Preventative Maintenance

Consideration should be given to replacing carry ammunition at least semi-annually or at each qualification or training session. Job conditions and climate may require a more frequent replacement.

CAUTION: Continuous loading and unloading the same cartridge into your semiautomatic pistol may cause the bullet to work loose from the cartridge case causing an unintentional stoppage in the cycle of operation. In order to avoid this, rotate your ammunition regularly.

The recommended procedure for loading magazines with service/street ammunition is as follows:

1. Go to a safe, authorized loading area.
2. Visually inspect the ammunition that will be loaded into and carried with the weapon.
3. With the pistol disassembled and the barrel out of the weapon, drop each cartridge into the chamber, making sure that it drops in easily and fully seats. Then invert the barrel allowing the cartridge to drop from the chamber into the hand. This proves proper fit of each cartridge into the chamber of the pistol that it will be used in. Immediately return any cartridges that do not pass this inspection to the issuing authority for safe disposal.
4. Load your magazine to capacity with the inspected ammunition.
5. Load your pistol and top off the magazine with an inspected cartridge.
6. This procedure will eliminate the possibility of having rounds in your magazine which will not chamber.

WARNING: Ammunition should be kept clean and dry at all times. Never lubricate or oil ammunition. Immediately replace any ammunition that has been in contact with solvent, spray lubricant or oil. Solvent and oil can penetrate the sealant around the primer, contaminating the priming compound and creating a potential for misfire.

In conclusion, the maintenance of your pistol, magazines, and duty gear is absolutely essential to the performance of your firearm. It cannot be stressed enough that if not properly cared for, you cannot rely on it to protect or even save a life, and that life may be your own.