1911 Barrel life?

[Detritus]

Have been meaning to ask this for awhile, so as to poll the assembled minds so to speak..

What kind of barrel life (defined in terms of round count) should i expect from a RIA, Metro, or similar factory barrel?? I have a Metro AC-II that will be at or over 20K mark before the end of the year. based on a conservative estimate of 200rds a month and i've had it 8 years this month (some months the gun hasn't been shot, but there were a few months where I put over a two thousand through it) So I'm begining to wonder if I should be thinking of a replacement relatively soon, or if it should have another 8 year of life left.

Thank you for your time and any advice you care to share

 

[GooseGestapo]

You’ll wear it out cleaning it before you’ll wear it out shooting it.
It’s suggested that the recoil spring be replaced every 2000-5000rds.

I’ve got two S&W PPC9 “Limited” semiautos. Each have 30-50,000rds through them. Recoil springs have been replaced twice. They’re still X-ring accurate at 50yds.
Me, not so much anymore.
My 1911 only has 3-4000rds through it. I have replaced the recoil spring twice. Original 16ld with a 12lb. Now on second 12lb spring. I only shoot SWC target loads through it, though.

Firing old corrosive hardball, I’ve heard 50,000rds to “shoot out” a 1911 barrel. Pistols don’t wear barrels like high pressure, high velocity rifles.
A .308 will give match accuracy for 2,500-3,000rds. 10,000rds service grade accuracy. It operates at 55,000-60,000 psi at 2,600-2,800fps. Burns 40-49.0gr of powder.
.45auto uses 5-7gr of powder and operates at 19-21,000psi. I was once shown a M1911 barrel in a 1913 mfg pistol that was returned to the Anniston AOD small arms repair unit circa 1972. It looked brand new! A retired aod armorer built a personal gun with it in a Essex frame and slide. Claimed it would shoot 2”groups at 25yds with National Match Hardball ammo. Colt used to make some good stuff.

 

[Detritus]

well that helps.
Gives me some security in my main suspicion, that the past few months of only shooting at matches and not getting any dry fire in, and possibly needing to re-tune my handloads are most likely to be at fault and not the gun. Just one of those. "I don't even have a decent guideline for this, I better ask" things.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Have been meaning to ask this for awhile, so as to poll the assembled minds so to speak..

What kind of barrel life (defined in terms of round count) should i expect from a RIA, Metro, or similar factory barrel?? I have a Metro AC-II that will be at or over 20K mark before the end of the year. based on a conservative estimate of 200rds a month and i've had it 8 years this month (some months the gun hasn't been shot, but there were a few months where I put over a two thousand through it) So I'm begining to wonder if I should be thinking of a replacement relatively soon, or if it should have another 8 year of life left.

Thank you for your time and any advice you care to share

Read through this thread: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthrea...88K)-rounds-and-counting-Springfield-Operator

 

[Skylerbone]

More so than accuracy concerns and actual internal wear, you should be cognizant of the exterior. The initial fit will determine if the lugs wear prematurely or the feet become damaged. Keep an eye out for visible damage.

Regarding the rifling, what you shoot contributes to wear. Shooting lead or softer cast alloys might take you a lifetime to see any wear.

 

[Slamfire]

I got to shoot next to AMU shooters at CMP Talladega.



I was told, they shoot about 5000 to 7500 rounds a month through their Caspian Arms M1911's. The ammunition on the line that day, were 185 JHP.



The guy near, he said his barrel lasted about 3 years. They wore out several sets of sears and hammers per year. Within the memory of the shooters, no frame or slide had cracked or needed refitting. Which is an excellent comment on the metallurgy of modern pistols.

One shooter I know, said he had fired around 600,000 148 LSWC's with 2.7 grs bullseye through his PPC K frame revolver. The barrel was still putting them in sub 2 MOA groups at 50 yards. He had worn out an extractor star along the way. Anyway, if you are shooting cast lead bullets, instead of jacketed, your barrel may last an amazing number of rounds.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Firing schedule will also factor in. If you’re training for and shooting a lot of IPSC, USPSA, Steel Challenge etc you’re going to have shorter barrel life due to all the heat you are subjecting the barrel to. Plus some of those games have a minimum power factor so you can’t get away with light loads.

 

[1MoreFord]

I used to know a guy who had a Colt 1911 .45acp with Over 100K through it on mostly original parts including the barrel. Yup they will hold up if properly maintained.

 

[rskent]

Some of you are comparing a Colt barrel to a Rock Island barrel. Seems like comparing an apple to, well some other kind of apple. (sorry I don’t know my apples.)

 

[ATLDave]

I used to know a guy who had a Colt 1911 .45acp with Over 100K through it on mostly original parts including the barrel. Yup they will hold up if properly maintained.

Just so long as you note that part of "properly maintaining" a pistol barrel includes not aggressively cleaning it very much. There are some top USPSA guys who literally never, ever, ever, ever clean the bore of their guns. The chamber? Yes. The frame and slide and trigger assemble and sear, etc.? Yes. But not the bore. Ever. Not even once.

 

[792mauser]

I have 8k+ rounds through my Rock Island. It's fired everything from +p 185gr to wax to blackpowder and match-head powder. It's still "accurate enough" for me at the range to stay in paper at 25 yards (I'm not a good pistol shot).

 

[Pete D.]

I have a Colt Gold Cup series 80. I have at least 80k rounds through it. All original parts. Still puts them in the 10 ring.