Maintenance/replacement of carry gun

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wayneinFL

New member
Saw a comment on another thread, and felt it deserved its own thread.

Someone commented they had a carry gun with tens of thousands of rounds through it, and a response was that it should have parts replaced or that the poster should replace the entire gun.

My first carry gun was a Glock 30 and I put probably 20,000 rounds through it. I would still be carrying it if it weren't for the fact I found guns that were easier to carry or that I shot better. I would continue to replace springs, etc., if it were malfunctioning, but my take is if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Does anyone here replace guns on a schedule, or replace parts after a certain amount of time as preventative maintenance? Maybe I'll rethink it.
 
Does anyone here replace guns on a schedule, or replace parts after a certain amount of time as preventative maintenance? Maybe I'll rethink it.
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I don't think I've ever even seen a PM schedule for any of my guns.
 
I'll continue to carry G17 'til it becomes a problem. That probably won't happen in my lifetime.
 
Got about 10,000 through my M&P9 and tens of thousands through my 10/22 and until I see malfunctions or significant wear of some type I replace nothing, thorough cleaning in a regular basis though.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk 2
 
Contact factory LE division. Good Question.

Service guns for Glocks, Sigs, Beretta, H&K, and Colt all have P.M.s

Do you keep an eye on your car's tire tread, or do you just wait for a blow-out? Now I suppose someone is doen't know the definition of Periodic Maintenace will write and want to argue. Peace.
 
I have multiple duplicates of what I carry. I usually rotate between a couple for carry, and couple of others for practice. All of them are the "same", so it doesnt matter which one ends up in the holster. I dont carry the high round count guns though, and they are used in practice.

My one 17 has close to 45000 rounds through it now, and all Ive replaced in that, has been a couple of recoil springs a year and one extractor and its associated parts. I also have a 26 that has about half that through it, and Ive only replaced recoil springs on that. Everything gets cleaned and checked out after every outing.
 
service life of carry firearms/pistols...

I'm not a engineer or expert on metals-polymers-firearms, but I'd check or replace a firearm on a regular basis if it shows signs of wear or malfunctions.

A gun press item I read a few years ago stated that a sworn SA(special agent) in the FBI fires approx 20,000 rounds total with duty sidearms in a 20 year service career. I'm not in the FBI but that # sounds about right.
Most modern pistols tend to wear out after a few thousand rounds(of powerful or duty type ammunition).
In many cases, a gun owner or armed professional would only need to replace parts like barrels, springs, magazines, and maybe night sights(3 dot tritium) over time.
Some pistol shooters & LE officers may "smash & bash" their firearms, which like any other product will speed up the wear/tear.
I saw a magazine profile of a "high speed" tactics school that claimed most students had firearms break or get damage. That's not a smart move or practical if you ask me.
Duty or carry weapons can't be "safe queens" but basic care & common sense can help maintain a pistol for decades.

Clyde
 
Most modern pistols tend to wear out after a few thousand rounds(of powerful or duty type ammunition).
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LMAO!

Which parts do you believe "wear out" after a few thousand rounds?

I'll be glad to take all the "worn out" pistols you want to send me. Heck, I'll even give you $10 apiece for them AND pay shipping!
 
Most modern pistols tend to wear out after a few thousand rounds(of powerful or duty type ammunition).
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That is pretty funny... I guess no one has told any of my pistols that they are supposed to be worn out.
 
Contact factory LE division. Good Question.
Service guns for Glocks, Sigs, Beretta, H&K, and Colt all have P.M.s

Do you keep an eye on your car's tire tread, or do you just wait for a blow-out? Now I suppose someone is doen't know the definition of Periodic Maintenace will write and want to argue. Peace.
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Glock's preventative maintenance schedule is just to clean after shooting or monthly, and a user inspection. But it does mention that under heavy use they should be inspected by Glock armorers periodically.

http://us.glock.com/documents/gun_maintenance.pdf

I'll talk to an armorer to see what they recommend. I heard something about recoil springs before.
 
