Can you run a Model 10 into the ground?

[ShrinkMD]

Since the new range opened nearby I will be there quite a bit more. If I shoot a few hundred rounds of standard 38 special once or twice a week, I could hit 10,000 per year if I keep at it. I have a Bud's Australian turn in Model 10, so I don't know how many it had through it. But it locks up fine.

What kind of service calls will this gun need as I pile on the rounds? Has anyone put 100k through a gun like this? What can be repaired and rebuilt to keep it going? I want to dedicate one gun for lots of practice with 38 special, and I'm curious how far I can stretch the gun.

I know it is perfectly silly thinking worrying about putting $5,000 worth of ammo through a used, $280 gun. But aren't you curious, too?

 

[arjay]

You'll get bored and start buying other guns long before you wear it out ;-)

 

[john traveler]

I once fired a documented (primer count) 50,000 rounds of .38 spl thru a k-frame in one year of competition. At the end of the 2nd year (100,000 rnds) it was as accurate as ever, with changes in b-c gap or endshake.

 

[oldafsp]

How many nails can you drive with a Craftsman hammer?

If you don't deliberately abuse it...(shrug)

I personally saw a 10 no dash that was shot for over 20 years
without any problems, every weekend. This guy loved his 10.

And shot by his estimate 200-300 rounds each time out. Every weekend, with a few exceptions. He finally passed it down to his oldest boy. And he still shoots it once in while today.

This guy was "The" best shooter with a box stock 10 I have ever seen.

So, for the sake of argument, say he shot 200 rounds, times 45 weekends a year. That seems pretty resonable.

Thats an average of 9000 rounds/year x 20 years=180,000 rounds of .38 special....

Oh...BTW..I called him while I was writing this and asked what ever went wrong with his 10 over the years. Here it is to the best of his memory:

2 mainsprings
1 ejector rod spring
3 trigger assembly rebuilds
1 firing pin
1 barrel replacement at the factory(due to a squib load according to him that he couldn't get out)
1 refinish at the factory

He told me that he would run a brush down the barrel and cylinder every 100 rounds while shooting. And then do a full cleaning at the end of the day.

So the bottom line is routine maintance, just like any other equipement.

I truly don't think you'll shoot that Model 10 apart with due care given to it.

 

[Bluelou]

Model 10 were the bread and butter of s&w.if you don't abuse it I.e drop them or leave them in the trunk of your car for years with out care they will go a long way.anything you wear out from shooting can easily be replaced. Parts are plentiful.good luck and happy shooting.

 

[ShrinkMD]

Wow

100,000 rounds is about $10,000 worth of 38 specials at today's reloading prices (assuming the brass lasts forever)

Good to know that the Model 10 is the Toyota Corolla of revolvers. I'll get back to you in a year or two and we'll see how many I shoot through it. Too bad it isn't under the S&W lifetime warranty, but I guess after thousands of dollars of ammo I can spring for a few bucks to have someone tune it up.

Refinishing? Does anyone Cerakote or other new coating these old guns?

I kind of like the idea of outshooting people with a beat up, ratty looking Model 10 and smoky reloads. My trigger finger feels a little sore and funky after that many rounds.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I've had my old favorite Model 10 Heavy Barrel since 1975 and I'm trying hard to wear it out. It's seen heavier use than most including experimental handload development and is still hanging in there. If I have 25 or 30 more years I'll keep trying.

 

[fyimo]

Well the age old arguement is how many Model 10's can you buy with the cost of the ammo needed to wear one out and I would say many.

 

[lebomm]

ShrinkMD,
To answer the title question of your orig. post; yes, you can if the ground is soft enough and your car is heavy enough ! And after you do that, you can shake the mud out of it and shoot it some more !

Larry

 

[photoman]

I purchased a 90+ year old .38 Military & Police over the weekend and it looks like it has been shot a bazillion times and I plan on shooting it another bazillion.

 

[stantheman86]

Most revolvers are "loosened up" or shot out by Magnums, it would be very hard for a .38 Special revolver of the quality of a S&W to be shot out unless the shooter used some super hot, light bullet +P's.

I own so many .38 and .357 revolvers that I don't think I'll ever shoot any of them out.

Like was said above, if you can afford to spend 10's of thousands of $$'s on ammo to shoot out a Model 10, you can afford to just buy several Model 10's and just keep them as spares

I have seen my share of "loose" Model 29's, 66's, 19's, etc. because of either too many hot handloads, or just a lot of magnums.

 

[rburg]

At least you have a healthy perspective on the costs. Most Model 10s, or M&Ps if you prefer (I do) don't wear out. The most common cause of failure is the human not cleaning the gun, or oiling it in the correct places and in the correct amount. Many more are just left unattended where moisture or water can destroy them. I feel no sorrow for a gun used frequently, cared for well, and then failing from from the honest wear. Its the best fate that can befall a gun.

Model 10s kind of have an advantage over their brother guns, the K22. While they shoot a much higher intensity load, the lock work must exert a bunch more leverage to turn the cylinder of the K22 (weight).

So the answer as given above is you can wear one out. But it takes a lot of effort, and a whole lot of money to do it. Basically it will wear out several billfolds before the gun gives it up.

 

[Maximumbob54]

With "use" it should last darn near forever.

With "abuse" it will last only as long as how hard it is abused.

 

[stantheman86]

More revolvers get ruined by Hollywood flipping, hot handloads and neglect than any kind of normal shooting.

 

[ShrinkMD]

I wonder how many factory strength (but not over) 357 magnums a 686 or 627 could take? Probably less than a K frame shooting 38 as
Special.

Meanwhile the joint in my finger still feels funky from Sat, so I'm hoping I don't wear out first!

 

[Erich]

Only thing I'd add to stantheman's post (vis-á-vis the Model 10) is rapid cycling of the action - trying to dry-fire like a machine gun seems to make the Model 10s want a tune-up. (I managed a gun store from '88 to '90 and saw a lot of abused Model 10s.) As far as the neglect, watch your lead build-up in the forcing cone . . .

 

[Chuck Jones]

I was just having this conversation with a buddy of mine that taught the Aussies back when they still had those guns in service.

He told me they used to keep 'em piled in a drawer at the station. Drop it off at the end of your shift, 'n pick one up the next day when you came on.

They weren't shot very much, but they sure weren't babied, and nothing really ever went wrong with 'em.

Clean it, lube it a bit, and with 158gn standard loads or 148gn wadcutters it'll last practically forever.

If there is a weak point with standard loads it'd be constant ultra-rapid fire wearing the cylinder stop and cylinder stop spring.

That cylinder stop spring is just a drop in that any moderately mechanical person can do.

And the cylinder stop is way more likely to have a problem in an N frame, than a K frame like yours.

Like your gun's doubtless heard a zillion times "no worries, Mate"

/c

 

[ShrinkMD]

I ran a copper chore boy covered brush through and didn't really get much out. I have not had leading problems, but I will check with my Lewis lead remover next time.

 

[Kelly Green]

The Model 10 is a plow mule, keep feeding it and it keeps working.

 

[mtgianni]

Having had to replace the ejector face on a Mod 14 after a lot of DA shooting resulted in it being out of time. {I bought it used and only the last 10,000 were mine}. I thin k slow fired SA will last almost forever, IPSC style matches shot DA and fast will wear some parts.