in and the guys who run patches down the bore with solvents after every shot?

[@waltmagic]

Some competition shooters do that but those who do consider the barrel good to go after a dozen rounds or so. I think its nonsense personally

[@R0dan]

Very wise words! Love your no nonsense approach.

[@David-hm9ic]

To say that all handguns across the board are the same after a few rounds as they are after (your number; not mine) 500 rounds is as silly as the 500 round myth. Unless a revolver has defects such as burrs or other rough spots, they should smooth out as you said, very quickly. I've owned a number of 1911s, most of which are hand built custom firearms and also have a Dawson built STI 2011 that were ready to go to a match the day they were delivered. One that I owned was factory built that absolutely shot better after 300 rounds than it did when new. It FUNCTIONED perfectly from the first magazine but accuracy definitely improved. At the time I was shooting 3000-4000 rounds/month in various competition disciplines and practice sessions with 1911/2011 platform guns so it wasn't a matter of learning how to shoot the gun. Yeah, some guns do need a break-in. Maybe they shouldn't but they do.

[@michaell397]

Apparently you are unaware that Wilson, Night Hawk, Staccato, Les Baer, Ed Brown, Dan Wesson and ANY Quality high end 1911 is shot a minimum of 150 rounds before it is shipped. Most more! Much more. And even at that, all of them still recommend shooting more to break their guns in and tell you how to properly to do it. This is important to seat the frame to rail and burnish them it in, rail, to let the springs take a set and most importantly what ammo the gun likes and does not. Ignore the top Custom Makers at your own risk!

[@clydefrog8711]

Great video. I was curious about the break in period and whether or not I "screwed up" by cleaning my 1911 right after purchasing it to familiarize myself with it and by not just going to the range to shoot 500 rounds. Some people also say you you dont need to clean your weapon so often, which, goes against everything I learned in the army. I understand you dont need to be OCD about it, but logically speaking here, dont you want to keep anything mechanical clean? I dont understand why some people think a dirty weapon is better or somehow beneficial over a clean one. I think a weapon should always be clean and properly oiled, but hey, that's just me. I did armed security for a while and during a qualification, peoples pistols kept jamming and they blamed it on the ammo. Maybe the ammo played a snall part in it, but I cleaned and lubed mine up the day before we shot and didnt have any issues. But yea, I think the term "break in period" straight up originated from guys that were just excited to go shoot their new gun lol.

[@John-pr6sw]

That’s a solid argument. Here’s my only statement to that. Not all ammo is created the same, different grains, different casing. To me. The idea is to shoot as many different types of ammo as you can so you can potentially identify what won’t work. Here’s what I mean. I was shooting a .40 sig p229, and I had no issues. I was then given a box of ammo, and for whatever reason, I began to experience two issues, failure to feed, and failure to extract. I had a range instructor observe my issue, said Mabe I’m doing something wrong, then gave him the gun, same ammo, same issue. Then a 2nd instructor, same ammo, same issue. Cleared the gun, was given a different brand, then those issues ceased. Another thing to consider is, personal defense and target ammo. My personal defense ammo is a 50 grain, and shoots noticeably different then target ammo. Want to make sure my weapon will Handle it with zero issues considering the difference. Not saying a gun won’t function as designed, generally, but there are instances where ammo and gun don’t match, and it happened to the NJ state police and Sig, ammo and gun didn’t match up.

[@HERECOMESTHEDUNK]

Every morning I wake up and rack my handgun 500 times or more.

[@leoguy1609]

Most will break-in after 200 rounds or less, manufacture of Arsenal Firearms AF2011A1 double barrel 1911 says in the owners manual 1000 rounds are needed and why new Glock pistols come with copper anti-seize. That being said had firearms that had no issues from the start and others and others that did, but they didn't take 500 rounds to break-in.

[@SpikeTheNeuropsych]

Today I learned about quality control at the handgun manufacturer.

[@alaskaimage395]

What about barrel break-in. I'm not talking about the crazy stuff people do like.... fire one round, clean the barrel, fire 2 rounds clean the barrel, so on and so on... I'm talking about as I have been told when I bought my big bore rifle (416). It was brand new. Smith told me "ok, this isn't a sniper rifle but you need to break in the barrel. Put maybe 10 or 20 rounds through it but dont let it get hot. After that the groups should tighten up a little." So, I went plinking with it.... it had decent groups at 50 meters (express sights) I have zero clue of that so called "break in" had any effect on accuracy, what I noticed was after 2 rounds I flinched a little... after 6 more I got the flinchies out, and started to relax and have fun... that's when the grouping got better. I'm confident in the rifle and my ability to handle it.

[@MiJaHa]

I've always found if a new semi auto runs for the 1st 100rds, they're good.

[@christophergeorge8800]

YOUR A JEM. CLEAR LOGIC. REAL SANE FACTS. THANK YOU. WATCHED YOUR VID. TOOK MY BRAND NEW REMINGTON R1 GOVERNMENT 1911 TO THE RANGE. SHOT 180 RNDS 230GR FMJ JUST TO GET THE FEEL AND TARGET AQUISITION STUFF. I HAD FUN . PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU TUBE IS AWESOME IN THAT WAY. THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION. GOD SPEED.

[@youknow9092]

Its not a myth, its and old concept from a day and age when pistols were hand fitted and metal on metal fit of a frame and receiver. Most modern polymer guns or mass produced guns do not need a break in period BUT, a custom built 1911 that is hand fitted does need a break in period before the pistol is considered combat reliable.

[@noneofyourbusiness4622]

If it is too tight put a tiny bit of finish grinding compound in the slide groves and work it back and forth about 5 times. Remove the slide and clean all of the compound off the gun. Same thing as a 500 rd break in and you have 450 rds to shoot for score. Don't get carried away just a very few cycles does it.

[@buckfamily9794]

I didn't know Robert Dinero was into guns

[@newenglandrider3189]

Many 1911's require a break-in period per the manufacturer's recommendation. It is in most 1911 manuals issued by the manufacturer including Colt. That is the 1911 only, I am not claiming this for another firearm.

[@newenglandrider3189]

@@GunBlue490 WIlson Combat recommends a break-in period on their 1911 as does Dan Wesson Firearms (it is indeed in their manual). Sorry, I appreciate your background but a break-in period for a 1911 is recommended. We can certainly argue whether it is effective. I think it is effective for any handgun which has metal on metal parts that creates friction and wear. The more a slide moves the smoother the action will become, it is just simple common sense. Having said that I am not advocating 500 rounds, but buying a box of 100 rounds and taking your new handgun to the range to break it in is a good thing. As you state in this video, everyone has a different, contrary opinion on this and you almost look down on them or question their credentials because they say this or that on their expertise. Umm, guess what sir, you do the same thing. I don't know you, what your training is, what certifications you have, who you talk to, nothing except based on what YOU say. I trust Wilson Combat and Dan Wesson more than a guy on KZbin.

[@GunBlue490]

I have done some fact checking of your claims. You are stupid to think that I would not. I downloaded Colt, Dan Wesson, and Wilson Combat owners manuals in pdf. I read them in their entirety. You specified those manuals required a break in regimen of a number of rounds. No such thing is described by any of the three specific manufacturers that you cited. You are a liar.