Do Compact Guns have a short life expectancy?

[Glockedout17]

I always wondered if compact guns have a shorter life expectancy than their bigger brothers. For example: M&P9/M&P9c, Glock 17/Glock 26, Ruger SR9/Ruger SR9c, Walther P99/Walther P99c. Do parts wear faster on smaller guns than they would on a full size? Are all compact pistols meant to be carried alot and shot little? Is the life expectancy generally shorter on compact/sub compact? I would like to see what people with experience and experts in this area have to say.

 

[Fishbed77]

I would expect all of those pistols you named to last as long as their big brothers. The Glock, M&P, and P99c are all well-regarded pistols designed to be very reliable and durable service firearms.

 

[RBid]

Cut down duty pistols are still duty pistols. They'll hold up as well as their siblings.

 

[Swing]

I've replaced a few springs on a mini Glock after a gazillion-bazillion rounds. I wouldn't consider that "dead" by any stretch, though.

Of those you listed, they are all quality handguns, and will likely give a lifetime plus of service.

 

[jim243]

I would expect the life of one to be the same as their larger brothers maybe even more since they would be shot less than a full size range pistol (with the exception of Swing who shoots a gazillion-bazillion rounds through his (LOL))

Jim

 

[bannockburn]

If the same materials are used in the construction of the full size and the compact versions, then I would say they probably have the same life expectancy, in terms of the number of rounds that are fired in them.

 

[bigfatdave]

Frame and slide should last just as long.

In some designs, the recoil spring or assembly will need to be replaced more often.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I can speak on the Glocks being an armorer. I have never seen increased wear on the subcompacts over the larger models. Many times they are in better condition because people don't shoot them as much. You also don't see very many as law enforcement trade ins.

 

[bigfatdave]

I think that gun "service life" is measured in rounds, not years.
Comments about "not shot much" seem sort of silly.

 

[CajunBass]

If you manage to wear out a gun, brag about it.

 

[C0untZer0]

The Rohrbaugh R9 is one of those pistols that you "carry daily use sparingly", but there are people on the Rohrbaugh forum who've been shooting their R9s weekly for years and the pistols aren't shearing things off or showing stress fractures.

I will say this though - the degradation of the spring is different in a smaller model and it can be precipitous in smaller guns.

Not only is the life of the recoil spring in my Glock 17L longer - but it is going to wear out more gradually. There is more room for error in changing out the spring.

In a little gun, when the spring reaches end of life - you'd better change it, because the spring goes from being good to worthless with not much margin for error and if you're firing a smaller firearm with an inadeqaute spring - you're banging metal on metal and that's when things shear and crack etc...

 

[ku4hx]

If you manage to wear out a gun, brag about it.

Back in my younger days, when I was invincible, I sort of "wore out" a Ruger Redhawk. A steady diet of [then] Hercules 2400 and Hodgdon H110 at full magnum levels did a number on the forcing cone and top strap. Took many thousands of rounds over several years but the erosion was there.

I could have had the barrel set back but decided I wanted a scoped Super Redhawk. Other than that, the only guns I've seen "worn out" were some of the pot metal varieties but to me they're throwaways anyway.

 

[W L Johnson]

The Rohrbaugh R9 is one of those pistols that you "carry daily use sparingly", but there are people on the Rohrbaugh forum who've been shooting their R9s weekly for years and the pistols aren't shearing things off or showing stress fractures.

A common myth found on gun forums is that the Rohrbaugh will only last 200 rds. I guess some got this from the fact that the recoil spring is suppose to be changed out every 200rds. The gun is 9mm and only weight 13.5oz, something has to give and it's better that the spring takes the beating rather than the frame. BTW, the spring is a whopping $5 and you're removing it while cleaning anyway.

 

[Texan Scott]

Ku4hx: you "sort of wore out" a ruger redhawk? You magnificent lunatic! Still CajunBass has it about right. FWIW, anyone who could wear out something like a g26 should probably just figure they got their money's worth and get a new one.