Have a freind who shoots competition. He completely went through a Kimber in 25000 rounds. He is through a Lae Baer in 50000 rounds. He replaces the parts when necesary but they will wear out eventually. Most people won't shoot that much in a lifetime.

Maintainng a gun is certainly the key to a long life.
 
Most modern pistols tend to wear out after a few thousand rounds(of powerful or duty type ammunition).
Click to expand...

Clydefrog has been around a while, I have to think that is a typo and he probably meant a few hundred thousand rounds.

if not i have a lot of parts to order.
 
If I am putting 10,000+ rounds through a gun it wont be my carry gun, parts wear out and break and I don't want them wearing out on something I may seriously need one day. Ill get 2 and carry one and shoot the heck out of the other if I really want to shoot it that much. With the price I would pay on that much ammo a duplicate gun factored into the equation would only be a fraction of what I spent on ammunition. I would say none of my carry guns have hit the over the 2500 mark yet, I typically only put about 50-100 rounds each month through my carry guns and sometimes not even. I shoot mostly rimfire and sometimes I just cant find time to get to the range.
 
Only one of my pistol parts has needed replacement so far, that was a recoil spring on a .22 upper for my 226. I intend to do the same with all my recoil springs at around 4000 rounds, other springs as needed.
 
Yes, I replace guide rod - recoil springs at about 5,000 rds.....and firing pin springs at around 10,000 rds..../ and main springs or hammer strut springs I change at about 25,000 rds...

my primary 1911 mfg - Wilson Combat - recommends recoil spring replacement at 2,000 rds....and firing pin springs at 5,000 rds ....and main springs or hammer strut springs at 20,000 rds....

I put 10,000 rds a yr or so thru my primary practice 1911's .../ and about 4,000 rds a yr thru my primary carry 1911 ( same guns basically )..../ some of my other guns only see 1,000 rds a yr or maybe less thru them.../ so I keep track of the rds thru them / loosely / in a small notebook I keep in my range bag. Not a big deal.../and to me, maintenance and springs is no big deal.

Shooting out a 1911 ...is interesting ...but in terms of Barrels alone ...Wilson Combat tells me they have range guns with over 750,000 to 1 Million rounds thru them ...with no effective deterioration in accuracy thru them.../ and I can't imagine even sending any of my Wilson's to them - for frame issues ...under a Million rounds.../ let alone any major parts like a safety lever, mag release or something ...although those are easy to replace...
 
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The major firearms manufacturers that enjoy LE/Gov business usually create armorer training programs so their customers can perform armorer level inspections & maintenance, repairs and corrections in the field.

The recommendations for periodic service, inspections & preventive maintenance can vary among manufacturers, and may even change over time for individual manufacturers.

I've attended a fair number of such classes over the years (nudging 20 classes, including recerts), and have heard a lot of different recommendations, suggestions, guidelines, observations and related experiences (from company reps, armorer instructors and other armorers).

Sometimes a manufacturer may offer something that's a bit on the vague side, and sometimes it may be rather specific ... and then I sometimes find it's changed the next time I have reason to call the company or go through another recert class.

I tend to lean more toward the more conservative side of such things, allowed the choice.
 
"He completely went through a Kimber in 25000 rounds."

Interesting. I have a Stainless Gold Match with more than 25k rounds on it and it's fine. I'm not a bullseye shooter, so maybe it's really worn out or something and I don't know it. :cool:
 
wear out; regular service-care...

By "wear out" I mean if you do not; clean, check, replace common firearm parts(springs, barrels, sights, grips, etc).
A well maintained firearm can last years but the owner-user must do their part. ;)

It's not uncommon for "gun enthusiasts"(gunners) to hear of cops, security guards or home owners who buy-get a handgun then let it go to rot for years.

Sad but true. :(
And if you think "armed professionals"(security-LE) are all well trained or concerned with firearms care, think again.
I worked with a armed(licensed) guard who worked at a site with an UNLOADED weapon! The state Div of Licensing would have a fit with that.
I also read a gun press item about a sworn patrol officer who upon a supervisors inspection, couldn't open the cylinder of the duty revolver! Rust & crud had formed all over the holstered weapon. Yuck!

CF
 
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