Inspection and Care of Self-Defense Ammunition

by Jeff Young

American ammo is the gold standard—until it isn’t.

Factories churn out tens of millions of rounds daily. Defects slip through: high primers, inverted primers, dented cases, backwards bullets. Your life rides on 50 cents of brass and lead. Inspect it like your life depends on it—because it does.

Handguns demand perfection. One out-of-spec round = one catastrophic failure when the buzzer goes off.

Common Factory Defects (Every Brand, Every Year)

We see these in every major brand. Trust, but verify.

Lone Pine Tactical Carry Ammo Inspection Protocol

1. Primer Check

• Present?

• Flush or slightly below?

• Dented or pierced? → Toss it.

2. Rim Check

• Run thumb around rim.

• Any burrs, bends, or tears? → Toss it.

3. Case Check

• Visual: dents, splits, case-mouth tears.

• Toss it.

4. Bullet Check

• Visual: seated straight, not backward.

• Finger pressure only: zero movement.

• Any wiggle? → Toss it.

5. Barrel Drop Test (Semi-Autos)

• Remove barrel.

• Drop round in (pointed down).

• Should seat fully, case flush with hood.

• Flip over towel—round falls free.

• Fail = toss.

Storage: Home Reserve vs. Carry Rotation

Home Reserve (100–200 Rounds)

• Factory boxes — Dividers protect, ID clear.

• Inside climate-controlled home — No garage/shed temp swings.

• Pro move: GI ammo can + silica gel packets = 50+ year shelf life.

Carry Rotation (Gun + Spare Mags)

Service life: 6 months max.

Carry ammo endures:

• Temp/humidity swings

• Gun oil/solvent contamination

• Repeated chambering wear

The Two Silent Killers of Carry Ammo

1. Primer Pellet Crumble

• Boxer primers: pellet trapped between cup & anvil.

• Every chambering = breech-face impact.

• Pellet degrades → misfire.

• Rule: Chamber a round twice? → Practice pile.

2. Bullet Setback

• Repeated feeding slams bullet into case.

• Compresses powder → dangerous pressure spike.

• Measure OAL monthly. Any shortening? → Toss.

Lone Pine Tactical Carry Ammo SOP

1. Inspect every round before loading.

2. Mark mags with load date (sharpie on baseplate).

3. Rotate out at 6 months—shoot it in training.

4. Reload with fresh, inspected ammo.

Bottom line: Your ammo is a perishable tool. Treat it like a trauma kit—inspect, rotate, trust. One bad round can turn a righteous fight into a tragic footnote.