Frame material and the implications for service life.

[Aguila Blanca]

Steel framed guns are proven and may well last the longest, lots of guns out there with 100,000+ round counts. Aluminum alloy will probably have the shortest life span. Numbers I've seen in the past were somewhere between 30,000-50,000 rounds before you might get frame breakage. But if you think about it, if you can afford that much ammo, you can afford to replace the gun. Not sure I'd let that influence my decision.

This largely echoes my thoughts, but I'd use higher round counts for both types. I'm basically a 1911 guy. I know of many 1911s with steel frames that have gone far beyond 100,000 rounds. I only own one alloy 1911 and it has far fewer than 100,000 or even 50,000 rounds through it. It's in my carry rotation and doesn't get used for range blaster duty. But I have a friend who is a police officer (correction -- "was" a police officer -- he retired at the end of 2014) whose choice of duty weapon (he was allowed to choose) was an alloy, lightweight Colt Commander. I don't remember what he told me the round count was, but I'm pretty sure it was over 50,000 rounds.

Put that in perspective. If you intend to keep the pistol for 20 years, 50,000 rounds is 2,500 rounds per year, or 48 rounds per week for EVERY WEEK over that 20 years. I'll never put that many rounds through any one pistol in the course of my lifetime.

On the other hand, I guess professional IPSC shooters burn through 100,000 rounds or more every year just for practice.

 

[Pond James Pond]

I use a light grease on my slide rails.

Which type?

My SP-01 is about 750rds old and I'd like to keep it looking that way.

Right now I use Forrest NATO spec synthetic gun oil that certainly stays put, but it is relatively thin.

Ballistol seems to almost congeal into a mild grease the times I have used it.

I am toying with the idea of using a dry-lube on the firing pin and other internals to avoid attracting dirt, but I don't know if it is the best idea.

 

[Brotherbadger]

I don't think any of us are going to shoot a handgun enough to see if either lasts longer. Alloy frames will last a lifetime, just keep it greased up and it will serve you well.

 

[marine6680]

I use lubriplate SFL-0 food grade machinery grease. It is thinner than typical grease used in vehicles, it smears easily. Similar to hand lotion in thickness.

I don't think it's readily available out of the US.

Lubricants designed for the food processing industry are highly suited to firearms. They are high performance and highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions.

 

[Pond James Pond]

Lubricants designed for the food processing industry are highly suited to firearms. They are high performance and highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions.

And taste better than FrogLube, no doubt!

I'll look into it here: there is a strong food industry: they must get their supplies from somewhere!

 

[g.willikers]

Some folks, who use an aluminum frame high capacity 1911 in .38 super, say anti-seize compound, from the auto parts store is best.
But definitely do not taste it.