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Can You Wear Out a Pistol Receiver?
I always thought that a pistol's rated service life was the average number of rounds before the actual receiver was damaged beyond repair. However, I've been recently told that it refers to the average number of rounds before it requires repair of a major component, such as a new barrel.
So now I'm wondering, for pistols that are used for competitive shooting where hundreds of thousands of rounds are fired through them, the slide rides on the frame, a lot of metal on metal contact, doesn't it scratch itself off until it either wears so thin it's no longer usable or it outright cracks?
I've been going to a LGS that I thought was very knowledgeable, but he says it's not possible to wear out the actual receiver on any pistol, even a competition pistol, and that anyone who says otherwise is not being very serious.
So now I'm wondering what's the truth? I've heard it both ways. I've heard that it is possible to wear out a receiver, from the metal on metal contact and the force of the slide, but I've also heard the opposite. So now I'm wondering if with something like a Sig P226, P320, or P365, is it possible to wear out the receiver from shooting it too much?
So now I'm wondering, for pistols that are used for competitive shooting where hundreds of thousands of rounds are fired through them, the slide rides on the frame, a lot of metal on metal contact, doesn't it scratch itself off until it either wears so thin it's no longer usable or it outright cracks?
I've been going to a LGS that I thought was very knowledgeable, but he says it's not possible to wear out the actual receiver on any pistol, even a competition pistol, and that anyone who says otherwise is not being very serious.
So now I'm wondering what's the truth? I've heard it both ways. I've heard that it is possible to wear out a receiver, from the metal on metal contact and the force of the slide, but I've also heard the opposite. So now I'm wondering if with something like a Sig P226, P320, or P365, is it possible to wear out the receiver from shooting it too much?
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
All you can do is proper lubrication to prolong its life. I'm not in competition so my P-Series will out live me.
Here are just a few easy ways to destroy a firearm... frame/receiver!
Improper lubrication will result in quicker wear of reciprocating parts. With aluminum frames, it's the hardness of the anodized layer, that protects the softer aluminum, with lubrication from the harder steel slide. Firing residue acts like an abrasive compound, that's why it's essential to clean and relubricate after shooting.
Too weak recoil springs result in battering of the reciprocating parts, until cracks result in the frame.
Overpressure ammunition, is but another, as well as letting BUBBA work on it, or in some cases listening to LGS "Commandos"...
Even wearing out barrels, can be a result of misuse. While it's easy to destroy a belt fed machine gun barrel, using high velocity ammunition, a handgun barrel with low velocity ammunition is a different story. Many barrels are destroyed by improper cleaning, with .22 rimfire leading the list.
Improper lubrication will result in quicker wear of reciprocating parts. With aluminum frames, it's the hardness of the anodized layer, that protects the softer aluminum, with lubrication from the harder steel slide. Firing residue acts like an abrasive compound, that's why it's essential to clean and relubricate after shooting.
Too weak recoil springs result in battering of the reciprocating parts, until cracks result in the frame.
Overpressure ammunition, is but another, as well as letting BUBBA work on it, or in some cases listening to LGS "Commandos"...
Even wearing out barrels, can be a result of misuse. While it's easy to destroy a belt fed machine gun barrel, using high velocity ammunition, a handgun barrel with low velocity ammunition is a different story. Many barrels are destroyed by improper cleaning, with .22 rimfire leading the list.
He's sort of right. A Glock receiver will go into the hundreds of thousands of rounds. Almost no one will ever do that. So it does last their lifetime. It's sort of asymptotic.
^^^^^^ This. Everything wears out, but in this case It'll be your great grandson thatHe's sort of right. A Glock receiver will go into the hundreds of thousands of rounds. Almost no one will ever do that. So it does last their lifetime. It's sort of asymptotic.
wears it out.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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