Remaining Life For a Revolver

[Puncha]

I was or may still be currently in the market for a used .38 revolver as a rural trail gun.

The issue is that I was offered a S&W model 10 which is at least 23 years old yesterday. The blueing looks worn but the lock up is still tight. The gun looks well cared for but I highly suspect that at least 23,000 +P 158gr LRNs have been shot through it since it was bought.

The present owner let me take the piece out for a test drive and using CCI +P 158gr .38 special FMJs, I was able to place 29 rds into a 6" group at 25 meters shooting double action offhand.

I have previously been told that as the barrel rifling gets worn, accuracy starts to drop. Hence, using my grouping above as a guage, how many more rounds of the following loadings do you think this revolver can take before she finally dies?

http://www.magtechammunition.com/si...tails&templateId=14&pageId=103&search=details

http://www.magtechammunition.com/si...tails&templateId=14&pageId=103&search=details

http://www.magtechammunition.com/si...tails&templateId=14&pageId=103&search=details

http://www.winchester.com/products/...mbol=X38S9HP&cart=MzggU3BlY2lhbA==&bn=1&use=3

 

[wanderinwalker]

Probably quite a few tens of thousands of rounds. Lead bullets really don't put a whole lot of appreciable wear on a barrel's rifling, even in +P format.

If the lockup is tight, you're good to go. Worse comes to worse, if you're worried about the quality of the barrel, send it to S&W and have it rebarreled at some point in the future. Not that it needs it now though.

As long as the frame is still good (and a .38 Special is unlikely to stretch a frame in our lifetimes, IMO), everything else can be rebuilt as needed.

If the price is right and you like the pistol, snap it up.

 

[nhhillbilly]

Model 10

Sounds like a good gun. I agree if the price is right snap it up. Model 10's came in all sort of barrel lengths. Good solid revolvers for the most part.

 

[HSMITH]

If you can wear out a M10 with 38's you are an extremely fortunate person. It will take MANY tens of thousands of rounds to do it, the time and money alone to wear it out are beyond the reach of all but a few people.

Don't worry about wearing a M10 out, provided decent care it just isn't going to happen.

 

[SaxonPig]

Barrels are ruined by corrosion from neglect and heat from firing. The big magnum rifles with large powder capacities are the worst for burning out barrels.

I have never seen a handgun with a worn out barrel I don't think pistol cartridges generate enough heat to damage a barrel. Handguns wear out when the actions get loose. I read some comments by a professional competitor who said his 1911s last about 100,000 rounds before needing to be replaced. They are loose, not lacking good rifling in the barrel.

IMO 23,000 rounds has a Model 10 nicely broken in.

 

[1 old 0311]

I bought a USED 10-2. I put close to 30,000 HOT handloads through it. It actually seemed to shoot better near the end. It traded it, and as far as I know it is still going strong.

Kevin

 

[skeezix]

6 inch group?

"29 rds into a 6" group at 25 meters shooting double action offhand"

I would be perfectly happy with this from a used Model 10 (or just about any other gun, for that matter).

 

[bakert]

I have a model 10 made in 1969 that I bought used more than 20 yrs ago. Don't know how many owners before me. The finish was pretty worn when I got and still is. I've put many thousands of rds through it both factory and handloads and a lot of +P rds. Still locks up as tight as ever and is accurate. Still carry it concealed at times. I think you'll get a heck of a lot more shooting out of that gun with no problems at all.

 

[Sam]

My Model 10 was made in 1959, I bought it used from the Tuscon PD in 1980.
Don't know how much they shot it but it was a lot.
I have put over 70K through it. most near +P 158 swcs.
Had it out last weekend for some fun, it still shoots very well.
Wife has it in daily use these days, she says it has a "real slick DA". It better by now!

Sam