Longest-Lived Revolvers

[MrBorland]

If "longest-lived" means durability, I don't think production year is the relevant criteria. I put nearly 20k rounds through my 6 year old 686 this year alone, and my best guess is it's shot around 70k rounds to date, yet my 686 is holding up fine, and likely has multiples of 70k left in it. I'd bet the great majority of older blued revolvers have seen a very small fraction of this.

As far as DA revolver durability, my bet would be on the Manurhin, with Rugers and S&Ws honorable mentions. In SA revos, Freedom Arms likely takes it, with Ruger making a fine showing.

 

[Rainbow Demon]

I've seen a very odd situation involving a Dan Wesson in .44 Magnum.
The owner found he could no longer get the barrel shroud off.
The barrel had bulged in several places locking it into the shroud , which had matching bulges.
How this happened I don't know, only saw for a moment it while a gunshop owner was examing it.
Could have been excessive pressure handloads.

To remove the barrel for replacement they would have to cut away the barrel shroud.

As to most durable I'd also recommend the S&W revolvers.

 

[L_Killkenny]

IMO any of the current production guns out there with maybe the exception of the FA's could use a tune up straight from the factory. Even the venerable Blackhawks will last much longer with some polishing, just ask the CAS shooters.

Aside from that there are guns that are better than others but at the same time they are all subject to failure in componets, materials and workmanship. Whoever's out there spewing Ruger's are a distant 3rd in the durability department needs to do some major soul searching and stop being such a fan boy. There is nothing inherantly more durable with the S&W and Colt designs and in many cases they are less so. You may beleive they are better but better is a very broad term subject to many parameters. Durability is just one of those. But neither of those is anymore durable than a Ruger. For heavy loads or lot's of shooting I'll take a Ruger over a Colt anyday and over a S&W most days.

 

[Bob Wright]

Rainbow Demon said:

I've seen a very odd situation involving a Dan Wesson in .44 Magnum.
The owner found he could no longer get the barrel shroud off.
The barrel had bulged in several places locking it into the shroud , which had matching bulges.
How this happened I don't know, only saw for a moment it while a gunshop owner was examing it.
Could have been excessive pressure handloads.

To remove the barrel for replacement they would have to cut away the barrel shroud.

My son-in-law had the same problem. We thought back and tried to re-construct our last outing. We had been shooting near a large creek (plinking) that had ice in it, also some snow covered the ground. We theorized that droplets of water had entered the bore as we were shooting that caused the swelling of his .357 Mag. Dan Wesson. Yep, barrel and shroud went the cut-off route.

Bob Wright

 

[SIGSHR]

I saw something similar with a Dan Wesson, in that instance the owner had changed barrels, then fired it-with the old style detachable barrel changing nut still in place. That's why they went to the larger one piece tool.

 

[Jaywalker]

CajunBass: I would like to live long enough to just once, shoot a gun, any gun, enough to worry about wearing it out.

Me, too. The point of the thread, though, is not "full wear out and throw away," but "needs work by gunsmith."

I came into this thread expecting Ruger to be a hands-down favorite in living long and prospering without help, but I was wrong. I asked the question to learn some things and I did. Thanks.

 

[CajunBass]

Me, too. The point of the thread, though, is not "full wear out and throw away," but "needs work by gunsmith."

Then I can't help you. I've never had to have one worked on by a gunsmith. Not just a revolver, but any gun.

 

[roaddog28]

I have a Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch barrel that I feel will out last me. Production of this revolver was around 1985 and after years of shooting still locks up as good as when it was brand new. This revolver has seen many 357 magnums as will as 38 specials and has never seen a gunsmith or Ruger.
Too me that speaks well of this revolver.
Howard

 

[old bear]

Any quality revolver if properly treated, cleaned after shooting, and not shot with insane ammo should last several lifetimes. If I had to pick one though I would opt for a .357 Magnum N frame Smith and Wesson.

 

[DFrame]

Exactly what old bear said above. Only I'd pick a Python.

 

[MLeake]

nate45, I don't know that Pythons are delicate.

I do know that finding a smith who has the experience, capability, and willingness to work on Colt DA revolvers can pose challenges.

 

[Clark]

My grandfather bought this revolver when he immigrated from Sweden to the Alaskan Gold rush. I has been in the family for ~ 110 years. It is not all original. One of my guitar strings is now the trigger spring.

His 1906 Oldsmobile truck did not last as long.

 

[Jaywalker]

That's a great story and great revolver. Thanks.

(Sorry for the delay - hard drive problems.)