Most durable centerfire repeating handgun

super redhawk in 10mm or .357.......honestly i dont know enough about handgun and expected ware to have a real opinion.

Ruger Stainless Single Action, maybe in 45ACP or 38Spl.

.445 Hunter and LoonWulf for the win- I can't imagine more overbuilt guns that those two.

I haven’t shot 100,000+ rounds through numerous guns so I can only add an opinion. The simplistic design, quality control, design, quality steel and design makes me think Glocks are the best hand guns ever made. Their reputation in the field seems to prove it (arguably). Definitely the best since they are reasonably priced IMO. G17 is my favorite of the family.

There are several documented Glocks with over 200,000 rounds, some over 300,000 rounds with no major parts replacement. I'm thinking Chuck Taylor wore out a magazine or 2 along with a few springs in his Glock to get 300,000+. I've seen reports of 1911's exceeding 100,000.

But just because the documentation isn't there for other guns doesn't mean they wouldn't do it. Not many people can afford the ammo to find out. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Ruger DA revolvers would go 200,000+.

Way back in the 1900s (1990s) I heard of a Colt 1911 9mm Commander with over 400,000 rounds with no replacement parts but magazines and magazine springs. No mention of springs in the firearm itself.

I would have to guess full size Glock. Have seen many that were police trade ins that were well beat up when bought and then new owners would shoot them for years and I can't remember ever seeing one wear out. Other guess would be 1911's. Back when the Mil Surp ones were so easy to lay hands on they were again something I would see shot for decades and nothing. Most would replace the recoil spring now and then but again can't remember seeing anything break.

Any mechanical thing designed by and built by man can fail for a number of reasons. Material failure. Heat treatment failure. Wear. Fatigue. Misuse.
Buy from a reputable maker, clean, maintain and don't abuse.
For absolute results, don't worry about man-made objects. Trust in the Lord. And be prepared.

I’m not sure I agree about the revolvers. The failure point would most likely be the lock work, not the frame or cylinder.

Durable as in round count, or durable as over the years? I'd expect a Smith or Colt from the 1920's to operate as manufactured.

Also, the OP specified original parts, no repairs. If you're replacing springs, or magazines, then I don't think it makes the grade.

jmr40 said:

But just because the documentation isn't there for other guns doesn't mean they wouldn't do it. Not many people can afford the ammo to find out. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Ruger DA revolvers would go 200,000+.

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Yeah, even handloading it would be expensive to wear one out!

Phaedrus/69 said:

Federal has a USP45 they use to test loads. Last I saw it had 500,000 round through and it's still 100% in spec. They send it back to HK every 5k or 10k rounds to have it inspected, springs checked and changed, etc. It's incredibly overbuilt. One writer (is it Todd Green? ) has something like 115,000 through a P30 as well.

I can't afford the ammo to wear out any of my HKs!

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I put over 50K rounds of mostly "so-called NATO spec" Federal match .45 ACP through a USP Compact from 2002-2004, which had a PF of around 200, and except for holster wear (and a serious case of tendinitis that required cortisone to recover from), you would never know it. If I had to pick one handgun to last the rest of my life that would be the one.

The M1911 was in active service for close to 75 years. They have countless rounds put through them by numerous shooters. That were made to last, and they have.

WrongHanded said:

Maybe it's the Glock G25. Compact sized .380acp. Low recoil means low wear.

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Except it's a blow back and can be quite 'snappy'..plus not available in the US, along with Glock 28..

For the OP, Glock..between me and my 2 sons and perhaps 25,000 or so total rounds(7 Glocks), none of us has had any issue, malfunction...

Pretty fun read about the HK P30 over at pistol training. He seemed really impressed with it over 91,000 rounds.

Recoil springs and magazine springs are wear items on all semi auto pistols. They are like tires and brake pads on vehicles, they need changed as they wear out. I have yet to see any recoil spring last for decades of shooting.

My main experience with used and abused pistols is with the M1911A1. The last ones were made in 1945 and we were still using them into the 1990's on a regular basis. The one I carried during Operation Desert Storm was your typical "rattle battle". The slide was soo loose on the the frame that it sounded like it would fall apart when shaken. The barrel to slide fit was still good and it shot very well.

Jim Watson said:

A friend has worn out S&W .38 barrels with target wadcutters. About 150000 of them.
One gun required only a new barrel, the other is pretty loose and the gunsmith who built its rather strange configuration is deceased.

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I have an 1964, S&W M-14 with at least 150,000 rounds of Winchester 148 grain LWC and Ranger 158 grain LRN shot in competition. I only clean the barrel with a rolled up paper towel! That barrel shines like a Harley exhaust pipe! I did experience a broken firing pin!
What was your friend using to clean his barrels?

Smiles,

To the OP: Some parameters should be established for a base line such as ammo and cleaning regimen. These have a lot to do with longevity!

P.S.: I shot mostly ammo provided by Winchester a sponsor of the department shooting team!

Glock. They rarely ever break even with extreme use, and when they do, they are cheap and easy to repair.

FFGColorado said:

Except it's a blow back and can be quite 'snappy'..plus not available in the US, along with Glock 28..

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I did think it was available in US. But I had no idea it was a blow back design. Interesting that they did that for the G25, but not with the G42. Slide weight I suppose.

I’ve never come close to shooting enough rounds through any of my guns to cause failure, much less afford to pay for the ammo needed to do it. I would reckon that unless you abused the gun with over charged handloads, most any modern centerfire from a major manufacturer would hold up longer than you would.

I can only imagine how long a Ruger Blackhawk 357 stainless would last if you just put 50 38 specials through it every day. Probably longer than most of us, if we started late.

I have a S&W "pre Model 10" from 1915-16 that has been shot a LOT. The barrel is noticeably worn. It has barely any bluing left on it. It's just a little bit loose, but it goes bang every time. I have no idea how many rounds have been through it or if it has any new springs. but it has obviously been fired many thousands of times.

One of my Tanfoglio 9mm's was used in an Israeli shooting club. I don't know how many rounds have been shot through it, but it looks like many thousands.

Armored farmer said:

I could wear out a few if I didnt have to work for a living.

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Rather a bother....the whole work thing i mean........

Armored farmer said:

Their innards are pretty intricate and timed, but if you keep them clean and lubed.....

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There in lies the key to keeping complicated mechanisms running imo...well besides parts being properly aligned from the start.

Glocks can get away with surprisingly crappy care because of the simplicity, and relatively large parts/contact surfaces.
I cant think if another common handgun design thats actually simpler.