toughest most rugged pistol ever made

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Ruger P89 series are as you describe.
I remember an article about these guns in one of the NRA mags shortly after they were introduced. Some of the things they did to their test guns were insane! Things like intentionally plugging the barrels and firing multiple rounds, making huge cuts in the slides, etc.

The ergos on those guns leaves a lot to be desired IMO, but you can't fault the engineering.

EDIT: I found a link with images from that article: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4016872&postcount=2
 
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I would think something along the lines of a bond derringer would be the toughest. Very little to the gun except thick barrel and frame with a small amount of moving parts. Mind you, the question wasn't about the best firearm, just the toughest:)

Ah, never mind, missed the semi auto part
 
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I would think a Glock or XD stand the best chance of surviving a "torture test". I say this because I've seen many torture tests carried out on both platforms and they both did very well. I have not seen a steel framed pistol survive the same abuse, mostly on the drop and run over tests because their frames can bend rather than flex and spring back. Yes, a polymer pistol can fail the dog test. I don't leave guns laying around for dogs to get hold of and I don't have a dog so this would be a relatively minor issue for me. Some guns are tougher than others with different forms of abuse and/or neglect. For my use and abuse polymer framed handguns ought to be the most durable. I agree with others that torture tests are pretty silly, but it is good to know I could do a face-plant at speed in the sand dunes on a quad and my XD full of sand would likely function as intended without cleaning or even racking the slide to get some of the sand out.
 
You can break anything, and if you ABUSE a machine, any machine, don't be surprised if it breaks. Better, MUCH better is to take care of what you got.
 
I don't know if it's been said, but I will honestly put this up against any other pistol ever made...
325917_01_romanian_draco_pistol_640.jpg
 
Ruger P90. They might be ugly but they are built like a tank. They handle +P+ammo like a champ...

Edit: had to call to ask which he shoots...
My buddy shoots 45 super in his not a +p+. I have never shot it but know he has put quite a few rounds through it. He specifically bought it for that. Said it was originally designed for a 10mm? Maybe? But Ruger changed it...so he says..
 
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Sorry +p or p+ whichever

I have never shot them. My buddy swears by the hottest load you can get...I was going to try them but Sig does not recommend it and I won't try it in my Colt or Springfield. I only shoot Hornady Critcal Defense and or reloads.


Edit: nope sorry wrong again, 45super... I had to call him to ask...
I suppose my Sig isn't able to shoot these. I have no idea which is worse on it +p or super.
 
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What do you consider to be the toughest, most rugged pistol ever made? Tough as in beat it with a sledgehammer, run over it with a truck, bury it for 10 years and still count on it to function. The only requirement is that it be semi automatic and chambered in something from .380 to .45acp.
The Pistolet Makarova (commonly referred to as the Makarov). Not much for pretty, but built like a T34 tank!
 
I'd vote for one of the European all-steel blowback pieces. I think the Makarov is probably right on the money. Very few moving parts, nothing complex inside, and in a small low-velocity caliber. All in all a very tough little piece.
 
Glock vs. dog:
With a pocket knife, in an emergency, I could get that gun up and running in less than 5 minutes by simply trimming away the damaged parts. Do that kind of damage to a metal frame pistol and you're going to need a machine shop to get the gun working--if it's even possible to make it work again.

That said, I think the original Ruger P-Series gun (pre P345), especially the 9mms, are probably sturdier than the Glocks.
...shoot a Glock 18 until it melts.
This is something you think might be true, or you have some evidence proving that it can be done using standard ammunition feeding devices and some remotely reasonable round count?

There's a commonly cited test that involved putting 1000 rounds through a Glock in less than 14 minutes. While the recoil spring guide rod melted, the gun did not. Furthermore, it kept running even with the melted guide rod. Glock has, since then, changed the recoil spring guide rod material to make it more heat resistant.
 
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With a pocket knife, in an emergency, I could get that gun up and running in less than 5 minutes by simply trimming away the damaged parts. Do that kind of damage to a metal frame pistol and you're going to need a machine shop to get the gun working--if it's even possible to make it work again.

A dog couldn't do that kind of damage to a metal framed gun.
 
I believe you are correct. Of course, I didn't say, nor even imply that it could. What I said had nothing to do with how the gun got damaged. I merely pointed out that the gun in the picture could be returned to working condition in a couple of minutes with a pocketknife while a metal gun with similar damage would require tools to fix--assuming it could be fixed.
 
I believe you are correct. Of course, I didn't say, nor even imply that it could. What I said had nothing to do with how the gun got damaged. I merely pointed out that the gun in the picture could be returned to working condition in a couple of minutes with a pocketknife while a metal gun with similar damage would require tools to fix--assuming it could be fixed.
I don't think very many dogs could even gnaw through the bakelite grips on my Makarov - much less damage the steel frame.
 
+1 for the Makarov. The Russians love to make tough weapons and I'll put the Makarov against anything for its toughness and reliability.

Note. Not the cheap FEGs or Polish stuff, honest to God Makarovs.
 
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