Has anyone here actually "worn out" a handgun?
- Thread starter dsk
- Start date
Tacticool1
Inactive
Nope. Not here
Sent by iPhone using Tapatalk.
Sent by iPhone using Tapatalk.
Drummer101
New member
Heard about the S&W 329PD with hot loads after while.
jglsprings
New member
According to the log book for this Model 19 it had 14,965 rounds through it when I considered it "out of time". It went back to S&W for a tune up and reblue in 1987. I haven't shot target with it since then, so even though it is a shooter it sits in the safe. It can and does get out once in a while and chases rabbits. ;-)
It was spitting lead when shot double action, but it wasn't "worn out" by any stretch of the imagination.
It was spitting lead when shot double action, but it wasn't "worn out" by any stretch of the imagination.
Blew out the cylider on my RG34S...
.22LR revolver using a steady diet of CCI Mini-mags and Federal Hi-power rounds.
Bought it used in early 70's and created havoc on squirrels (did a job on red squirrels out on the Baraga Plains), rabbits and empty
.22 boxes, just plinking with my buddy, did hold my ground against the Ruger shooter in the college gun club, @ college.
Still have it, would like to make new cylinder and bush the frame and barrel to tighten it up.
.22LR revolver using a steady diet of CCI Mini-mags and Federal Hi-power rounds.
Bought it used in early 70's and created havoc on squirrels (did a job on red squirrels out on the Baraga Plains), rabbits and empty
.22 boxes, just plinking with my buddy, did hold my ground against the Ruger shooter in the college gun club, @ college.
Still have it, would like to make new cylinder and bush the frame and barrel to tighten it up.
The replies above made me think of another factor: Customer service.
If you're in contact with the manufacturer you may or may not even get a chance to be in this situation. Once your gun starts showing symptoms of poor timing or stubborn loss of accuracy and you send your gun in, the company may swap out anything that is out of spec. Partially as a service but also to cover their hides which benefits us (usually).
That is of course with a Company with strong customer service. In the case your firearm needs repair but the parts are no longer available due to it being discontinued you may not be able to get it back as they'll replace it with a current model. And that's not so bad. I've heard of that happening with one company but in my experience with another brand name I was given a choice as to what to do next. I chose a model that was being currently produced but if I wanted it I probably could've gotten my old one back. I've also had worn revolver parts replaced when I didn't think there was anything wrong but hey if they wanted to that's alright!
If you're in contact with the manufacturer you may or may not even get a chance to be in this situation. Once your gun starts showing symptoms of poor timing or stubborn loss of accuracy and you send your gun in, the company may swap out anything that is out of spec. Partially as a service but also to cover their hides which benefits us (usually).
That is of course with a Company with strong customer service. In the case your firearm needs repair but the parts are no longer available due to it being discontinued you may not be able to get it back as they'll replace it with a current model. And that's not so bad. I've heard of that happening with one company but in my experience with another brand name I was given a choice as to what to do next. I chose a model that was being currently produced but if I wanted it I probably could've gotten my old one back. I've also had worn revolver parts replaced when I didn't think there was anything wrong but hey if they wanted to that's alright!
I consider 'worn out' when the frame is worn/broken beyond normal repair. Anything else is just parts replacement.
Having said that, I broke 4 !
1. I was the Firearms Instructor for a LE agency. We had a member who was unsafe on the range, and refused to come out for addition training - even on duty time! I had to write paper on him, and the boss called him in and said "you have 30 days to improve, or you will be fired". He did improve, and within a year had completly worn out (i.e. wore out the frame beyond factory repair) of his issued S&W M19. Ammo was +P+ 110g .38 Spl.
2. I have cracked the frame of my issued S&W 6906, shooting 147g JHP 9mm. (Note, I was teaching at the academy, and had the keys to the ammo bunker - draw your own conclusions). It was the only 6906 we ever broke out of about 3,000.
3. I cracked the frame of a Colt .45 Auto, after 30 years of hard use with full power loads - around 5-8,000 rounds every year. (I had it welded, and it is still going strong.)
4. I also cracked the frame on another Colt .45 Auto, where the dust cover joins the frame. I had it welded and shot it for a few more years.
As you can tell, I shoot a little bit more than most people - about 10,000 rounds/year of all calibers, some years more. When I was on our National PIstol team, each year just before the Nationals, we each shot 10,000 rounds in one week.
Having said that, I broke 4 !
