Aluminum slides on rimfires...

[Fishman777]

A few years ago, I divested myself of my only autoloader. Last weekend, I decided to buy a Smith and Wesson M&P with a frame mounted safety. I plan on picking it up later in the week. There are so many very good autoloaders on the market, but I really like the features and performance of this gun.

Anyways, this purchase got me thinking a little about rimfires. I don't think that there is a .22 lr conversion for the M&P, but if there was, I'm guessing that it might use a steel barrel and an aluminum slide. I've noticed that some conversion kits, and some rimfire pistols use aluminum. I'm guessing because it is more difficult to cycle a steel centerfire slide with the lower energies that the .22lr cartridge operates at.

So here is my question: How well do aluminum slides hold up?

I'll probably hold off for a while, but I'm interested in looking into either a conversion kit, or a Kimber rimfire target. Whatever rimfire I get, I intend on shooting it *a lot*. Anybody have a rimfire with an aluminum slide with a high round count?

 

[KodiakBeer]

I've had a Ciener 1911 conversion for a dozen years or so. I can't imagine how many rounds it's fired - 50,000? More? It's not unusual for me to go through an entire brick of .22 on a summer afternoon. Anyway, still works just fine.

 

[Fishman777]

Thanks!!

That's great news.

I really would love to get the Kimber. I'll have to think about this a bit more. As much as I'd like to get the Kimber rimfire target, it might make more sense to just get a centerfire 1911 and then the conversion kit.

Oh well. I'm getting ahead of myself. I haven't even shot my M&P and I'm thinking about the next gun.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Modern aluminum alloys are more than strong and hardened enough to hold up to .22. An aluminum slide is a necessity in many cases as - short of going to a system like the old Colt "Ace" - the minimal blowback force of a .22 is not going to cycle a heavy steel slide.