Most durable 9mm, .40 S&W and .45

[glockman19]

IMHO,

9mm - Glock 17/19/26/34

.40 - Hk P2000 or Sig P220,226, 229

.45 - 1911 by Colt, Kimber, Springfield, Les Baer

 

[Treo]

I posted a thread awhile back asking who had a gun older than 100 years, somebody posted that they owned a fusil from 1742.

So maybe we should revisit this discussion in 2274

 

[Doogy]

In my mind, the 3rd Generation Smith & Wessons are hard to beat. Forged stainless slides and frames, will digest any ammo (even empty cases!) and a reasonable price.

 

[CountGlockula]

.40S&W Glocks

Shot over 6-7K rounds out of them, trained with them and abuse them...yet they're still working as new.

 

[straitR]

Love them or hate them and say they're soulless, Glocks have proven over the last 25+ years that they deserve a seat at the "most reliable" table.

My votes...

9mm = G17/19 or P226
.40 = G22/23 or P22x
.45acp = HK Mk23 then G21/P220

 

[aka108]

In 9mm, the Star 30M would be my pick for durability. Heavy, simple and not too pretty. Just shoots and shoots. Only simi auto that has not hung up for me. They also eject the cases in a nice little pile so picking up is easy.

 

[jonmerritt]

beretta 9 mm

 

[jocko]

Most durable???

humm: are we dropping these off 15 story buildings or running over them with a semi, or trying to shoot them under water???? None of these traits are part of my criteria to own a "good" handgun. Most of these gun makers out there make damn good and durable handguns. I buy for my particular needs. For range use,I like a bigger gun, mostly all metal with good sites. For personal carry the smaller the better and 9mm and above is my preference (actually 9mm is my choice). I then want lite weight, small, decent trigger pull, some bells and whistles, no external safety features. Then you are eliminating some companies right off the bat, not due to lack of quality or durablility but do to the criteria I have set out for my carry gun, and completly vice-versa for my range and home gun. Probably my G19 could be dropped off a 15 story building and come up shooting but it won't fit in my pocket, so although I own it and love it, it is not my choice for ccw.

Sometimes these questions asked are totally impossable to answer due to circumstances.....

 

[benderx4]

One of the guys on the HK forum regularly takes one of his HKs and puts them through torture tests. Upwards of 10,000 and 20,000 rounds with all kinds of "obstacles" thrown in to see how the guns hold up. (For example, one test is to see how the gun does after not being cleaned for several thousand rounds)

Take a look on the HKPro forum and see for yourself. Use the search function - I believe the last two guns he has done are the P30 and the P2000. The results speak for themselves. The HKs are built to last .... and last .... and last..

 

[gwnorth]

I say SIG Sauer P226-9mm....


...just 'cause I bought one today

 

[jocko]

I guess the question to ask is just how many of us have ever shot a gun till it's "death"???? How many have ever shot 10,000 rounds out of their weapon???My bet is that 99% don't fall into either category. So why worry about 20 or 30,000 rounds, Most won't live long enough to do it, Most don't want to do it. Most certainy can't afford to do it. Glocks can be made to shoot underwater---damn I just gotta have that feature, never know when you will need that!!!If you love your glocks, sig, hk, rugers, smiths, colts and any others good for you. Just shoot um like you stole it, for you can argue this thread till the cows come home and most don't really give a damn..

 

[Magnus1959]

Glock fanboy

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to use that phrase.

 

[mpmarty]

Most reliable 45acp? Thompson Center Contender, no doubt. Never fails to feed, extract or eject.

As far as reliable, long lasting, most durable goes, who cares? 1911s have been with us for nearly a century and folks are citing newbie Glock as an example of longevity. When the plastic quits outgassing and turns to powder what will they say? This is a non viable argument akin to fairies dancing on the head of a pin. Will it shoot 25,000 rounds without wearing out? I know my 1911s and Witness all steel pistols will, so what? So will a glock if you don't get tired of gripping a brick with all the elemental beauty of a dog turd.

 

[Omaney]

In my mind, the 3rd Generation Smith & Wessons are hard to beat. Forged stainless slides and frames, will digest any ammo (even empty cases!) and a reasonable price.

I can only +1 this. I've had my 5904 for nearly 20 years. It is quite durable and exceptionally dependable.

 

[MassMan]

I must agree most of us will never shoot our guns enough to see them self destruct. I only wish I could afford to shoot enough rounds to destroy any one of my guns.

 

[Shrinkmd]

Maybe with a .40 cal? Aren't they supposed to be pretty tough on the frame due to shooting hot loads out of essentially a 9mm design? Still, 20k rounds adds up to about $6,000 these days. I guess if you buy that much ammo you get the pistol free...

Plus, S&W would probably replace it under warranty.

 

[atblis]

Huh

Still, 20k rounds adds up to about $6,000 these days.

Where do you buy your 9mm? Blaser Brass is $9 at walmart (not $15).

 

[Hawaiian]

Well, if I take durable to mean how many rounds you can shoot without cleaning the gun, then I gotta give it to Glock.