The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Revolver Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 1, 2013, 09:45 AM   #1
Jaywalker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 16, 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 330
Longest-Lived Revolvers

Which are the longet-lived revolvers? I don't necessarily mean "big" or "heavy" - within any given size, which revolvers would keep shooting longer without gunsmith's help? That would be a strong design produced well.

I'd like to have a Colt Detective Special, for instance, but from what I just learned on TFL, I'll have to be careful with timing issues. That's not a big deal to me, since I don't shoot as much as I used to, but it did set me to wondering which revolvers might last longest while actually shooting with them. My sense is that Ruger revolvers are pretty long-lived. (They'd better be. If I can't get fire control parts, any glitch would have to go back to the factory - a big inconvenience.)

So, which are the longest-lasting small-frame revolvers? Mid-frame? Large-frame? This isn't about just Smith and Ruger, though - maybe Charter or Taurus has hidden strengths, as long as I might plan to put thousands of rounds through it.

Which ones are lifetime shooters?
Jaywalker is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 09:55 AM   #2
Hal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 1998
Location: Ohio USA
Posts: 8,563
Freedom Arms, IMHO, would be about the only one.

And that, only because they are so expensive.

That discourages the "stupid" factor that's responsible for most damage.
Hal is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 10:03 AM   #3
MJN77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 27, 2009
Location: on a hill in West Virginia
Posts: 789
I have three Colt new service revolvers, one made in 1905, one made in 1923, and one made in 1925. I shoot all of them and have had no problems with any of them. I also have an early S&W 1917 that a previous owner saw fit to convert to .45 colt. That one is still going strong too.
MJN77 is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 10:06 AM   #4
jmortimer
Junior member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2010
Location: South West Riverside County California
Posts: 2,763
I think a Blackhawk would go on and on, assuming the transfer bar held up. Freedom Arms as well, not because they costs so much or are so well made, but because single actions last a long time.
jmortimer is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 10:11 AM   #5
nate45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 15, 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,746
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaywalker
I'd like to have a Colt Detective Special, for instance, but from what I just learned on TFL, I'll have to be careful with timing issues.

There is an assertion that comes up with surprising frequency, particularly in the internet age where everyone is an expert: the Colt Python (and all other Colt revolvers) are "delicate", "go out of time easily", or "not as strong/durable as a S&W.

Let's start with the construction: a Colt revolver, for any given frame size, is as strong as any gun with that frame size. Their metallurgy is absolutely the best, and their forged construction is of superior quality. They are superbly made, and their longevity is a testimony to that fact. You are never compromising when you choose a Colt!

How about the charge of "delicate" or "goes out of time easily"? In my work, I see a lot of Colts; I shoot them extensively myself. With proper maintenance, I've seen no tendency for any Colt to go out of time. Yet, the rumors persist!


Is the Colt Python "delicate"?-by Grant Cunningham, noted pistosmith
__________________
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
(>_<)
nate45 is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 10:12 AM   #6
Ozzieman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 14, 2004
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 6,117
Longest lived revolver.
That depends on what and how you’re going to shoot.
Shooting standard pressure 38 sp in an S&W mid frame (19) or N frame (27) you’re not going to wear it out.
That’s the same for Rugers. Shooting 357’s in the same guns will shorten the life span of a gun. But the amount that it shortens the span is meaningless. A steady diet of light weight (125 GR) magnums will have more of an effect.
Your statement on Colt Detective specials, the only thing I would be concerned about is used guns that have been abused and a good gunsmith can answer that.
Charter arms, the newer manufactured guns are well built and make a good carry gun but not one I would consider range guns capable massive number of rounds. I own two and have nothing but good things to say.
Taurus, well my only comment to that is select the “search” at the top of the TFL page and type in “Taurus” and look at the comments both positive and negative. Many Taurus’s (not all) should have a round trip ticket to the manufacture for repair issues.
Which revolvers would keep shooting longer without gunsmith's help?
That totally depends on the gun. I have a friend with a Hi point that has been shooting for several years and has several thousand rounds with never a failure. Another has a Ruger that had minor but frustrating problems that Ruger fixed the first time.
Which would I have? I would take the Ruger over 10 Hi points.
But that’s just my opinion.
__________________
It was a sad day when I discovered my universal remote control did not in fact control the universe.

Did you hear about the latest study.....5 out of 6 liberals say that Russian Roulette is safe.
Ozzieman is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 10:18 AM   #7
GP100man
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 1, 2007
Location: Tabor City , NC.
Posts: 1,969
GP100 !!!

The only parts that have to be fitted are ,trigger,hammer & cyl .
Anything else is available thru Ruger & some aftermarket suppliers.

