strength of alloy guns

[jimaw2]

I was wondering how the alloy magnums hold up. Are they designed for a steady diet of full power loads?

 

[diamonback68]

In my opinion, of course not. They were made as a trade off for lightness and ease of carry and portability and to be used for self defense situations on an as needed basis. If you want to shoot the crap out of a gun, I would advise buying a carbon steel or stainless gun which now have some sort of endurance package built in. YMMV

 

[racuda]

Any idea how many rounds is too many?

 

[Wakatomika]

Any idea how many rounds is too many?

I have a newer 638 with an alloy frame and stainless barrel and cylinder. It has digested two boxes (100rnds) of +p loads and to date about four boxes (200) of standard loads and perhaps twice that number of my own hand loads and is still as tight as it was when new. It is my primary carry gun and has been my almost constant companion for nearly all of the time that Ohio has had a concealed carry law,(I think it has been six years now). This is one of the dreaded guns with the lock and the Mim parts but has so far performed admirably for me. I believe an alloy revolver will handle more rounds that the ordinary person will put through it unless it is to be used for a competition gun. Certainly several thousand rounds would be required to shoot one so loose as to be unusable, and at that juncture Smith and Wesson could rebuild it for a nominal fee. Hope this helps.
Wakatomika

 

[jimaw2]

Thanks for the input.............

 

[Pisgah]

When it comes to the flyweight magnums, I think the question of durability is almost a moot point. I think they will handle an almost infinite number of non-magnum loads; but, while I am sure it would be possible to beat one to death with magnum loads, I have yet to meet a man whose hands would outlast the gun.

My all-stainless Model 60 Lady Smith .357 makes my 37-2 airweight shooting +P ammo feel downright gentle. I love it, but I do a lot of practice with .38s! The sensation of firing something like a 329 with magnum loads is something I'd prefer not to even think about!

 

[NE450No2]

I have had 2 S&W's a Bodyguard, and a Centenial, both Airweight for over 35 years.

They both have been carried and shot a lot, including some hot reloads, as well as some +P+ factory loads.

They have both been work guns, and I have also killed a bunch of rabbits with them.

They still work fine, but now I do not shoot them much as I want them to last me till my end of days...

However S&W seems to now be having a BUNCH of problems with the current genetration of light weight alloy framed guns.

I have a 325 Night Guard, and I have shot it a couple of hundred times so far. I do like it.

I have some more ammo I am going to test in it, then I plan to shoot it "not so much"...

The new "airweights" just do not seem as rugged as the older ones to me.

 

[arizonaguide]

I have a .38sp S&W442 airweight with 1500rds+/- of 148gr Wadcutter, and probably 800-900rds of Lead Roundnose training ammo, and a couple boxes of 158gr +P just to bang the steel targets better.

It's still tight, and the trigger is just starting to get worked in...(or else I'm just getting REALLY used to it).

I LOVE that little gun, and it's holding UP quite WELL so far.

 

[Goffman]

+1 on Pisgah's reply. I have a 340PD, which is the lightest of the alloy handguns chambered in .357 magnum. Twenty full power .357s is about my limit for any given visit to the range (fifteen in my right hand, and five in my left). I then need to give my hands a rest for a couple of days. I can shoot a bit more with the short barrel .357 "mediums" (loads of mid-range power), but they're expensive. So, I do a lot of practice with .38s, and then fifteen or twenty .357s. Bottom-line is that the gun surely will outlast my tolerance for pain.

 

[whitecoyote]

I don't think you would ever have to worry about wearing out an airweight.
And if you did, send it back to S&W to fix, or replace it for free!

 

[Titegroups]

All guns are made of alloys. Steel, Stainless steel, aluminum etc. Plain carbon steel is not used in modern firearms, not strong enough.

 

[roscoe13]

All guns are made of alloys. Steel, Stainless steel, aluminum etc. Plain carbon steel is not used in modern firearms, not strong enough.

Plain carbon steel is an alloy as well... What's your point? It's pretty obvious that the subject of the thread is guns with non-steel frames...