Stainless S&W Autos

[jimmyj]

In the past (!970/1980) when S&W Auto Pistols came on the retail market
IIRC (?) there was a condition referred to as "Galling" where there were malfunctions caused by stainess rubbing on stainless ?

 

[M41A]

I believe this was made out to be a much more serious issue at the time than it ever played out to be. Thankfully we have 40-50 years of real world examples to look at.

 

[stansdds]

The galling issue occurred with the very first all-stainless semi-auto pistols, which would have been the AMT line of M1911 clones. This was due to AMT using the same stainless alloy and same hardness on both the slide and receiver. By the time Colt and S&W began to make all-stainless pistols, the issue with galling was well known, the solution was to either use different alloys or heat treatments to give the slide and receiver different hardness.

 

[19leben]

I am aware of the early AMT galling issue. Have never heard of this issue with any other manufacturer and never worried about it with any Gen stainless S&W pistol.

 

[cololab]

I can't recall this ever being an issue with any of the S&W pistols either I or anyone I knew were issued or owned. Not saying it couldn't have occurred, but I never saw it.

 

[nra jim]

I can only speak of my experience with S&W, I have a 1911 stainless steel that just turned 21 and has in excess of 35,000 rounds through it and have had zero problems with anything on this pistol and no galling at all.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[adrianolsen]

We had some galling with the 4006 .it didn't happen alot. Most of the time it was a lack of oil.

 

[stansdds]

We had some galling with the 4006 .it didn't happen alot. Most of the time it was a lack of oil.

Even with different hardness, you still need lubrication whenever there is metal-to-metal contact. Not all LEO's are gun people and would understand the requirement for proper lubrication.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I BELIEVE the situation has been pretty well remedied as noted above. That being said I still use a special lubricant, made by RIG I believe, for stainless steel pistols just for this purpose. It makes me feel good.

 

[BAM-BAM]

None on my 1994 PC SD-9.

 

[shawn mccarver]

In the past (!970/1980) when S&W Auto Pistols came on the retail market
IIRC (?) there was a condition referred to as "Galling" where there were malfunctions caused by stainess rubbing on stainless ?

This was not exclusive to S&W autos and was well-known back when folks were building 1911s out of stainless. Problem solved by using differing grades or specifications of stainless steel.

I do not recall it ever being an issue with S&Ws, but if it was, it was so brief as to be a blip on the radar that went away quickly. I had the earliest versions of the 639 and 659 (wish I still had them), and never had an issue.

I am certain it has not been an issue for decades, and especially not with 3rd Gen Autos. Any galling issues were long ago solved by using differing grades or specifications of stainless steel.

 

[Brian Parrish]

Pardon My Ignorance

The galling issue occurred with the very first all-stainless semi-auto pistols, which would have been the AMT line of M1911 clones. This was due to AMT using the same stainless alloy and same hardness on both the slide and receiver. By the time Colt and S&W began to make all-stainless pistols, the issue with galling was well known, the solution was to either use different alloys or heat treatments to give the slide and receiver different hardness.

I do not understand this. Equal hardness rubbing they wear each other equally? Different hardness the weaker wears more than the stronger?

You gonna tell me to look it up? Uhhhhh, becuz that would be work.
BrianD

 

[GaryS]

All police officers are taught how to maintain their service weapons. Not all of them actually do it, but they are not ignorant of the need and know how.

Even with different hardness, you still need lubrication whenever there is metal-to-metal contact. Not all LEO's are gun people and would understand the requirement for proper lubrication.