Airweight longevity

[J-USer]

I've seen a lot of threads on the forums pondering whether or not the j-frame airweights have a decent service life or if they fall apart with anything other than light usage.

I'd like to know if anyone has ever actually worn a j-frame airweight out or if they know first hand of it happening to an owner. Airweights for rent at shooting ranges don't count because all the guns there get worn out quickly (except of course for Glocks).

 

[Rick_A]

Never heard of it happening.

Some crack on the frame under the barrel due to over torquing. This usually happens within a few hundred rounds if it happens at all.

Other than that the most extensive torture test I've found was 3000 round of plus p. It ended as it was too torturous for the shooters, not gun.

I don't know if I agree with your everything but Glocks wears out statement.

 

[JAREDSHS]

why worry about it? a new Airweight has a lifetime warranty. can you say that about the glock?

 

[kaaskop49]

IMO, if anyone is shooting a J-frame to destruction, then they are not practicing properly.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[HarrishMasher]

Project: Break my J frame.

 

[G.T. Smith]

My M37 airweight is 46 years old and is still tight. The finish on the barrel and cylinder are just about gone and I don't even care. No cracks or anything. It always scares me a little when I read about cracks, but if it was going to crack, surely it would have done so by now. It don't get +P's, just standard LRN factory stuff.
Peace,
Gordon

 

[lamarw]

Well, I have a Model 42 from 1962 - 63 era. It is still running strong both mechanically and appearance wise.

I actually toted it tonight while out to dinner.

 

[normamag]

1968 Mod 37

 

[ridgewalker]

I've got 2 things to say:

J-USer that is a darn good question. But I want to point out he asked about Airweight longevity. It is nice to hear about you guys who have 40 year old J frames but let's hear about the Airweights. Yes Harrishmasher, I have read bits of the break my J thread and it is very relevent but so long.

Second, J-USer there must be a story how you have a join date 11 years ago but this was your first post. Care to spend another post to tell your story?

 

[lamarw]

My 51 or 52 year old Model 42 states AIRWEIGHT on the right side of the barrel.

It is not as old as I am, but we both can attest to longevity.

 

[Rpg]

I've shot thousands of rounds through my M38's over many, many years.

No problems.

What's the worry?

 

[Biggfoot44]

I did sort of.

M37 SqButt , used with unknown round count before I bought it. Was main BUG , so I made conscous decision to practice a lot , with substantial % being +P . As a coincidence it was examined by skilled gunsmith 2yrs after his previous examining. The ( part of the frame that the hammer assy pivots upon ) was warn undersize. Wasn't unsafe , but he recomended to cut back to occasional shooting.

*To Me* I considered a gun in that role to be an expendable tool , and if one needed replacing every few years , that was acceptable life insurance. I was perfectly will to then go pay full retail list for a replacement SqButt M37 , but argggh ! , they had been discontinued.

So the answer to OP's inquiry is if an Airweight suits your needs , get one . It will last for many thousands of rounds. Theoretically this is less than a steel J frame that will last many tens of thousands of rounds , but unless you have bottomless free ammo from your employer , 99.9% of owner won't put enough rounds thru one to wear it out.

Now I *prefer* steel guns in most cases for other reasons , but that's a different discussion.

 

[ripcurlksm]

I've got an airweight up for sale in the forums here... excellent gun, no problems

 

[J-USer]

I did sort of.

M37 SqButt , used with unknown round count before I bought it. Was main BUG , so I made conscous decision to practice a lot , with substantial % being +P . As a coincidence it was examined by skilled gunsmith 2yrs after his previous examining. The ( part of the frame that the hammer assy pivots upon ) was warn undersize. Wasn't unsafe , but he recomended to cut back to occasional shooting.

*To Me* I considered a gun in that role to be an expendable tool , and if one needed replacing every few years , that was acceptable life insurance. I was perfectly will to then go pay full retail list for a replacement SqButt M37 , but argggh ! , they had been discontinued.

So the answer to OP's inquiry is if an Airweight suits your needs , get one . It will last for many thousands of rounds. Theoretically this is less than a steel J frame that will last many tens of thousands of rounds , but unless you have bottomless free ammo from your employer , 99.9% of owner won't put enough rounds thru one to wear it out.

Now I *prefer* steel guns in most cases for other reasons , but that's a different discussion.

I'm not really worrying about it, I researched the modern airweights enough to have confidence in the one I currently carry. But there seems to be an awful lot of conjecture about their durability so I thought I'd ask if anyone has ever had any first hand examples of one of them wearing out that wasn't due to a manufacturing defect or being used at a gun range.

It's not so much a lack of confidence in the weapon as it is curiosity about where the durability question actually came from and why it's persisted for so damn long.

 

[J-USer]

I've got 2 things to say:

J-USer that is a darn good question. But I want to point out he asked about Airweight longevity. It is nice to hear about you guys who have 40 year old J frames but let's hear about the Airweights. Yes Harrishmasher, I have read bits of the break my J thread and it is very relevent but so long.

Second, J-USer there must be a story how you have a join date 11 years ago but this was your first post. Care to spend another post to tell your story?

Nothing much to tell. When I created my account back in '03 I had a very slow, piece of junk computer and I thought that my account didn't take so I never tried again. When I tried creating a new account yesterday I found out my old account actually existed so I used it. That's pretty much it.

 

[JAREDSHS]

J-USer
Welcome aboard man.

 

[Old cop]

About 1970 I purchased a used (1962) Model 38 for back-up & off-duty. I had to qualify w/it annually for 30 years and I still have it. Still shoots great and gets carried. Over time I picked up a couple of newer 442s (circa mid '90s) that go to the range often, get carried too and still run fine. These guns will be around after I'm gone.

Hope this helps.

 

[Boogsawaste]

I've got 2 things to say:

J-USer that is a darn good question. But I want to point out he asked about Airweight longevity. It is nice to hear about you guys who have 40 year old J frames but let's hear about the Airweights.

The 42, 37 and now Old Cop's 38 are all airweights. Airweights are nothing new to s&w. They even made a k frame airweight at one point (12). Just an FYI.

And to add my experience, I now have somewhere between 500 and 700 standard and +p out of my 642. All measurements are exactly as they've always been. I enjoy shooting this gun A LOT. I bring it to the range every time I go and shoot 25 or 50 through it.