When do pistols get "shot out"?
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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When your accuracy falls off. You did not specify which spring, if you meant the mainspring I would say when you start to get misfires from light firing pin strikes.
CapnMac
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Pretty much when the rifling gets worn down to where it won't grab a patch on a jag tip.
Springs are more variable--usually the thing stops cycling to "tell" you the springs are shot out.
As a rough guess, it's about 10x more than you expect. "We" are too conditioned by "consumer society" to things only having the durability of a $5 toaster instead of of a rolling pin.
Many firearms can sound like a tin can full of nut & bolts falling down a staircase and still be incredibly reliable.
There are plenty out there, safe in their armchairs who will confidently tell you that a hand gun going from 1 MOA to 1.5 MOA is "shot out." These people often do not have a credible, repeatable way to measure to that standard, but will assert it none the less.
Firearms typically outlive their owners, and often with their original parts.
Springs are more variable--usually the thing stops cycling to "tell" you the springs are shot out.
As a rough guess, it's about 10x more than you expect. "We" are too conditioned by "consumer society" to things only having the durability of a $5 toaster instead of of a rolling pin.
Many firearms can sound like a tin can full of nut & bolts falling down a staircase and still be incredibly reliable.
There are plenty out there, safe in their armchairs who will confidently tell you that a hand gun going from 1 MOA to 1.5 MOA is "shot out." These people often do not have a credible, repeatable way to measure to that standard, but will assert it none the less.
Firearms typically outlive their owners, and often with their original parts.
Jim Watson
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Maybe 27,000 rounds in the future. Wilson once showed a .38 Super barrel pretty well burnt out after only 30,000.
But my PPC friend had a .38 Special with about 1/3 of the length of the rifling eroded away but still shooting pretty well after only 150,000.
Chuck Taylor was over 300,000 in a Glock 17 and still going.
Wolff wants you to buy a new spring after only 3000 but the flat wire in your Smith or a Glock will last longer. The type in the Nighthawk Everlast is advertised to last 15,000+.
But my PPC friend had a .38 Special with about 1/3 of the length of the rifling eroded away but still shooting pretty well after only 150,000.
Chuck Taylor was over 300,000 in a Glock 17 and still going.
Wolff wants you to buy a new spring after only 3000 but the flat wire in your Smith or a Glock will last longer. The type in the Nighthawk Everlast is advertised to last 15,000+.
At 3000 rounds it is probably starting the warm up.
Some manufacturers recommend replacing the recoil spring every 3000 rounds, others every 5000. It is certainly a very good recommendation but probably on the side of caution. I believe that with any modern full size pistol you can go up to 10000 rounds before changing the recoil spring.
My opinion is that a pistol is to be considered shoot out when something that is not normally replaceable breaks irreparably. I consider the barrel, slide and frame as not normally replaceable parts. By now, however, on many pistols these parts are also replaceable, both with factory and aftermarket parts. So...
Some manufacturers recommend replacing the recoil spring every 3000 rounds, others every 5000. It is certainly a very good recommendation but probably on the side of caution. I believe that with any modern full size pistol you can go up to 10000 rounds before changing the recoil spring.
My opinion is that a pistol is to be considered shoot out when something that is not normally replaceable breaks irreparably. I consider the barrel, slide and frame as not normally replaceable parts. By now, however, on many pistols these parts are also replaceable, both with factory and aftermarket parts. So...
Bazoo
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I've got about 8,000 rounds on my Springfield armory milspec 1911 45. It is starting to get loose and rattle just a bit. Broke in good in other words. I changed the recoil spring twice so far. No reason other than round count.
But I've had the front sight come loose and need restaking 3 times, the plunger tube come loose and need restaking. A chip come off the side of the half cock notch on the hammer. Springfield repaired the latter. I repaired the plunger tube, and the front sight once. Had the gunsmith repair the front sight too. Last time he put some loctite stuff on it that wicks in and it hasn't come lose again yet.
It had a lock in the MSH. The lock mechanism started getting where it would bind the plunger a bit. It never light striked but you could feel it. I consulted Springfield and dremeled it so it wouldn't protrude into the path of the plunger. Then I eventually replaced the MSH with an Ed brown. Part.
Makes me wonders why I keep it.
But I've had the front sight come loose and need restaking 3 times, the plunger tube come loose and need restaking. A chip come off the side of the half cock notch on the hammer. Springfield repaired the latter. I repaired the plunger tube, and the front sight once. Had the gunsmith repair the front sight too. Last time he put some loctite stuff on it that wicks in and it hasn't come lose again yet.
It had a lock in the MSH. The lock mechanism started getting where it would bind the plunger a bit. It never light striked but you could feel it. I consulted Springfield and dremeled it so it wouldn't protrude into the path of the plunger. Then I eventually replaced the MSH with an Ed brown. Part.
Makes me wonders why I keep it.
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Good answer.
I have a Colt Mk IV, Series 70 45 ACP barrel. I put between 3000-3500 rounds through the Colt barrel when it was in stalled in its original pistol. I rebarreled the pistol to 38/45 Clerke.
At sometime later, I bought a Thompson 45 CP 1911. The Thompson probably had less than 1000 rounds through it when I installed the old Colt barrel in it. The accuracy improved in the Thompson with the Colt barrel to a similar level as the original Colt 1911.
