How many rounds is too many rounds down the barrel of a used pistol?

[cysoto]

I would imagine that the answer to this question will vary significantly from one person to the next but I will ask anyway...

When you find a used pistol in the classifieds section that you think you may want to buy and you (or someone else) asks "how many rounds down the barrel?"; how many rounds is too many rounds?

[Bailey Guns]

For any decent gun like a Glock or similar? Quarter million maybe? I NEVER ask for a "round count" as most people can't afford enough ammunition to substantially harm the gun.

Might be different for some of the heavy magnum calibers and handloaders.

[islandermyk]

I don't know...


I have a lil over 6K through mine and it still shoots straighter than me

anything under 2K doesn't bother me much...

[MarkCO]

For any decent gun like a Glock or similar? Quarter million maybe? I NEVER ask for a "round count" as most people can't afford enough ammunition to substantially harm the gun.

Might be different for some of the heavy magnum calibers and handloaders.

Polygonally rifled barrels, yeah, round count really does not matter. When you go to a conventionally rifled barrel in .40 S&W, life is about 100K +/-. Add for lower pressure rounds and subtract for higher pressure rounds. In a magnum revolver, I'd be more concerned with timing than round count because they don't get shot that much, but maybe 30K is the life with several variables.

Maybe once you pass 10K you start to consider how many rounds you are likely to put on it and the lifespan of the barrel. Depending on that, price may be looked at a bit closer as far as deal or no deal. If you want to sell me a $500 .357 Magnum with a shot out barrel for $5, sure, cause it will cost me $400 to rebuild the thing. If you want to sell me a $1500 .38 Super 1911 with a shot out barrel for $900, that too might be okay cause I can rebarrel it for $250 or so. NOT offers, there, just examples.

[SideShow Bob]

Take a pulled bullet and insert it into the barrel, if it rattles down the barrel and falls out the other end, it has too many rounds fired through it.

[cysoto]

Quarter million maybe?

Uff, I wish I had a gun that I could have fed with a 1/4 million rounds!! It reminds me of that old saying: "Fear the man with one gun because he probably knows how to use it."

I used to keep records on how many rounds I had shot through each gun but, ever since I started using certain pistols for competition only, I am not as good about keeping track as I used to be.

[kidicarus13]

Round count to me tells me more about the condition of the entire pistol and not just the barrel. I'm not too worried about <10K down a modern barrel. (Based on nothing scientific)

[cysoto]

In a magnum revolver, I'd be more concerned with timing...

I can certainly see how this could be an issue with revolvers.

[jerrymrc]

The only pistols that I ever thought about how many rounds went through them was when I signed for my first Arms Room in 81. The 1911's I got in belgium rattled like a bad CV joint and flopped around so bad it was comical. But they always went bang and they always managed to hit the target.

I thought about round count in my CZ52's but they had been rebuilt at least once in there life. I only have a round count for a couple of my pistols.

[Clint45]

It depends.

Glocks and Rugers can usually run forever. Stainless steel pistols are more durable than carbon steel which is more durable than aluminum alloy. Charter Arms and Sigma tend to have limited lifespans before they loosen up. Vintage Airwieghts had problems with frames cracking within 500 rounds. Zinc framed pistols like Davis and Jennings in .380 tended to have slides crack within 100 rounds. Research the gun you want before you buy to learn about weaknesses and problems. Examine the frame and forcing cone for damage. Expect to replace the recoil spring and firing pin of a gun with a high round count, possibly the magazine as well.

People are not always honest about round count or use of +P reloads, or they may not know because they are not the original owner.