I have never worn out a gun of any kind. They'll wear out my hands first, no doubt.

 

[Glockedout17]

Which other springs would need frequent replacing like the recoil sping? Ejector spring, extractor spring, etc?

 

[wally]

Life span is probably a bit shorter with the sub-compacts, but I've got a Kahr CW9 that is over 10000 rounds with just a recoil spring and mag spring replacement and its still going strong.

 

[Glockedout17]

Life span is probably a bit shorter with the sub-compacts, but I've got a Kahr CW9 that is over 10000 rounds with just a recoil spring and mag spring replacement and its still going strong.

Wow!! A Kahr CW9 with 10000 rounds through it. Didn't think they were capable of putting up such high numbers, but then again I've never owned one.

 

[orionengnr]

Wow!! A Kahr CW9 with 10000 rounds through it. Didn't think they were capable of putting up such high numbers, but then again I've never owned one.

There is a guy on KahrTalk (might be a mod; sure has a lot of posts) who has as his sig line that he has 32,000+ rounds through his PM9. Mine hasn't seen anything like that, but it has remained a favorite since I bought it, seven or eight years ago.

I have seen a post or two where people claim that they have cracked an alloy semi-auto frame, perhaps due to failing to keep a fresh recoil spring in the gun?

 

[Glockedout17]

Yup, you definitely have to change out those springs. The life of the gun dependes on it. What type of wear signs to look for upon spring changes?

 

[Walt Sherrill]

What type of wear signs to look for upon spring changes?

The recoil spring's function is to close the slide after each shot, NOT to manage recoil (although it can be used to do that.) If your gun functions properly, about the only thing that's going to happen with a weak recoil spring is that it may allow spent cases to go into orbit or, in the case of some loads, not store enough force to properly close the slide.

Too strong a recoil spring can cause problems that are even worse -- like failures to feed (because the slide isn't going back far enough), and with some guns, damaged slide stops (as the slide slams forward with a lot of extra force. If you reload hot loads, the stronger recoil springs will keep the spent brass nearby for recovery and that's arguably the main reason to go to a stronger recoil spring.

Magazine springs have to present the next round in a manner that allows it to be stripped from the mag without the nose of the round dipping and catching. When mag springs get weak, you start having feeding problems, etc.

For other springs (like trigger springs), it's likely that they'll just break with no warning. That's a pretty rare event.

 

[Glockedout17]

The recoil spring's function is to close the slide after each shot, NOT to manage recoil (although it can be used to do that.) If your gun functions properly, about the only thing that's going to happen with a weak recoil spring is that it may allow spent cases to go into orbit or, in the case of some loads, not store enough force to properly close the slide.

Too strong a recoil spring can cause problems that are even worse -- like failures to feed (because the slide isn't going back far enough), and with some guns, damaged slide stops (as the slide slams forward with a lot of extra force. If you reload hot loads, the stronger recoil springs will keep the spent brass nearby for recovery and that's arguably the main reason to go to a stronger recoil spring.

Magazine springs have to present the next round in a manner that allows it to be stripped from the mag without the nose of the round dipping and catching. When mag springs get weak, you start having feeding problems, etc.

For other springs (like trigger springs), it's likely that they'll just break with no warning. That's a pretty rare event.

Makes Sense

 

[Byrd666]

If this also "includes" the smaller versions of revolvers, no. I had a 2" Ruger .357 with a huge round count. and it Never failed. Was a previous range gun I bought on a whim.

Having only owned my M&P c9 for a short period, almost a month, and having put only 200+- rounds down the tube, I'd say this weapon is going to last for a very extended period of time. And with a large round count.

Sure, I see a spring or two being changed, and possibly a barrel change after 50k rounds or so. But I really see no problem with a "compact" being less reliable than the bigger sibling.

 

[Yarddog]

I have got close to 4,000 rnds through my M&P 9c, No spring changes yet with no failure to go into batery or eject. So I guess I'm doing good ; ) PS Most are reload - 1-200 +Ps

Y/D