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I recently realized that I hadn't shot my nightstand gun for quite a long time. Over 4 years, in fact... 
It's a S&W M&P40 bought new in 2007 and is actually my oldest defensive handgun. It's got probably less than 200 rounds through it and is in immaculate condition since it just sits in my nightstand drawer. I added a weapon light and rubber grip sleeve to it and it makes sense to me as a bump-in-the-night pistol.
I took it out a couple of weeks ago and shot it. For some reason, the magazine was filled with handloaded 190gr hard cast rounds of a long forgotten formula. I shot up the magazine and one of them failed to fire. Likely one of my first batch of attempts to make my own pistol ammo and using a Lee hand priming tool that was not consistent in seating primers. Stupid.
I can't believe that for four years, I was relying on newbie handloaded ammo that actually failed to fire in case someone actually broke into my home.
I shot it a bunch, then cleaned it thoroughly and loaded the magazine with fresh Sig Sauer V-Crown 180gr rounds. Now it's good to go.
Just curious as to how often others actually shoot and refresh the ammo in their nightstand guns. I realize a lot of folks use their daily carry gun as a nightstand gun, but I have more than enough pistols to designate one in a specific role. My primary SHTF/rioters outside my door firearm is a 9mm PCC with 33 rounds of hollow points that sits behind a door with a biometric lock about 8' from my front door. My EDC is a P365 with 12 rounds and sits on the kitchen counter next to my car keys. Probably a bit of overkill in firepower due to the extremely low crime rate here, but, I like to be prepared, lol.
So, when's the last time you shot your nightstand gun?
It's a S&W M&P40 bought new in 2007 and is actually my oldest defensive handgun. It's got probably less than 200 rounds through it and is in immaculate condition since it just sits in my nightstand drawer. I added a weapon light and rubber grip sleeve to it and it makes sense to me as a bump-in-the-night pistol.
I took it out a couple of weeks ago and shot it. For some reason, the magazine was filled with handloaded 190gr hard cast rounds of a long forgotten formula. I shot up the magazine and one of them failed to fire. Likely one of my first batch of attempts to make my own pistol ammo and using a Lee hand priming tool that was not consistent in seating primers. Stupid.
I can't believe that for four years, I was relying on newbie handloaded ammo that actually failed to fire in case someone actually broke into my home.
I shot it a bunch, then cleaned it thoroughly and loaded the magazine with fresh Sig Sauer V-Crown 180gr rounds. Now it's good to go.
Just curious as to how often others actually shoot and refresh the ammo in their nightstand guns. I realize a lot of folks use their daily carry gun as a nightstand gun, but I have more than enough pistols to designate one in a specific role. My primary SHTF/rioters outside my door firearm is a 9mm PCC with 33 rounds of hollow points that sits behind a door with a biometric lock about 8' from my front door. My EDC is a P365 with 12 rounds and sits on the kitchen counter next to my car keys. Probably a bit of overkill in firepower due to the extremely low crime rate here, but, I like to be prepared, lol.
So, when's the last time you shot your nightstand gun?