Now as far as history goes I feel the Icon of 2 centrys is the prewar m&p S&W AKA model 10 has proven it`s worth !!
__________________
GP100man
GP100man is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 12:55 PM   #8
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
In the single action world.....Freedom Arms / they're overbuilt to the point of absolutely rugged...and amazing pieces of craftmanship.

In the double action world ...its Colt and S&W...and its hard to pick one over the other in my view. There are pluses and minuses to each ...but either one will last for many generations. I think Ruger is a distant 3rd ...but still a solid gun....then there are the rest ( a very, very distant 4th ...or more...)..

in my opinion ....of course / and to some extent, longevity will depend on the round that is fired in the weapon ...and how the owner treats the gun. There are a few of my buddies I'd buy a used gun from in a heartbeat....and some that I would never buy a used gun from ( they aren't bad guys - but some of them take care of their guns ..and some of them abuse the daylights out of them)..
BigJimP is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 01:21 PM   #9
Jaywalker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 16, 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 330
Here are some comments on the Colt's D-frame innards: http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...09#post5345409
Jaywalker is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 01:46 PM   #10
savit260
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 2, 2006
Posts: 702
This old Colt was born in 1926 and still shoots just fine.


... and is one of my favorite carry guns.
savit260 is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 05:49 PM   #11
Sharpsdressed Man
Junior member
 
Join Date: June 21, 2009
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 1,176
Grant Cunningham makes his living off repairing Colts. So much so, that he has to turn down work and is booked years in advance. Does that tell you that there are a lot of Colts that need "maintenance," as he calls it? I think Colts are artistically beautiful, but not the workhorses that S&W's , and particularly, Rugers are. Buy a Ruger and get an action job. I cock my guns very slowly, and do a slow double action pull, also, for a fine let off. Colts, after firing a lot, just do NOT lock up when they are supposed to after prolonged use. I do not like the idea of a revolver going off before the cylinder is locked in place, and not all shots can be fast double action pulls to THROW the cylinder notch into the bolt.
Sharpsdressed Man is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 06:24 PM   #12
SIGSHR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 13, 2005
Posts: 4,700
Back when 2700 was more popular and revolvers were THE guns, the Colt Officer's Model and S&W K frames were the most used. A lot depends on type of use, light target loads are easier on a revolver than heavy service/combat/hunting loads. Likewise lead bullets are easier on the bore. How about Dan Wessons, they were quite popular with metallic silhouette shooters.
SIGSHR is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 06:37 PM   #13
PetahW
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 19, 2008
Posts: 4,678
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaywalker

Which are the longet-lived revolvers? I don't necessarily mean "big" or "heavy" - within any given size, which revolvers would keep shooting longer without gunsmith's help?
A Ruger single-action revolver.



.
PetahW is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 07:00 PM   #14
Deja vu
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 14, 2010
Location: Border of Idaho & Montana
Posts: 2,584
My father has gold rush era pocket Dragoon that we still shoot on special occasions. It cool to shoot a firearm that is about 160 years old.

As far as I know it has never seen a smith.
__________________
Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull.

all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

Last edited by Deja vu; January 1, 2013 at 07:08 PM.
Deja vu is offline  
Old January 1, 2013, 07:10 PM   #15
B. Lahey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,857
Manurhin would certainly be in contention, although they are not exactly common in the US.
__________________
"A human being is primarily a bag for putting food into; the other functions and faculties may be more godlike, but in point of time they come afterwards."
-George Orwell

Last edited by B. Lahey; January 1, 2013 at 08:58 PM. Reason: Typo
B. Lahey is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 03:47 AM   #16
salvadore
Junior member
 
Join Date: January 1, 2007
Location: Idaho
Posts: 2,282


This is a 1931 Colt OP in 32/20. shot a 1 5/8" six shot group using 115 gr gas check bullet with a substantial amount of 1680. Plain base with mild titegroup loads go abour 2". Had to do some work on the bold and clean out the sludge, but after that all is well...did the same with my Colt Marshall and it shoots well too (1955).

salvadore is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 05:23 AM   #17
CajunBass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 6, 2005
Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia
Posts: 4,766
I would like to live long enough to just once, shoot a gun, any gun, enough to worry about wearing it out.

