22LR handguns with aluminum slides... Longevity/durability concerns?

CanuckShooter

CanuckShooter

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It seems like just about every 22lr handgun available, aside from the Ruger 22/45 and Mark models, use an aluminum slide. Aluminum's durability has never really inspired confidence in me seeing how it's been used in low cost firearms. Has anyone here ever had any durability issues with handguns that use an aluminum slide? Cracks, excessive rail wear, excessive slide stop notch wear, etc?

I'm considering the M&P22, and a couple others.

Thanks
 
ive put many thousands of rounds through my m&p22 and it still functions great. just the usual wear on areas common with semi-auto.
 
I took months for me to decide on a rimfire pistol.

Have had more than a few Rugers overs the years, and while I like the looks of the top slide style autos, just read way too many stories of broken slides and warranty nightmares.

Ended up with a poly frame 22/45 that takes .45 auto grips. It is very accurate, well balanced, eats everything, and still a pain to disassemble.

I am really liking the new modular Buck, and would likely have chosen the Buck, but then again the 22/45 is a proven design with so many easy cheap mods available. No pot metal or alloy to ever worry about, or spare parts, just load her up and shoot. :)

 
KITIMAT TOM said:
I just picked up the same pistol today.what ammo is working best for you?Im thinking CCI Blazers?
Click to expand...

pretty much anything thats high velocity cycled fine with the exception of WWB but my preference is cci mini mag
remington golden fingers (bullet) had no problems either but they are way too dirty.

for my buckmark i like cci standard velocity.
 
Any rimfire semi auto with a full size slide is going to have that slide made from an alloy. If they were steel it would be too heavy for the energy to cycle.

If you don't want alloy then you need to go with half slides or guns with bolts that move instead of the slide. Only if smaller will a steel slide work out.

Or you can pay a major amount more money. As I understand it the Kimber rimfire 1911 has a forged aluminium slide instead of a cast pot metal alloy. But those are well north of $1K.

The Ruger 22/45 and Mark pistols don't have a slide. It's a bolt since it's internal And other than the Lite models the receiver is steel as well.

The Browning Buckmark is also steel for the half size slide.
 
I got a couple thousand through my m&p22. No issues. Worst chance if it throws in the towel I'll buy a new slide or full pistol. You can get them all day on the ee for $450
 
Thanks for all the replies. I already own a Ruger Mark II which I will never sell. Runs like a Swiss watch, and is all steel. The next on my list was the 22/45, but I wanted to eliminate any other options first. It looks like I'll most likely be grabbing the 22/45 after all. Only other option is a guy I know might be selling an old Browning Medalist bullseye gun that he never shoots anymore.

My dad has a Buckmark, but the way the gun is designed really bothers me. The barrel is held in place by a cheesy screw which comes loose easily, resulting in a wobbly barrel. I love that the Rugers don't use any screws. I really don't understand how people have such a hard time with the assembly and disassembly of them. I think the design is ingenious.

Now to decide between the 22/45 with the 5.5" target barrel, and 4.5" threaded barrel...
 
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After a couple hundred rounds I noticed the slide stop notch on my Sig 1911-22(same as GSG) started to wear and "round". I lost confidence that the Zamac material would last so it was quickly sold and replaced with a time tested real steel Ruger MKIII.
Besides, the "pot metal" material smelled funny too……YMMV.
 
Several thousand through my Gsg...zero problems so far...if it makes a difference...I always manually rack and release the slide rather than just thumbing the slide release...same with all my pistols...it's become a habit..
 
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