1. I was the Firearms Instructor for a LE agency. We had a member who was unsafe on the range, and refused to come out for addition training - even on duty time! I had to write paper on him, and the boss called him in and said "you have 30 days to improve, or you will be fired". He did improve, and within a year had completly worn out (i.e. wore out the frame beyond factory repair) of his issued S&W M19. Ammo was +P+ 110g .38 Spl.
2. I have cracked the frame of my issued S&W 6906, shooting 147g JHP 9mm. (Note, I was teaching at the academy, and had the keys to the ammo bunker - draw your own conclusions). It was the only 6906 we ever broke out of about 3,000.
3. I cracked the frame of a Colt .45 Auto, after 30 years of hard use with full power loads - around 5-8,000 rounds every year. (I had it welded, and it is still going strong.)
4. I also cracked the frame on another Colt .45 Auto, where the dust cover joins the frame. I had it welded and shot it for a few more years.
As you can tell, I shoot a little bit more than most people - about 10,000 rounds/year of all calibers, some years more. When I was on our National PIstol team, each year just before the Nationals, we each shot 10,000 rounds in one week.
g.willikers
New member
The old guns are holding up just fine.
it's the old shooter what's getting weary.
it's the old shooter what's getting weary.
I have a friend who shoots professionally, when he isn't busy protecting our country. He completely went through a Kimber in around 25000 rounds. He is working on doing the same thing to a Les Baer and it at about 50,000 rounds in that gun. He is now having a custom 1911 built so he can keep shooting.
Pretty much sums it up - IMHO.
I'd have to add "I wish I had the time" also.
One of my Ruger .22/45's has ~ 150,000 rounds through it.
The other one, probably a couple hundred.
Other than a minor wear spot on the front of the barrel, it's nearly impossible to tell one from the other.
Either by looking at them or shooting them.
Willie Lowman
New member
A handgun? No.
I have shot out an AR 15 barrel and worn out the trigger assembly. A new upper pinned on and trigger pinned in and it's back in business.
I have shot out an AR 15 barrel and worn out the trigger assembly. A new upper pinned on and trigger pinned in and it's back in business.
service life of handguns
In my life, I've shot three guns to frame failure, a Beretta 92FS and two Sig 226s (all in 9mm)
The Beretta I bought new in 1986 and broke in 1996.
The first Sig I broke I bought about 5th hand and cracked both slide rails in 1999. (Gun kept working, but all of a sudden my groups opened WAY up. I thought it was me until I discovered the cracked frame rails when I went to clean it . . .)
The second Sig I was issued new in the box by the PD in December of 1989 and broke in September of 2001 (the week after 9-11, as it happens). Only broke one slide rail that time.
I don't know the round count of the first Sig I broke since I bought it used. The other guns had frames crack at 30,000 rounds + (I shot about 250 rounds a month in practice through each gun + in-service qualifications + training classes + pistol matches). It still took over 10 years.
In all cases, the guns were replaced NO QUESTIONS ASKED by the manufacturer. In fact, Beretta even threw in night sights and a cool folding knife.
I‘ve been a firearms instructor at the local regional Police Academy on and off since 1988. A S&W 3906 that we bought in 1989 or 1990 broke in 2000, also at the 30,000 round + mark. (Most students provide or are issued their own weapons, but we had a variety of others to issue as needed. This one got a lot of use. The Academy curriculum at that time was 40 hours of training in handgun and about 1,000 rounds a class, and we usually did 3 classes a year, and twice we did 4 and once we did 5, and that gun was in use the whole time). Smith & Wesson replaced that one as well, although they were reluctant to do so and it took quite a while to get a replacement.
The local Sheriff’s Department had LOTS of deputies that bought Sig 226s in 9mm in the mid and late 1980s. They had quite a many of those guns suffer cracked slide rails 6 to 10 years later. Most of the guns that failed belonged to firearms instructors or guys on the Tac team, who shot a lot of department provided ammo to maintain proficiency.
The local City PD transitioned from Smith & Wesson revolvers to Smith & Wesson auto pistols beginning in 1988. (They have since transitioned again to Glocks). Many officers bought the S&W 6906 and used it for both duty and concealed carry applications. Those guns had alloy frames, and they had a bunch of guns become unserviceable due to cracked frames and frame rails with relatively light use. (I don’t know how many guns in total and I don’t know what the average round count was)
Those were all alloy frame guns. I should expect that all steel guns or guns with a polymer frame should hold up better.
In my life, I've shot three guns to frame failure, a Beretta 92FS and two Sig 226s (all in 9mm)
The Beretta I bought new in 1986 and broke in 1996.
