S&W Scandium, AirLight, alloy snubbies Longevity

[Ghostrider_23]

What is the life expectancy or amount of rounds a person can get through a Scandium, AirLight or alloy snubby until it wears out????

I just read that the life expectancy for the Kel-Tec is about 6000 rounds. Giving that it is made from a polymer frame with a steel slide and barrel, I am thinking the Smith and Wesson snubbies would be less since it is made from an alloy material.

I have also read how the cylinders begin to act up once heat is induce making me think how trust worthy are these lite weight guns????

Perhaps an all stainless steel snubby like the Ruger SP 101 would be a better choice, but the weight is something to think about.

Can anyone give the facts and round count they have had with the S&W Scandium, AirLight, alloy snubbies. Have any of you had any problems with these tpyes of pistols???

I was thinking of converting over to a revolver as my mine CCW, but am having second thoughts after reading these guns too have issues.

 

[Master Blaster]

I have a 642, 2000+ +p rounds, 2000 lead rounds fired in practice so far.
Carried almost every day.

Still very tight lockup. No problems

 

[jfh]

The life varies, I suspect.

For the earlier aluminum-framed guns, I understand they may have a frame life of about 2000 rounds. I wouldn't expect any of the aluminum-framed guns to have the life-span of the scandium-alloy guns.

The current scandium-framed guns have no specified life span, and I've yet to hear of any shooting loose. I've shot about 700 rounds through my scandium-framed j-frame--mostly 38+P reloads that run about 870-1000 fps. That package is, AFAICT, still like new.

I also own a 442 I bought used--LNIB; I don't think a box of cartridges had been fired through it. I called S&W to find out the manufacturing date, and I inquired about warranty support for it as a used gun. I was told by the S&W CS Rep that they would honor the warranty on it, but I might have to pay shipping expenses.

I've also shot about 4000 rounds through my SS j-frame--a 640. At about 350 rounds, I shot a cylinderful of overpressure rounds through it ('way overpressure--estimated at 55,000 to 72,000 or higher). That damaged the cylinder. I sent it in, with an explanation of what I had done, and S&W replaced the cylinder and barrel--no charge. Currently, it feels 'used'--but not really looser.

As time goes forward, I anticipate shooting one of the lightweights about 20-50 rounds a month to stay proficient with it--one of them is a daily carry gun.

Overall, I'm not concerned about wearing any of them out--but I don't shoot the full-house 125-grain loads, either.

I think there is little doubt that, all things considered, the lightweight will shoot looser faster than the steel gun--but the advise I have followed from other carry permittees is that one will carry the lightweight daily, and not think about it; the heavier guns can become a PITA. I've also owned a SP-101 and carried it a bit about fifteen years ago, SOB. It was noticable after several hours. That revolver, at 28 oz., is about 4-5 oz. heavier than the 640--which is less noticable. The lightweight in a pocket holster in my front pocket is simply not noticable.

Jim H.

 

[Wilson 17&26]

I just read that the life expectancy for the Kel-Tec is about 6000 rounds.

I have a 12yo P-11 that could be well beyond 6,000 rounds but I stopped counting after a couple of thousand rounds. Kel-Tec will send me free parts just for the asking, except for the barrel, slide, grip and aluminum frame which they will exchange free if I send in the old part. As long as my lifetime warranty will let me rebuild my guns with free parts ever decade I don’t care if the estimated life span is 6,000 or 60,000. Should I ever loose my sight or dexterity and not be able to install parts myself, I’ll send it to Kel-Tec for them to do the repairs under that lifetime warranty as I know my round count will never exceed a “couple of thousand” rounds

 

[Alan Fud]

I have also read how the cylinders begin to act up once heat is induce making me think how trust worthy are these lite weight guns

These are the guns with the titanium cylinders. The ones with the steel cylinders do not have this problem -- i.e., get the M&P 340/360 instead of the 340/360 PD models -- the M&P models have blackened steel cylinders ... the PD models have the titanium cylinders.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I don't know who you've been talking to. I have 4 scandium carry guns, two with Ti cylinders and two ss. Each is fired 2-400 rounds per month, with zero issues. They have lifetime warranties but so far it doesn't look like I'll have to worry about that. The only problem I know of with the Ti cylinders is that they're impossible to get completely clean.

 

[Alan Fud]

There is a known problem with titanium cylinders seizing up with aluminum casing ammo. See here and here and I'm sure elsewhere if you do a search. And I've personally experienced the problem myself with my 342 (a discontinued version of the 340) seizing up on me at the range after firing about half a box through it very quickly. After the cylinder cooled off in about 5-10 minutes, everything was fine.

My last purchase was the 340SS and 360SS ... now those are nice guns ... all black with stainless steel cylinders.

 

[ArmedBear]

You'll be seeing the physical therapist before the gunsmith.

Wonderful little guns; not the sort of firearm that I'd use for high-volume target shooting or plinking.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

It all depends on your point of view as to the life expectancy.

My 340 PD will outlast me and hopefully my children too!

The reason why?

Because this is my CCW handgun. The reason I purchased it was to have a lightweight, concealable handgun to use for concealed carry self-defense purposes only.

I shoot this gun enough so that I am comfortable and familar with it and that is all.

I have other guns that I use at the range because I do not consider my Scandium/Titanium J-frame a target gun or range gun (and I don't like pain).

People who regularly shoot 100's of rounds out of these things every week are going to end up with Degenerative Joint Disease in their wrists before they turn 40 (did I mention the pain?). As said here on THR many times "These guns are meant to be carried often, but shot little".

If you can't afford to buy more than one handgun, then find one that will work for what purpose you will use it for the most. The Scandium/Titanium guns were, in my opinion, created to superbly fill a very narrow niche.

 

[FunYet]

My 442 is coming up on 2450 rounds. The finish is a little worn but it functions just fine. I expect it to last a few thousand more.

 

[Ghostrider_23]

What

I am not following you guys when you say that these guns are ment to be carried often and shot a little. How do you ever stay proficient with your carry gun if you don't shoot it enough. How do you know it will be reliable if in your time of need. Most importantly how do you know you'll be able to hit the intended target.

 

[DragonFire]

The L-frame guns were first produced to handle the problem on LEOs shooting lots of high-power .357 rounds through the K-frames. The K-frames couldn't handle all that pounding. I assume the J-frames would take even less pounding.

Shooting high-power rounds through super-lightweight J-frames isn't fun, and can't be good for your hands and wrists.

Different people address the question on how to stay proficient with a gun that you probably shouldn't shoot your normal carry rounds through too much. Most shoot alot of lower-power rounds and then some carry rounds.

I don't think the alloys are that much difference from SS in strength, but I think if anything they are supposed to be just a tad stronger. So its the frame size/strength and not the material that's the problem.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Ghostrider:

I shoot my 340PD enough so that I am proficient and comfortable with it.

I have had plenty of practice with it to know that I will have a very good chance of hitting my intended target if a self-defense situation arises (depending upon the actual situation, of course - you never know how it may go down).

I am not saying that I NEVER shoot this gun, just that I do not take it to the range and shoot 100's of rounds of ammo out of it weekly. I have other guns that I will do that with, but not this one.

I shoot this gun every time I go to the range; but I only shoot a few cylinder's worth of ammo out of it when I do.
Also, when I do shoot it, I make sure to shoot some of the same type of ammo that I also have it loaded with when I am carrying it for self-defense CCW - which is currently Winchester SXT .38SPL +P.
I bought a lot of this ammo, so I don't mind using it up in practice, and I also think that it is important to become familar with the actual ammo that your life may depend on.