Most rounds you have put through a particular handgun

SimonRL said:

That’s a gorgeous gun. What is it?

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S&W 2206 .22LR. Similar variations in the 422 and 622 pistols of that generation. Same magazines as the S&W Model 41.

I have most rounds through a S&W 22A that I used to shoot with my sons when they were teenagers. The barrel and magazines are still original, everything else was pretty much replaced during a little over 110,000 rounds before the gun was retired.

aaaaa said:

I don't know that I will ever be on the top of this one as I just started recently, but my new (last year) S&W 642 just fired its 302nd round yesterday at the range. I have this crazy desire, and perhaps especially since it has the stupid lock, to try to put 10,000 rounds through it--or more!

Now, as they say, Rome weren't built in a day, so this could take me a long, long time. It would help if I can find cheap ammo, in fact I really would need to do reloading. Also would need to move to the sticks so I can have an outdoor range of my own. Well not sure I will get very far, but it is a dream.

Meanwhile, those of you who have put 1000s of rounds through a gun, what is the most you have shot in that particular handgun or did you not keep count?

If this turns out to be a popular topic, someone can start the same for rifles and/or shotguns.

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My 642 also bought last year has maybe 5-600 rounds through it. I will likely keep it under 1000 due to the alloy frame.

My two 9mm semi-autos have maybe 1000 each.

earplug said:

Your alloy J frame will wear a egg shaped locking bolt hole in the recoil shield and the cylinder will fail to carry up. S&W won't warranty the frame. I have worn out two Alloy J frames past serviceable use. Have never kept track of rounds fired. My hand and wrist felt every round.

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What do you mean by they won't warranty the frame? How long did your alloy j frames last? I'm trying to figure out how long my 642 will last rounds wise. I like it a lot.

aaaaa said:

Sounds like I need a different gun, stainless steel maybe. A S&W Model 66 would do the trick nicely. 2.5" barrel is a little better than my 642's 1.875" barrel. And the 66 holds 6 rounds.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-66

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Yeah, I am considering getting a larger steel .357/.38 from S&W, Ruger, or Colt to handle more rounds, do target practice with, and perhaps last longer. I don't plan to put huge round counts on my 642. I have aimed for 500-1000 for proficiency. Currently at 5-600.

aaaaa said:

Well if I kill the 642 at the range, so be it. What I should do though is save it for carry and get a nice Model 66 six-holer .357 Mag, slightly larger gun though.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-66

Or if I had my dream (though it is a heavy gun) I should get the Ruger Redhawk #5051 .357 Mag 8-holer!
https://www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/specSheets/5051.html
Ain't she sweet!
View attachment 1063562

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Yeah, that's basically what my revolver plan is. Keep the 642 for concealed carry, with some practice to stay proficient, but not put super high round counts through it (over let's say 2000). I'll probably get a S&W 686 at some point.

I almost bought a Model 60 Performance Center at my LGS, and wish I had:

Smith and Wesson 60 Performance Center 5 RD 357 Magnum 3" Stainless Revolver - Omaha Outdoors

S&W considered the worn locking bolt hole normal wear and tear. I did fit a dove tailed steel plate into the recoil shield, installed with a roll pin and JB weld. Shoots fine but I retired it for carry use. In this day and age a 9MM is less expensive to shoot and easier to get ammo.

LiveLife said:

120,000 rounds through Glock 17 when I shot USPSA in the 90s using Montana Gold jacketed bullets. I sold it to another match shooter worried that I wore out the rifling but he tested for accuracy and was happy so he used as his match gun.

I replaced the G17 with two Glock 22s and proceeded to shoot hundreds of thousands of rounds through both.

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That my friends, is how you do it....

I wish I knew more people like you around me, I need a bad influence like that. That being said, the trap squad I'm on now has plenty of bad influence and peer pressure. When I was only going once a week I thought I was shooting alot, until they convinced me to open and set up on Thursdays because they couldn't get anyone else to do it. I worked it out so I could get out an hour early on Thursdays unless we had crazy work deadlines and begin shooting 200-250rds of 12ga target loads every week and got addicted. I put well over 2K rounds through my 870TB last summer and plan to match that and then some this year. I've been stocking up ahead of the rush and am well on my way to shooting 3K+ through my wingmaster this spring/summer.......

Speaking of the S&W Model 642, I have around 3,000 rounds through mine! As mentioned, the locking bolt hole is starting to show the most wear... I'm sure that will eventually be what makes this gun retire. Still working fine for now at least...

High school graduation present. Lightly modded as my first duty gun. And, my IPSC gun early 80’s to mid 90’s.

I had a Star Reloader. I’d load at least thousand rounds a month. And shoot them up.

No idea how many rounds. But. A whole lot. Free department ammo. Reloads. Quals. IPSC matches. Practice.

My first gun. Bought new. Thousands of rounds of Wildcat .22’s. I’d buy Bricks at Gibson’s. And cases at the gun show. That and a Ruger 10-22.

