Forged frame/slide vs. forged frame/cast slide

[peacebutready]

If one pistol has a cast frame and forged slide and another pistol has a forged slide and frame, how much of a difference does that make for durability when firing +P loads?

Happy Shooting

 

[tarosean]

The only pistol I know of that benefited from forged to cast swap was FN's HiPower.

 

[ku4hx]

It probably varies from gun to gun because of alloy differences, different heat treatments and so forth.

This gentleman is considered to be fairly knowledgeable and has a bit to say about cast vs. forged in Browning Hi-Powers. I'd think his comments are somewhat universal.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/BHPandHighPressureAmmo.htm

 

[1911Tuner]

Assuming a good casting, the frame is neither here nor there. A cast slide is another bowl of fish.

The slide...essentially the breechblock...and the barrel assembly is the gun. The frame is little more than the gun mount.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The French model I met on the internet told me cast BHP frames are stronger than the old forged frames. But I don't know of anyone making a cast slide, other than possibly Ruger with their investment casting (and don't even quote me on that). A casting can allow harder, tougher steel to be used because there is less machining and finishing required, which would otherwise take more time and dull cutters faster. A raw forging is pretty rough when it first comes out of the die.

 

[1911Tuner]

But I don't know of anyone making a cast slide, other than possibly Ruger with their investment casting.

Thompson Auto Ordnance did it, and their slides didn't last long. Not sure about Kahr since they took'em over.

Rock Island tried it early on, and learned their lesson. They made the switch to barstock slides some time ago.

Ruger SR45 slides aren't cast. I'd assume that none of their other autopistol slides are, either. Ruger understands the problems associated with cast slides and locked breech pistols.

 

[peacebutready]

Thank you

Thanks, gentlemen. Especially 1911Tuner

 

[Rinspeed]

I think Para has probably tried using castings for just about all the parts they use, except barrels, at one point or another.

 

[peacebutready]

I think Para has probably tried using castings for just about all the parts they use, except barrels, at one point or another.

I'm curious to know how much less longevity that means for their pistols. I don't know if their slides have been cast in the recent past. Their small parts are MIM like many other brands.

 

[1911Tuner]

I'm curious to know how much less longevity that means for their pistols.

I've known a couple of Thompson Auto Ordnance pistols that wound up with cracked slides...likely Essex manufacture...at around 10-12k. While Essex is/was admittedly not top-quality, any cast slide is a concern if the gun is meant to be shot hard. Everybody frets over the frames, but it's the slide and barrel that catch hell.

 

[Rinspeed]

I'm curious to know how much less longevity that means for their pistols.

For some parts such as grip safeties it would take you a lifetime to find out, for other parts such as extractors it might take weeks.