What CCW is meant to be shot "a lot"?

[Kosh75287]

Has anyone ever worn out an aluminum (okay, ALLOY) Commander without hot-rodding it? It's not as fun to shoot as the full-size piece, but it's a darned sight preferrable to a 2 1/2" model 19 with .357s in it. I don't think the Star PDs were terribly durable. Just wondering.
My next carry piece will probably be an alloy-framed commander-sized .45ACP.

 

[Galen]

CZ-82/83. It is comfortable to shoot, and is small enough to carry.

 

[Old Guy]

Has anyone ever worn out an aluminum (okay, ALLOY) Commander without hot-rodding it?

The Alloy frame is not a strong material, so carry a lot shoot little is the way to go.

The first sign of damage is the start of a crack in the frame, from where the take down pin goes through the frame, cure, drill a small hole at the end of the crack in the frame, it stops it.

 

[M&PVolk]

Smith and Wesson M&P Compact. I have no doubt this gun will hold up for a very long time. Throw in the lifetime warranty, and I feel pretty safe shooting it a lot and carrying it every day.

 

[mljdeckard]

This is another reason I roll my eyes at the media for perpetuating attitudes. (The usual reason is for trying to convince people they can't or shouldn't carry a full-size auto.)

Why would you possibly want to carry any pistol you don't like or want to shoot frequently?

 

[goon]

Generally, any larger or heavier compact semi-auto or heavier framed revolver will also work as a pretty pleasant shooter.

As for why you wouldn't shoot your CCW much - some good carry guns are not at all pleasant to shoot.
I may be getting soft, but a few mags at a time from my Kahr P-9 is enough for me. It's not exactly painful, but it is kind of exhausting. After 25 or so rounds I actually start to physically shake. Even with much more powerful guns like the 2.75 inch Security Six I used to own, I never had that problem.
To those who say get a stiffer belt or wear looser clothes, maybe that works for you but it won't work for me. I point blank can't carry a full sized gun all the time. Many others can't either. If it were that simple, there would be no small guns - just more heavy duty belts.
A small gun that is no fun to shoot is the best I can do. It's a compromise I don't like, but it's either that or go unarmed.

 

[SureThing]

The smallest gun you can shoot a bunch is a Glock 26.

The G19, 229, etc are all about the same size, but in Sub Compact size the only one I would shoot the piss out of is the G26

 

[farscott]

Has anyone ever worn out an aluminum (okay, ALLOY) Commander without hot-rodding it?

Yup. I wore out a stainless "Lightweight Commander" (that is how Colt marked it) in about 8,000 rounds of 230-grain standard pressure JHP. Cracked the frame in the dust cover area and around the slide stop. I also tore up the mag well area. Took me almost four years of shooting 50 rounds per week to do it. I try to shoot 50 rounds per week in my carry gun, but sometimes life gets in the way. Lately ammo costs have been getting in the way.

To be fair, the gun was refinished in NP3, and I wonder if the refinishing made a difference in the frame life. I know it affected the mag well area wear.

Now I carry full-size steel 1911s, and I do not worry about wear. I just shoot, clean, and do maintenance.

 

[DragonFire]

I think alot depends on the loads your plan to shoot.

Even the small airweight j-frames 357's will handle alot of .38 special or +P loads, probably even quite abit of moderate .357 magnum loads (though they probably won't be much fun to shoot, as others have said). They won't stand up to alot of hot magnum loads. This is why S&W came out with their L-frames, because even the k-frames couldn't handle a steady diet of hot magnum loads.


I agree that you should shoot your CCW firearm often, but it doesn't have to be with hot loads, even if that is what you carry. There's value in dry fire practice, and in practicing with more moderate loads too. I wouldn't practice exclusively with very light loads if you plan to carry very hot ones, but you wouldn't have to practice heavily with very hot ones to become proficient with your firearm.

Hopefully, if it comes down to actually using your handgun to defend yourself, you won't notice the increase in recoil of the few rounds you probably will have to fire.

 

[M&PVolk]

+1 on the dry fire. Some snap caps and a Crimson Trace will do miracles for your grip and trigger control.

Still, you do need to spend real range time to master the gun under recoil. Get a gun you can shoot a lot.

 

[Tacticaldude]

Like everybody's telling G26 or G19 From dry fire to live fire..No problem.

 

[Glockman17366]

My opinion...the non-ferrous firearms (aluminum and other alloys) are better carried a lot and shot only occasionally.
Not sure about titanium though...that's a very strong material.

 

[Glockman17366]

deleted...double tap

 

[Ben Shepherd]

One of my sp101's is over 70,000 rounds now(99% 357), runs like a top. I'd say it qualifies.

 

[FLA2760]

Ruger for small revolver. Glock for a semi auto pistol, IMO

 

[JCMAG]

I love shooting my S&W 442. That dull ache after a box of +P isn't a sign that I'm not supposed to be shooting this gun, but an indication that I'm sending a reasonable amount of power through a small, light firearm. It's not so much discomfort as a heads-up. "Hey you, these are +Ps. Just letting you know."

 

[WinchesterAA]

my 1911s see a lot of use, and they don't seem to mind.

 

[mainmech48]

Personally, anything that I'm even thinking about defending my Personal Favorite Behinds with is gonna get shot a whole lot, no matter whose name is on it or whether is has a cylinder or a magazine.

 

[Boats]

The SP-101 in .357 Magnum is a magnificent shooting iron. One of my biggest regrets was not picking up a used 9mm version when I saw it a few years back. That'd be an economical training aid today.

 

[Erik]

"What CCW is meant to be shot "a lot"?"

Most of them. Why folks settle for sub-round pistols is beyond me. Besides the noveltiy items, of course.

 

[CajunBass]

If you ever do manage to wear out a gun from shooting it. Brag about it. You've done something.

 

[OOOXOOO]

I thought my friends S&W 340PD was the coolest thing ever until I shot it. If you can fire fifty full power loads in it (with out gloves) you should get one free from the factory.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

On the other hand, I've fired literally thousands of rounds through my Kimber Classic M1911 -- routinely firing 50 rounds or more at a session.

 

[guitars&guns]

My search for a CCW that meets that criteria led me to the HK P2000. It isn't the smallest or the lightest in the "compact" catagory, but it pretty close in both regards and an absolute pleasure to shoot. Carries well and I don't loathe practicing with it.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

My full size 1911 has over 80K through it.

My 2 Kahr PM9s each have over 5K through them, much of that is +P ammo.