It's kind of like picking avacados...

by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Monday, September 26, 2016, 06:43 (2983 days ago) @ Gunner

How does one know when to pick them?

Three days before they fall of the branch.

For me, I'd shoot them as much as I needed to keep my 'edge'. Clean and inspect often. Repair/replace as necessary. Of course, always have a suitable spare for the unexpected, or planned, down time. I don't count rounds, and perhaps should, so I cannot speak specifically about what my arms have fired. It's doubtful that I have any, other than a couple of Ruger Mk II's, that have fired 'in the thousands'. Perhaps my first handgun, a Springfield 1911-A1, has made it to the couple thousand round arena. I shot it for pistol leagues for a couple years...