Break in

[rotarymike]

In all seriousness, I just think it is a flaw for a gun to require break-in. That being said, I also own guns that require "break-in" to loosen up their inferior, computer-designed, robot-machined parts until the gun can safely knock itself into a looser, more reliable fit.

No argument on that point. My Shield required none, nor did any of my guns but a self-built AR with a purposefully minimum spec chamber. When someone says you have to shoot X rounds through a defensive arm before the trigger smooths up, that tells me that the trigger wasn't well made in the first place.

There is, however, a mental break-in period before I'm willing to risk my life on a gun. I'd like to see 1K rounds without a hitch, but 500 is usually enough to get me to carry something with some sort of backup.

Those rounds don't have anything to do with the firearm or manufacturing tolerances. They are merely for my grey matter, both in terms of trusting a mechanical device and in terms of muscle memory.

I'd be willing to give a pass to a gun built as a precision firearm, pistol or rifle, that had tight tolerances on purpose. Of course, that isn't a gun I'll carry to walmart, either. Some of my military rifles, for example, might have required some break-in. For all of them, that break-in was performed at least 50 years ago, so I think I'm past that.

 

[andyb]

I have fired 625 rounds through my new FNX-9 and now consider it "broken in" and worthy of carrying it on my side. Did it need 600+ rounds of break in? Probably not. But I now have 100% confidence in the gun. I had 1 FTF within the first 10 rounds. I had a lot of problem with the slide not locking back but discovered it was my grip causing the problem and not the gun, and I fixed the issue. It seems the "break in" was more beneficial for me getting accustomed to it and not the gun itself. Sounds similar to the OP's experience with his shield in this thread.

I also see the comment saying not to run ammo from wally world. I see no difference in running cheap WWB or Federal from wally world and running cheap WWB, Federal, Remington UMC, PMC, etc. from a dedicated gun store. No difference. But like was mentioned, no steel case.
1. I can't afford to shoot hundreds and hundreds of rounds of top shelf ammo for target and break in
2. I want to know my gun will function with whatever I have available and put in it. Even the cheap stuff.

Ammo I shot for break in, in this order:
250 rounds of American Eagle 147 gr.
50 rounds of Blazer Brass 124 gr.
25 rounds Hornady Critical Defense 115 gr.
200 rounds of PMC Bronze 115 gr.
100 rounds of Remington UMC 147 gr.