What happened to titanium-scandium weapons?

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dairycreek

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It was not too long that the pages of this (and others too) forum had much discussion and comment on titanium/scandium hand guns. Now, I find very little or no mention of these weapons. What happened? Are the TiScan guns simply a fad or what? Why? Cost, heavy recoil, waining interest? Curious as to what others think. Wax eloquently:D Good shooting;)
 
IMHO revolvers made from Titanium or Scandium are just too light. They don't feel right and perceived recoil is much greater than that of a heavier weapon. I don't know about the scandium weapons but I believe that the ones made from titanium use steel inserts in the barrels (cylinders (?) too).

Of course that's just me - others may have different reasons for not liking them.
 
I like mine. Without handloading to get special "light" loads, I don't think I'll go any further than my ported .38 though.
 
I think they're a mixed blessing. In heavy calibers (e.g. .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, etc.) they've got a kick like the proverbial mule, and I for one can't control them adequately to ensure a fast, accurate second shot if I need one. In .38 Special, they kick a bit hard, but not unmanageably: but since Airweight versions in aluminum alloy only weigh a couple of ounces more, and are just as "carryable" for a significantly lower price, I don't think they've made many inroads here. In other calibers (e.g. .45 ACP, .44 Special) they are just great, and I like them very much.
 
I handled a S&W 625 today. At least that's what I think it was. Lighter'n he11. All I could think of was oweee, that's gotta kick!:what:
 
I'm guessing that sales figures haven't been as shabby as naysayers adn poo-poohers might suggest, since S&W continues to offer new models using this lightweight technology. I know I'm not nearly the only one who's glad to have a superlight 357 jframe with well over a thousand rounds through it in my pocket right now.

Does anyone here know anything about sales figures or anything?
 
Titanium guns usually have some critical parts made of steel. Ti is about half the weight of steel.... Scandium is mostly advertising hype. Sc is a rare earth metal ,that means very expensive. The guns are actually made from an aluminum alloy containing about 1/2 % Sc which strengthens the alloy and gives it finer grain size .......Both have a problem with recoil when you chamber the gun in the magnums !
 
I believe the only reason my .38 is as bearable as it is with +p ammo is the porting. I'm completely amazed when I see the super-lightweight guns (in any caliber) without ports.

Regarding the good sales.... I just bought a small pistol that someone's dad had carried. The son really liked his, so dad just loaded it up and carried it. That's right. The used (and carried) gun I bought was UNFIRED! I'm willing to bet a fair number of these lightweights are the same way.
 
If I am not mistaken, the new Smith & Wesson 4040 (basically a 3913LS strengthened to handle the .40 cartridge) uses a scandium-alloy frame for strength and durability. I suspect that frame cracking would be a BIG problem with the .40 in a compact semiauto with a frame of conventional aluminum alloy.

I doubt that a given scandium-aluminum alloy is any lighter than conventional aluminum alloy on an equal-volume basis, BUT scandium-aluminum alloys are so much stronger that you can use less metal for the same strength. Or, in the case of the 4040, take a frame made to handle 9mm recoil and give it the ability to stand up to .40 recoil.

What IS a useless gimmick, to me, is a titanium SLIDE on a duty-caliber semiauto. Slide bulk is generally driven by the fact that you need a certain amount of reciprocating mass for reliable operation, so going to a lighter alloy would mean you need a bulkier slide to provide sufficient recoil mass. A steel slide encasing tungsten or depleted-uranium inserts would allow a lot slimmer gun with the same reliability.
 
I'll tell you what happened to my Taurus model 85 titanium. It is still there and it will never be sold. In fact, after years of looking for the perfect revolver I believe I have found it so probably will never buy another. :D

The trouble with Titanium in my humble meek opinion is that once you get one you don't need to keep looking.
 
Don't tell El T, but...

...I carry my titanium .44 Special Model 296 every day, and have for years. Shoot it some, too. :cool:
 
The reason you don't see as much written about them now is because they are no longer the "new thing". It doesnt mean they arent selling or don't work. I think the lack of threads titled "my new SCANDIUM/Ti revolver blew up" is more telling than anything. (although i did see ONE such titled thread somewhere in here).
 
I'm quite pleased with my S&W 340Sc though I have no plans to fire magnum loads in it. It is light, easy to carry and more accurate than I am.

Jeff
 
I recently purchased a Performance Center 625 to use for IDPA competition and the owner had a 325PD for sale that a friend of mine wanted. I purchased both and had them shipped to my local dealer. After handling the 325PD I don't think my friend will be getting it (he is ok with that). I took the 325PD to the range and ran about 200 rounds through it and I could not believe how accurate and easy to shoot it was. I was knocking down 6" steels at 15 yards with no problem.

I had tried a 329PD at a recent Smith & Wesson Day at a local dealer and it was painful to say the least. I believe that the .45 recoil is realistic in a light frame, the .44 mag was not.

Your mileage may vary,
Greg
 
I believe that they re niche guns rather than fad guns. Finally there is something that exceeds the Kit Gun in power and versatilty while still being featherweight. For backpackers, bush pilots, kayakers, runners and others who have to watch every ounce they are a good thing. I agree that they are not shooters unless you are a glutton for punishment, but they do allow one to be armed when otherwise weight might prohibit it.
 
Great for carry, painful to shoot. Not really much more to talk about because they are pretty much like any other J-frame beyond the super light weight.

Buy a steel frame J-frame to practice with, carry the Scandium after shooting it enough to verify yours works and your perfered ammo has sufficient crimp to keep the bullets in the cases.

--wally.
 
My 340 PD is ALWAYS in my pocket, not matter what else I may or may not be carrying.
 
I absolutely love my S&W 337PD. At 10.7 ounces, it's the lightest of the S&W Airlites, so the recoil is snappy, but manageable. And it's deadly accurate at 7 yards.

I carry it all the time. Just because I don't write about it here constantly doesn't mean I don't still love it. :D
 
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