So obviously if you carry daily or close to it, it’s important to train with your carry gun. I’m curious about how people approach this; train with the actual gun you carry and have a strict regimen of replacing parts or have second copy of your carry gun and train with that?
The follow up question if you go with door number 1 is, what intervals do you replace parts? Or how much earlier than the regular intervals?
Thanks.
I initially trained with my carry gun (Gen 3 G19), but eventually transitioned it to my range gun and bought an identical, but newer carry gun.
When I was training with my carry gun I tried to replace the RSA every 2,500 rounds or so. I replaced the extractor and every spring in the gun at 10,000 rounds. Somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 I decided I should probably invest in a separate carry gun that didn’t see much range use.
Recoil spring, trigger return spring, extractor & spring, mag spring & follower is what I would replace or keep an eye on. If you have a hiccup and it’s been a few thousand rounds, I’d swap out the associated parts.
Since I retired I have yet to wear out a pistol. As a result of this, I see no problem in practicing with my carry pistol as long I replace parts before they break.
I have a Glock with 90,000 plus rounds through it and other than normal replacement of springs, it is still running strong.
I currently carry a CGW CZ P07, they have told me of an other client that has over 100,000 rounds through his P7 with zero issues.
I do how ever use a Ruger 22 pistol to work on the basics, since a 22 makes smaller holes it keeps me more honest with myself.
Gold standard- After verifying function and reliability with your carry gun, use a copy for practice. Best for hard shooters who will put thousands through their gun a year, and those using economy or less trustworthy models.
For everyone else, perform user level checks regularly, armorer/gunsmith inspections annually-ish, PM with OEM parts at or before manufacturer suggested intervals.
I train with my duty gun all the time. Having destroyed a Glock 23 due to poor PM I am almost paranoid. I’m about 3k over the suggested recoil spring replacement and they keep saying it’s still good.
I used to train with my carry gun when I was carrying HK P30. HKs are bombproof, right? Then I had trigger return spring break after 5K rounds during a match, must’ve been fluke, right? Then it happened again at 5K.
Turned out I was dry firing enough to matter for wear and tear. These days I use at least two guns, sometimes three (carry, live practice, dry fire).
Out of curiosity; which TRS were you using (V1 or V2 if LEM)?
V2 / heavy spring.
Interesting. I’ve been told multiple times now that the V1/ light TRS is supposedly stronger and is best to avoid this weak point of the HK design. This always seemed odd to me given that the V2 is thicker but it’s a different coil geometry.
I believe that. I never broke a V1 TRS. I think it is an issue of flexibility, or stiffness. Stiffer structures don’t bend well. That’s my theory, at least.
One is none… I usually buy everything in pairs so the wife has one too or it’s available for backup. Unless you’re running some outrageously expensive guns having a second one isn’t really too much of an investment. Especially when you think about the amount of money for training and the amount of ammo actually needed to wear something out. I do keep common spares around for my G19’s (have 3) and a few LPK’s for the AR’s. Other than that most of us have something else that could fill into the rotation.
Out of curiosity, how did poor PM destroy a Glock?
Appreciate all the input so far, especially the parts intervals. I have been rethinking my approach to training. Previously, I would vet my carry gun with 300 or so rounds of mixed ammo and then a box of range ammo occasionally, using my larger guns to train. I plan to spend much more time on my 9mm Shield to hopefully increase my speed while tightening up the accuracy a little. Shields are cheap enough that buying a second wouldn’t hurt.
Sounds like you’re on the right path.
I just did a training session with my HK P30 light LEM, I don’t shoot it enough to wear it out. I also carry a P30, again I don’t think I will,wear it out. I also train with my Sheild in the rotation.
I train with full size guns mostly, but those are my staple of carry pieces. But I’m all over the board tossing in my Sig Legion 229 in my pants. I shoot a lot of different guns because I bore easily and it keeps me in the training regimen.
I know I could be better if I trained with just one platform, but that’s not me. My full size P30 could maybe use a spring update, but I doubt it.
If I had a gun that started to malfunction, I would pull from carry group until it got upgraded. Buts I’ve been pretty lucky buying quality prices, mags and ammo.
If I just trained with one gun or maybe two, I would have a dedicated trainer (S).
PB
Probably just let the RSA go waaay to long before replacing it. And ran it dry.
I know guys who say “my AK/Glock run fine without lube so screw it!” You will wear it out faster. I’ll always wonder if the trunion in my Chinese AK wouldn’t have chipped if I’d lubed it better early on.
Glock springs are cheap and so is lube.
I have such a long track record of trading off a gun for something else that I like to put wear and tear on as few firearms as possible so the safe queens will be in pristine trading condition. I train with my carry gun: let one pistol get the abuse and the others be SHTF spares. That way if down the road I just have to have whatever gun catches my eye, I’ve already got near new guns to trade and not have to take the depreciation devaluation from an extensively “used” gun.
I won’t argue my way is the right way, but I know I usually get tired of a gun long before I wear it out.
I’m a big fan of using a .22 pistol for practicing the fundamentals. I’ve found that putting good work on the .22 makes for more productive training on the carry pistol.
Until quite recently, I carried a compact 9mm 1911 (3 inch barrel, 25 oz.). I practice with full size and weight 1911s in .45 (5 inch barrel, 39 oz.). The subjective feel of the recoil is about the same in both guns.
The idea of buying two identical guns is intriguing. That way you shoot the carry gun enough to break it in and test it; the clone takes the beating at the range.