I reload all of my .45 ammo. Bullseye loads for my Gold Cup. So….at least 5K rounds a year for the last 20 years. In addition, I have a High Standard Victor which was made in 1973. I do not know how many rounds were through it before I used it. I have shot cases and cases of .22s through that pistol…..at least a case a year.

My Gen3 Glock 19 has almost 20k thru it and my wife's twin to it has less than 200. Both were bought same day and slides and barrels sent off for nickel boron treatment.

That would probably be Lucille,,,
My venerable Colt Frontier Scout.



From 1968-ish to the late 70's,,,
When my youngest brother moved out of Mom's house,,,
We kids (and Mom) shot a brick of .22 shorts each and every month.

Basically 6,000 rounds per year for approximately 10-11-12 years,,,
That's a lot of rounds for any handgun.

Then she sat in a dresser drawer for the next 35 years until I got her back in my hands,,,
Now she still gets shot but only 100-200 rounds per year at the most.

She's still as tight as the day Mom got her,,,
Still shoots precisely as well.

I've never kept any accurate record of how many rounds through what gun. Probably have a few thousand through a Colt Govt., carried my last several years in LE.

I've had a 642 for a decade or so now. I think your mention of just using it as a carry gun is prudent. Having seen some photos posted of cracks in the frame beneath the barrel of 642s, I don't want to push my luck with this little lightweight revolver. For heavy use of .357 ammo, I'd likely not stop size wise with the K-Frame model 66. I'd go with something like a 686, GP100, or larger gun. Using mostly Magnum ammunition, after what was likely a few thousand rounds, I did wear out my 66 back in the day. I used it for training, qualification and recreationally. I had it overhauled by S&W. Now the only original parts on the old gun are frame, side plate and rear sight. Obviously, for use with lots of .38 Spcl., any quality revolver would probably be just fine.

This was a, for all practical purposes, brand new, 30 year old nickel model 37. Nice older lady had it as her dresser gun.








No idea when it cracked. But, they certainly will.

S&W offered to let her buy a new one for 10% off list price. (How generous)

Sold the remaining parts on eBay and sold her a model 10 for $100 bucks.

Have a 1989 GP100 somewhere north of 25,000.

I keep a round count on my 1911 pistols. Easy for me to do. Have a computer on my gun cleaning bench with an Excel file. This pistol has 27K+ through it. Typical Colt slide to frame fit. Loose. I've replaced a couple of parts. Still it is one of the most accurate 1911's I have. It's no looser now than it was a 27K rounds ago. With the exception of Wilson ETM's and a Wilson trigger with pre-travel adjustment tabs it's all original. It's interesting to me to read discussions about 1911's with large round counts and I like to participate.

Colt Wiley Clapp Government.

aaaaa said:

I don't know that I will ever be on the top of this one as I just started recently, but my new (last year) S&W 642 just fired its 302nd round yesterday at the range. I have this crazy desire, and perhaps especially since it has the stupid lock, to try to put 10,000 rounds through it--or more!

Now, as they say, Rome weren't built in a day, so this could take me a long, long time. It would help if I can find cheap ammo, in fact I really would need to do reloading. Also would need to move to the sticks so I can have an outdoor range of my own. Well not sure I will get very far, but it is a dream.

Meanwhile, those of you who have put 1000s of rounds through a gun, what is the most you have shot in that particular handgun or did you not keep count?

If this turns out to be a popular topic, someone can start the same for rifles and/or shotguns.

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Browning Buckmark Hunter, have shot it more than any gun I’ve had- use it for competitions and just for fun- beautiful pistol and the most reliable .22 I’ve ever had, great trigger and love the balance!

I don’t count but well under 1K.

My 6" bbl'd M-19 Smith has way over 20,000 rounds through it and is still tight as a tick...I bought it new in '73 from a hardware store in Del Rio, TX...that round count would not impress many who participate in one of the run & gun games...but I'd point out it was achieved 99% with hand loads and my own cast bullets, plinking and hunting in a dozen states over a 49 year span. Best Regards, Rod

My S&W 28-2 bought in 1974 the week after I turned 21. I have only shot handloads thru her, 90% hand cast. I count rounds by bricks of primers, I’m into my 27 th brick according to my records.

The only handgun I ever shot to failure was my competition 1911 had around 35k rounds through it when the frame cracked. The M&P 9 that I used for competitions had well over 60k rounds through it when I retired it a couple years back, we'll see how the G45 that replaced it measures up, currently at around 5k.

I’ve only been shooting consistently for about 2 years, and that’s spread across a number of handguns, rifles, and shotguns. I’d say my Glock 19 has 1000 rounds.

Rodfac said:

My 6" bbl'd M-19 Smith has way over 20,000 rounds through it and is still tight as a tick...I bought it new in '73 from a hardware store in Del Rio, TX...that round count would not impress many who participate in one of the run & gun games...but I'd point out it was achieved 99% with hand loads and my own cast bullets, plinking and hunting in a dozen states over a 49 year span. Best Regards, Rod

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Used to have Model 19, beautiful gun, wished I had never sold it!