Longterm parts/mags availability

Status
Not open for further replies.

D.B. Cooper

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2016
Messages
4,380
Glock excluded, of the 9mm handguns available today, which do you foresee as having the best availability of common wear items, such as springs, magazines and magazine repair kits, 20+ years into the future?
 
  • Like
Reactions: L-2
One reason I have 1911's and now glocks is because of parts availability and accessories. There are so many of other models out there that I suspect in the future outfits like wolff springs and others will do a good business making new parts. Many pistols today have plastic internal parts that when in contact with solvent/lubricants might need to be replaced after 20 years if not sooner.
 
I was thinking about the CZ’s. They’re building a US plant now and I agree they are in the US market to stay.
 
Look for stable designs. If something has been made for decades with the same internal parts, then chances are good you will be able to keep getting those parts in the future. Bonus points for major commitments by large government agencies. Bonus points for things embraced by competitive shooters, as that market runs through a lot of replacement parts. Both of those mean that sales of replacement parts are part of the business plan, and represent a viable market for 3rd party vendors.

Guns that are inexpensive "consumer grade" items or are intended to be "carried a little and shot a lot" are at the other end of the spectrum.
 
I also agree. Military pistols. M9, P320 and the 1911. Also, Possible LEO pistols. tho outcome is hard to predict in 10 years from now, let alone 20 years from now. If i had to guess one pistol, i would say the 1911. I assume it will be made for another 100 years.
 
One reason I have 1911's and now glocks is because of parts availability and accessories. There are so many of other models out there that I suspect in the future outfits like wolff springs and others will do a good business making new parts. Many pistols today have plastic internal parts that when in contact with solvent/lubricants might need to be replaced after 20 years if not sooner.
I
Agree! I think the more popular lines like the M&P and XD, along with HK’s and CZ’s will always have some level of aftermarket support.

Of course, none will likely will ever come close to the Glocks. I know that irks some local “Haters”, but the fact that there are so many interchangeable parts between models, the ease to work on and simplistic design, and the price and longevity of OEM parts, including magazines, makes it hard to beat if you are seriously looking for an enduring handgun platform.
 
...anything made by Ruger.

Meh. I'm not impressed with Ruger's long term support. The Security Six went out of production 31 years ago, and Ruger no longer repairs these guns or sell parts for them, as hasn't for a long time-say about a decade. I'm not convinced that one will be able to buy parts for a Security 9 in 20 years.
 
I Agree! I think the more popular lines like the M&P and XD, along with HK’s and CZ’s will always have some level of aftermarket support.

I didn't know the XD was considered a popular line. They're giving away the kitchen sink for free to get people to buy them.
 
I didn't know the XD was considered a popular line. They're giving away the kitchen sink for free to get people to buy them.

Really? I see them all over the public ranges and at local shoots and competitions. I have two, an XDm compact 9 and an XD Mod 2 SC .45. My daughter prefers them as they are much more ergo friendly than a Glock to her. I tell her just keep shooting the Glock’s and it will all come together, but she loves her XDm.
Both of my guns run flawlessly with any ammo. I’ve seen them at week long Gunsite classes and like most polymer guns, have pretty much zero issues.

I’ve seen them carried by some small town local LEOs who I suspect must pay for their own guns.

Lots of folks on this board prefer them to Glock’s due to the bore axis and grip angles being much closer to a 1911 than the Glock’s. Some are put off by the grip safety which adds that extra level of safety but is another thing to complicate the design. But not much different concept (if at all) than the 1911

They are made in Croatia and are NOT expensive guns to make. Before SA started branding them, they were sold in this country under a different name, a Croatian military pistol dubbed the “HS2000” for around $200 I believe.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HS2000

Of course, the popular gun crowd won’t look twice at a sub $300 gun, regardless how well it runs.

I suspect Springfield makes a lot of money on them, even at the lower costs and free stuff to sweeten the deals. Their OEM magazines are superb but, like everyone but Glock, overpriced, so throwing a few extra in to seal the deal probably isn’t hurting them much.

Powder River Precision makes outstanding aftermarket triggers and other upgrades for them (I have a carry trigger in my .45 and it’s very good IMO). Lots of companies make aftermarket gear too.

They are good guns by most accounts you’ll see on this board...and hated much less than Glock’s! LOL!
 
Last edited:
Something to consider, why worry about “long term support” from a company, especially in today’s gun environment.

Figure out what you want, buy several of them and a few extra parts and spring kits, a handful of magazines, some mag springs, and squirrel them away.

It’s pretty easy in the long term to be your own “logistical support” if you consider the long term benefits. Expensive up front, but could pan out as the cheap way to go down the road
 
Probably CZ-75. In general though I often think the need to make sure 'spare parts' are available is a bit overblown. Buy the gun. Nothing will probably fail. In the unlikely event that something does break, buy a replacement part. In the FURTHER unlikely event that a replacement part is completely unavailable, then just get another gun (or if you're like most just start using a different one out of the safe - most people who are going to post on a forum like this have quite a few available).
 
""
FL-NC said:
...anything made by Ruger.""

Meh. I'm not impressed with Ruger's long term support. The Security Six went out of production 31 years ago, and Ruger no longer repairs these guns or sell parts for them, as hasn't for a long time-say about a decade. I'm not convinced that one will be able to buy parts for a Security 9 in 20 years.
I found that with the Ruger Mini-180 that some parts were not available.
The thing with the glock and the 1911 is that there is a huge after market set of parts for them and this helps guarantee parts.

J, K, and N frame smith and wesson revolvers should always have a lot of support for obvious reasons.
But I do keep some 1911 and glock parts on hand anyway. In the future when we get more restrictive gun control measures the market availability of guns and their parts my be restricted and people should consider that.
 
"In the future when we get more restrictive gun control measures the market availability of guns and their parts my be restricted and people should consider that " - Barnetmill
Really good point. The availability of the accessory market will definitely be harder to access. I may be wrong.

Ruger has great customer service but they're really, iffy, when it comes to repairing guns they don't make anymore. If the customer really wants it repaired, they'll do it but we can't rely on them doing it for free most the time. Especially in a future where guns are more restricted, it may not even be a option at that point.
Springfield XDs are nice guns. I can't say anything against them, however I do prefer the Glock. Don't know why it quite is, maybe because the Glock along with the 1911 were the two guns I really learned to shoot on.
So aside from Glock, I'd say the most likely candidates for aftermarket support in the next 20+ years

cz-75 - This has been a stable in the competition pistol community since the decade it first was released.
Smith & Wesson M&P Series - I haven't personally shopped around much for parts for these, but in other countries these have a good reputation for being better than Glock in some ways. Even in America you see these around a lot. People who love them really do love them.
Sig P320/M17 - Military is using it now, plus is a extremely modular pistol, the perfect example of what the future of Polymer Stricker fired pistols will be like. Might become the new 1911.
1911 - Honestly I don't see it being around as a popular pistol much longer, albeit still a good one. But this one is DEFINATELY still a staple in the gunsmithing and gun crafting community. Tons of cheap grips, triggers, hammers, many accessories still being available for it. Plus it's all metal construction this one will really last. Over 100 years in the US Armed Forces, this gun is anything but a wrong choice.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top