The first Sig I broke I bought about 5th hand and cracked both slide rails in 1999. (Gun kept working, but all of a sudden my groups opened WAY up. I thought it was me until I discovered the cracked frame rails when I went to clean it . . .)
The second Sig I was issued new in the box by the PD in December of 1989 and broke in September of 2001 (the week after 9-11, as it happens). Only broke one slide rail that time.
I don't know the round count of the first Sig I broke since I bought it used. The other guns had frames crack at 30,000 rounds + (I shot about 250 rounds a month in practice through each gun + in-service qualifications + training classes + pistol matches). It still took over 10 years.
In all cases, the guns were replaced NO QUESTIONS ASKED by the manufacturer. In fact, Beretta even threw in night sights and a cool folding knife.
I‘ve been a firearms instructor at the local regional Police Academy on and off since 1988. A S&W 3906 that we bought in 1989 or 1990 broke in 2000, also at the 30,000 round + mark. (Most students provide or are issued their own weapons, but we had a variety of others to issue as needed. This one got a lot of use. The Academy curriculum at that time was 40 hours of training in handgun and about 1,000 rounds a class, and we usually did 3 classes a year, and twice we did 4 and once we did 5, and that gun was in use the whole time). Smith & Wesson replaced that one as well, although they were reluctant to do so and it took quite a while to get a replacement.
The local Sheriff’s Department had LOTS of deputies that bought Sig 226s in 9mm in the mid and late 1980s. They had quite a many of those guns suffer cracked slide rails 6 to 10 years later. Most of the guns that failed belonged to firearms instructors or guys on the Tac team, who shot a lot of department provided ammo to maintain proficiency.
The local City PD transitioned from Smith & Wesson revolvers to Smith & Wesson auto pistols beginning in 1988. (They have since transitioned again to Glocks). Many officers bought the S&W 6906 and used it for both duty and concealed carry applications. Those guns had alloy frames, and they had a bunch of guns become unserviceable due to cracked frames and frame rails with relatively light use. (I don’t know how many guns in total and I don’t know what the average round count was)
Those were all alloy frame guns. I should expect that all steel guns or guns with a polymer frame should hold up better.
Whenever you make thousands of a product, even a small error factor results in lots of bad guns. A close friend was an instructor at the Border Patrol Academy. They had a sudden spate of Barretta M96's with bulged barrels. Seems they were all from the same lot, and had missed some heat treating.
Does this make Barretta bad? NO
It just means that life happens, even to big companies.
Heck, I had S&W send a shipment of 6906's for a class. One box, clearly marked 6906 9mm 12 round magazine, came from the factory with a M60 5 shot .38 revolver in it!
We all make mistakes!
Does this make Barretta bad? NO
It just means that life happens, even to big companies.
Heck, I had S&W send a shipment of 6906's for a class. One box, clearly marked 6906 9mm 12 round magazine, came from the factory with a M60 5 shot .38 revolver in it!
We all make mistakes!
Maintaining (cleaning, oiling, and replacing parts in) a handgun, and shooting medium loads will get you a very, very, lengthy gun life.
With that said, I've never owned any that did not say, S&W, Ruger, Sig, or Colt on the side. No cheapies, here!
However, I don't get the people shoot hot loads for practice. If the bad guy is attacking you in your home, that's when a hot load makes sense.
Make it last, and don't overstress it just for fun.
With that said, I've never owned any that did not say, S&W, Ruger, Sig, or Colt on the side. No cheapies, here!
However, I don't get the people shoot hot loads for practice. If the bad guy is attacking you in your home, that's when a hot load makes sense.
Make it last, and don't overstress it just for fun.
MidwestRookie
New member
And it doesn't make sense to you that people like to be accustomed to the rounds they plan on defending their and possibly their family's life with?
What good do bunny fart loads do you when you need to unleash +p in a life/death situation?
What good do bunny fart loads do you when you need to unleash +p in a life/death situation?
I believe that occasional practice with duty ammo is a good thing. However, I have interviewed several officers who were involved in shootings - none of them recall the blast, flash, or noise of their guns (called "Auditory and Visual exclusion").
One guy had to shoot someone inside an elevator. He said he never remembers drawing his gun, and he did not hear his gun go off, but he does remember the holes appearing in the bad guy, and the sound of the brass bouncing off the walls of the elevator.
His weapon of choice? .45 1911 !
One guy had to shoot someone inside an elevator. He said he never remembers drawing his gun, and he did not hear his gun go off, but he does remember the holes appearing in the bad guy, and the sound of the brass bouncing off the walls of the elevator.
His weapon of choice? .45 1911 !