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How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:05 am
by marksiwel
How long should a Pistol New From Box last with moderate upkeep and original parts.
Say you replace the Spring every 10,000 Rounds, and clean and oil it.
Also how long do "Plastic" pistols last?
Anyone got some hard data?
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:15 am
by Keith B
All pistols are different, so there are no set guidelines. Also, the way they are maintained, what type of ammo used, etc. will affect the life of the pistol's wearable parts.
Go by your manufacturer's recommendations on the individual pistol you have and replace the parts as specified and any quality firearm should last for many years and thousand's of rounds.
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:18 am
by USA1
Jimenez or Jennings...24hrs or first shot, whichever comes first.

Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:21 am
by wgoforth
They should be able to outlast their owners, I opine.
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:47 am
by The Annoyed Man
You bought a Glock. It should last at least 100,000 rounds if well maintained. Or, look at it this way.... I've never known someone who completely wore out a modern era gun.
USA1's caveat does stand, though.

Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:55 am
by marksiwel
The Annoyed Man wrote:You bought a Glock. It should last at least 100,000 rounds if well maintained. Or, look at it this way.... I've never known someone who completely wore out a modern era gun.
USA1's caveat does stand, though.

I also have a 1970s Smith and Wesson Model 67
a 90s Hi Power
a 2003 Hi Powe in 40
and a 2008 Walther p22
I'm guessing the Walther will be long gone in 20 years
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:32 pm
by MoJo
They should last for your lifetime and the lifetime of those who inherit the gun. Most guns are worn out by overzealous owners with Dremmel tools.
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:45 pm
by Dusty Harry
I shot the lockwork right out of a 6" Colt Python back in the 80's, but it took about 50k rounds, and it was in my younger years when ammo was cheaper and my arms were stronger, so I shot way too many .357 loads through it. I have broken a few guns as a result of my own stupidity, but have never been able to wear out anything else, even back when I was shooting 15-20K rounds a year. Most of 'em just got smoother. I have replaced many a main spring in a 1911, and put in new magazine springs every 5 years.
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:58 pm
by The Annoyed Man
AndyC wrote:I wore out a CZ75 barrel once - took 120k rounds (95% of those were lead handloads) in 4-5 years, tho

Good job!!!
But I'll bet that 120,000 rounds through one pistol is more than most pistol owners will fire in their lifetimes. I'll bet if you added up all the pistol shots I've ever fired, in all my pistols or borrowed pistols, it probably comes in under 20,000 rounds.
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:59 pm
by marksiwel
The Annoyed Man wrote:AndyC wrote:I wore out a CZ75 barrel once - took 120k rounds (95% of those were lead handloads) in 4-5 years, tho

Good job!!!
But I'll bet that 120,000 rounds through one pistol is more than most pistol owners will fire in their lifetimes. I'll bet if you added up all the pistol shots I've ever fired, in all my pistols or borrowed pistols, it probably comes in well under 20,000 rounds.
You are slacking!
If we count .22s I'm pretty high up, but more than likely under 15,000 then again I've been shooting since 2008
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:05 pm
by bayouhazard
A quality handgun should last generations if maintained. Parts do wear out from use, like anything mechanical, even houses.
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:14 pm
by The Annoyed Man
marksiwel wrote:The Annoyed Man wrote:AndyC wrote:I wore out a CZ75 barrel once - took 120k rounds (95% of those were lead handloads) in 4-5 years, tho

Good job!!!
But I'll bet that 120,000 rounds through one pistol is more than most pistol owners will fire in their lifetimes. I'll bet if you added up all the pistol shots I've ever fired, in all my pistols or borrowed pistols, it probably comes in well under 20,000 rounds.
You are slacking!
If we count .22s I'm pretty high up, but more than likely under 15,000 then again I've been shooting since 2008
Oops... I forgot the .22s

Ok, make it under 30,000 rounds. But then I've always been more of a rifle guy than a pistol guy. Even so, let's say you go to the range once a week, 52 weeks a year, and you shoot 150 rounds through your carry gun... ...that's still only 7,800 rounds a year. The members of this forum are the exception rather than the norm. We tend to shoot more than the average gun owner — and I
know I don't shoot 7,800 pistol rounds a year. For me, the number is probably less than half of that. I usually take 3 or 4 pistols to the range with me, and depending on how I feel that day, I might put 150 rounds through one, 50 through another, and maybe a dozen through my snubbie. I get to the pistol range about once a month on average. We have many members here who go much more often than that, but I'll bet I'm representative of the average.
At that rate, it would take me 40 years to put 120,000 rounds though a pistol. But then, I've never had to earn my living with a gun the way AndyC did, so I've had neither the opportunity nor the need to do that much shooting. Plus, I'm such a tightwad my butt squeaks when I walk.

In fact, one of the benefits to me of having started loading my own ammo is that I expect it will be much more affordable for me to shoot more ammo.
Re: How long should a Pistol Last
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:55 pm
by JJVP
marksiwel wrote:How long should a Pistol New From Box last with moderate upkeep and original parts.
Say you replace the Spring every 10,000 Rounds, and clean and oil it.
Also how long do "Plastic" pistols last?
Anyone got some hard data?
After 500 rounds, it is a crap shoot to continue using the gun. You are required by law to dispose of the firearm by sending it to an authorized firearm disposer. Just your luck, I am an authorized firearm disposer and can dispose of those overused firearms for you. Send me an email and we can work out the details on how to best ship the firearms to me. There is usually a fee associated with the disposal, but because you are a member of TexasCHLforum I will wave my usual fee and will dispose of the firearms at no cost to you other than shipping costs.
