Frame cracking question?

[mkk41]

Notice this a is happening a lot. My question is did older P&R aluminum frames crack here or just the later non-pinned 'crush-fit' threaded frames?

This is a thin section , and the obviously the most likely place for it to crack.

OTOH , my non-pinned Mod.37 , ser.no. ADT3XXX doesn't show any signs of a crack , despite having digested a few boxes of +P.

Have these aluminum frames been known to crack?

Would it be covered?

 

[murphydog]

More of the later alloy guns seem to be posted here with cracks, and the theory is the (overtightened) crush-fit barrel is related to this. It's hard to say since it seems to be a random event - some by report occur after a few rounds and not +P.

 

[OKFC05]

So you would like a frame that absolutely, positively will not crack?
You and the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, there is no such usable material or practical gun that is immune from cracking. I was RO at a sectional and watched the back half of a 1911 slide on an open gun break off and hit the shooter in the mouth. NDI inspection showed it had been growing a crack for awhile. AFAIK, all types of frames have been know to crack although it is not an everyday event.

About all we can do is inspect our guns carefully after each cleaning, and take them out of service at the first sign of cracking.

S&W warranty includes the frame.

 

[mkk41]

So you would like a frame that absolutely, positively will not crack?
You and the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, there is no such usable material or practical gun that is immune from cracking. I was RO at a sectional and watched the back half of a 1911 slide on an open gun break off and hit the shooter in the mouth. NDI inspection showed it had been growing a crack for awhile. AFAIK, all types of frames have been know to crack although it is not an everyday event.

Hmmm , this just came up on another site. The story of Colt Gold Cups cracking slides came up. To hear others , every Colt GC cracked inside of 50rds. Now I own several pre-70 NM-GCs and none have any signs of cracking. The only 2 I have seen with cracks at the ejection port were fired with the stock wadcutter spec (12-13lb) recoil spring and GI & commercial hardball , hot handloads , Rem 185+P and Super Vels. My old target load with the 200gr H&G and 4.5gr Red Dot worked fine with a 16lb spring and when I shoot hardball or hot carry loads , it gets a 20lb Wolff spring. IIRC , Colt and most other recommend a spring change every 3500-5000rds.