Springs are wear items and need replacement periodically.
At sometime later, I bought a Thompson 45 CP 1911. The Thompson probably had less than 1000 rounds through it when I installed the old Colt barrel in it. The accuracy improved in the Thompson with the Colt barrel to a similar level as the original Colt 1911.
Springs are wear items and need replacement periodically.
trackskippy
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Im still shooting a 17 that broke a rail at around 150K. Glock replaced the frame and rebuilt it and Im still shooting it a couple of times a week. Well, what was left of it. Basically the barrel and slide.
Ive got a 26 that's probably close to or maybe even over 100K at this point. I quit keeping count at 26K, and that was a number of years ago.
If you're going to worry about anything, replace the RSA's on a regular basis.
Ive got a 26 that's probably close to or maybe even over 100K at this point. I quit keeping count at 26K, and that was a number of years ago.
If you're going to worry about anything, replace the RSA's on a regular basis.
edwardware
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lol
The spring is a wear item; replace it what ejection becomes noticeably violent. 3k is about right.
The barrel is nitrocarburized. Check in a 100k rounds, and it'll probably still be fine. The frame won't last as long as that barrel.
A bare (not nitrocarburized) barrel might need replaced at 30-50k for peak accuracy.
As far as pistols go the barrel is typically not an issue. Might be for something like 5.7 FN or 7.5 Fk or some of the really hot higher preasure calibers.
Other parts depends on platform. Some pistols can tear through extractors... ejectors...strikers/firing pins etc. Its good to learn the design and the weak points in it and carry a spare or two if there is a reoccuring issue. A fresh set of springs and pins are a good idea as well.
Most of the time once a solid well vetted milspec-ish pistol is dialed in, kept clean and properly lubed things are fine for a long time if its not abused or dry fired to death. If something is off you will find out pretty early. A lot of the more budget friendly guns can have more issues. I end up getting more spare parts to keep on hand for budget pistols than higher end stuff so its pretty much a wash cost wise. I accept it as I like supporting a lot of the smaller American gun manufacturers.
Other parts depends on platform. Some pistols can tear through extractors... ejectors...strikers/firing pins etc. Its good to learn the design and the weak points in it and carry a spare or two if there is a reoccuring issue. A fresh set of springs and pins are a good idea as well.
Most of the time once a solid well vetted milspec-ish pistol is dialed in, kept clean and properly lubed things are fine for a long time if its not abused or dry fired to death. If something is off you will find out pretty early. A lot of the more budget friendly guns can have more issues. I end up getting more spare parts to keep on hand for budget pistols than higher end stuff so its pretty much a wash cost wise. I accept it as I like supporting a lot of the smaller American gun manufacturers.
Here is my personal experience from when I was in the Army and issued 1911A1 pistols. They all had high round counts and all were your typical "battle rattle" pistols. They would sound like they're going to fall apart when shaken. But all of them functioned as they should. And all were accurate even with loose slides as long as the barrel to slide and barrel to bushing fits were good.
Robbins290
Member
When the frame is unsafe to fire. Slide rails too worn or frame cracked. Other then that, all the parts are replaceable.
FL-NC
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I've never shot out a pistol barrel but at the same time, I'm not trying to shoot little groups at 50 yards on a bull target either. What I have done is wear out a pistol or use one until it breaks. We were lucky to get 2 years out of a issue M9 pistol before it needed to be replaced. I have a Glock 17 that I used until the frame broke (lost slide rail) but it still worked and was rebuilt by Glock. I'm at/around 150k rounds through that pistol now and it is still wearing the original slide and barrel.
Larry in wyoming
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It is a lucky man indeed who gets to shoot enough to wear out his gun. Be it hand gun or rifle. When it quits working to your satisfaction, fix it or replace and just smile.
AJC1
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I keep hearing rumors that shooting a revolver enough and you have to send it in to be retimed. That sounds crappy.
Can happen, I bought a well used Python several years ago that was a little off, the hand was well worn. I called Colt and they fixed it free of charge. A gunsmith could have done it easily enough.
There was a post about a USP .45 that had a documented round count of 297k rounds through it. I've had a USP .40 for several years, made in '94 and was used for USPSA/IDPA for many years before I bought it. Still feels like a new gun.
https://www.hkpro.com/threads/a-chat-with-an-hk-armorer-must-read.160710/
https://www.hkpro.com/threads/a-chat-with-an-hk-armorer-must-read.160710/
Buzznrose
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trackskippy
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I told them the count. I also asked if the grip was stippled if it was a problem. They said send it down and they would take a look at it. They replaced the frame and rebuilt the rest of the gun.
Cost me the $25 to ship it to them, they fixed it for free. Oh, and it was 9 years out of warranty too.
bullseye308
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I used to have an Astra A-100 9mm that was a well used Spanish police trade in and I put 220,000 rounds through it and only replaced the recoil spring once and right at 185k the slide stop broke. Wish I’d kept it.
AzShooter1
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100K and still counting. I have a few .38/357s with well over 60K rounds.
I clean my guns about ever 500 rounds and only run a nylon brush through the barrel, a bronze brush in the chambers.
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