Question about .40 S&W and it wearing out guns faster due to high pressure.

Holy ####..80k through a P226? Do you have some pics of it? I'd love to see it, especially the frame rails.

I no longer have it but all was still excellent shape, thing to consider is that sessions were 500-750 rounds, full strip and clean after each session, lubed again prior to each session. It never saw dirt, it saw sand a couple times (no I didn't drop it...) and was immediately stripped/cleaned as soon as I could before going on. To date, that particular P-226 was the most solid gun I have ever used.
 
I have a Tanfo 40 and I have 1911 in 40. I have put almost 20k rounds through my 1911 for IPSC.. No issues yet. Only thing I have worn out is a plastic pushing on the recoil rod.
 
My two cents worth. I am an Engineer so apply general engineering principles. I understand that there were problems with earlier 40's were basically 9mm guns with the extra power of the 40 (more energy not more pressure) put more load on the gun plus the fact that not all 40's have fully supported cases. The case bulge can put more stress at the edge of the chamber. More stress with all things being equal then earlier failure. Most modern 40 guns have fully supported cartridges and have been designed specifically for the 40 so these are no longer issues. Same case pressure same stress in the steel. The other thing that can wear a gun is bullet velocity. There is so little difference between a 9mm and a 40 especially when compared with rifles I really can't believe that this is much of an issue. In summary a gun properly designed for the 40 should last just as long as a 9mm. I still have concerns about Glock's as they do not fully support the case even today. A real pain when you reload like me.
 
My two cents worth. I am an Engineer so apply general engineering principles. I understand that there were problems with earlier 40's were basically 9mm guns with the extra power of the 40 (more energy not more pressure) put more load on the gun plus the fact that not all 40's have fully supported cases. The case bulge can put more stress at the edge of the chamber. More stress with all things being equal then earlier failure. Most modern 40 guns have fully supported cartridges and have been designed specifically for the 40 so these are no longer issues. Same case pressure same stress in the steel. The other thing that can wear a gun is bullet velocity. There is so little difference between a 9mm and a 40 especially when compared with rifles I really can't believe that this is much of an issue. In summary a gun properly designed for the 40 should last just as long as a 9mm. I still have concerns about Glock's as they do not fully support the case even today. A real pain when you reload like me.

Yep.. I have to always watch what cases I pick up the Glockers are a nono. Easy to identify since its a rectangular firing/striker pin mark.
 
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