I would brag about it.
__________________
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
CajunBass is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 05:28 AM   #18
solocam72
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 15, 2012
Location: Great Northwest
Posts: 222
When I think of a revolver that would likely out last me and everything I could throw at it that gun would be a RUGER GP-100, and I don't even own one currently, I have owned 2 of them over the years and shot the living daylights out of em with full tilt magnum loads without a hiccup, they are a shooters gun
solocam72 is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 06:33 AM   #19
Hal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 1998
Location: Ohio USA
Posts: 8,563
Quote:
How about Dan Wessons, they were quite popular with metallic silhouette shooters.
Dans dominated the early games in the production .357mag class until the price cap was removed and Freedom Arms were allowed.
Nothing anyone else - S&W, Ruger or Colt- made stood up to the pounding like the Dans.
That would have been the Monson era Dan. I don't know how robust the newer ones are.
Hal is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 09:07 AM   #20
Winchester_73
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 2,863
Quote:
I'd like to have a Colt Detective Special, for instance, but from what I just learned on TFL, I'll have to be careful with timing issues.
Not true, as I have never heard of that, and even in the thread you reference, notice that no one has a specific example. The D frame action is different and pretty durable IMO.

I would say any of the steel frame snubs will attain a high round count, guns like the 686, GP100 and Dan Wesson 15 do well. Then smaller caliber guns in bigger frames such as the model 17, 27, 22 cal Diamondback, etc, are technically large for the caliber and task at hand. For 44 magnum, the Redhawk seems to be the most durable, but I prefer the aesthetics of a S&W, and all the rest that comes with a S&W.

All in all, it depends on how smart the owner is in a lot of these cases. There is also an element of luck here because all of these factories have made lemons. Being a handloader and then making loads higher than spec will not help and a lack of maintenance will not help either. Because of the variables, most of this thread will be opinions, but some very basic things can be agreed upon by all.
__________________
Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west
Winchester_73 is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 01:45 PM   #21
MrBorland
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2007
Location: NC
Posts: 2,614
If "longest-lived" means durability, I don't think production year is the relevant criteria. I put nearly 20k rounds through my 6 year old 686 this year alone, and my best guess is it's shot around 70k rounds to date, yet my 686 is holding up fine, and likely has multiples of 70k left in it. I'd bet the great majority of older blued revolvers have seen a very small fraction of this.

As far as DA revolver durability, my bet would be on the Manurhin, with Rugers and S&Ws honorable mentions. In SA revos, Freedom Arms likely takes it, with Ruger making a fine showing.
MrBorland is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 02:00 PM   #22
Rainbow Demon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2012
Posts: 397
I've seen a very odd situation involving a Dan Wesson in .44 Magnum.
The owner found he could no longer get the barrel shroud off.
The barrel had bulged in several places locking it into the shroud , which had matching bulges.
How this happened I don't know, only saw for a moment it while a gunshop owner was examing it.
Could have been excessive pressure handloads.

To remove the barrel for replacement they would have to cut away the barrel shroud.

As to most durable I'd also recommend the S&W revolvers.
Rainbow Demon is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 03:19 PM   #23
L_Killkenny
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 2, 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,676
IMO any of the current production guns out there with maybe the exception of the FA's could use a tune up straight from the factory. Even the venerable Blackhawks will last much longer with some polishing, just ask the CAS shooters.

Aside from that there are guns that are better than others but at the same time they are all subject to failure in componets, materials and workmanship. Whoever's out there spewing Ruger's are a distant 3rd in the durability department needs to do some major soul searching and stop being such a fan boy. There is nothing inherantly more durable with the S&W and Colt designs and in many cases they are less so. You may beleive they are better but better is a very broad term subject to many parameters. Durability is just one of those. But neither of those is anymore durable than a Ruger. For heavy loads or lot's of shooting I'll take a Ruger over a Colt anyday and over a S&W most days.
L_Killkenny is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 03:26 PM   #24
Bob Wright
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 10, 2012
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Posts: 2,986
Rainbow Demon said:
Quote:
I've seen a very odd situation involving a Dan Wesson in .44 Magnum.
The owner found he could no longer get the barrel shroud off.
The barrel had bulged in several places locking it into the shroud , which had matching bulges.
How this happened I don't know, only saw for a moment it while a gunshop owner was examing it.
Could have been excessive pressure handloads.

To remove the barrel for replacement they would have to cut away the barrel shroud.
My son-in-law had the same problem. We thought back and tried to re-construct our last outing. We had been shooting near a large creek (plinking) that had ice in it, also some snow covered the ground. We theorized that droplets of water had entered the bore as we were shooting that caused the swelling of his .357 Mag. Dan Wesson. Yep, barrel and shroud went the cut-off route.

Bob Wright
Bob Wright is offline  
Old January 2, 2013, 09:11 PM   #25
SIGSHR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 13, 2005
Posts: 4,700
I saw something similar with a Dan Wesson, in that instance the owner had changed barrels, then fired it-with the old style detachable barrel changing nut still in place. That's why they went to the larger one piece tool.
SIGSHR is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08260 seconds with 11 queries