Lets talk Titanium guns

[Dr.K]

Was browsing around looking at guns and started researching titanium guns. Obviously they cost a fortune and are very light and strong. But would a titanium gun have any disadvantages other than increased recoil due to lighter weight? Im talking semi-auto's here, frame's and slides. I researched titanium wheel nuts and studs before and found out that titanium can't take the repeated stress that steel can, hence why Ti wheel studs are not common. Supposedly it can take high stress a few times in its lifespan before it is weakened whereas steel can take repeated stress over and over and still retain 90+ percent of its original strength.

Of cool note the gun in the crappy movie Miami Vice was a Titanium Infinity... http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Miami_Vice_(2006)

Also Infinity still makes Titanium .45's Scroll to the middle pics and you see this weird compact .45 with no sights.
http://www.sviguns.com/1500.php

Now im guessing a titanium gun would cost around $8000-10,000 since the Miami Vice gun was $6000 back pre-06. Anyone here ever seen or fired a Titanium gun? Would they not hold up in the long term if you fired a ton of +P's ? SVI makes some hardcore guns that start at $4000. They also don't do chrome plating due to "hydrogen embrittlement implications" So they seem like a company that wouldn't make them if they didn't hold up. Any thoughts? I obviously can't afford one im just dreaming.

 

[rugger_can]

Titanium is a much harder metal then traditional steel alloys used in firearms (although some carbon steel such as tungsten carbide is "harder") which translates into a metal structure that is far more brittle. Ultra hard metals are undesirable in this context and subsequently the titanium alloys used in the construction of this type of firearm require very advanced metallurgy to ensure that each part of the firearm will have the desired characteristics required to function properly.

One cannot compare the titanium used in a firearm such as you mentioned with anything else "titanium" as they will all have vastly different metallurgy.

A company such as Infinity would not bother to manufacture a titanium pistol without it being worth the effort. And they speak about their product at http://www.sviguns.com/1202.php

 

[Cocked&Locked]

Actually, titanium isn't hard, it's tough. And to machine its stringy sticky miserable crap. If you want something to take a beating it's a good choice, but it also galls and picks up like mad. to make a slide from it you'd have to be very careful what you picked for the frame material, actually, it would probably be better to make the frame from it, and make the slide from a steel alloy of some sort. Other then it's light weight and cool factor, ti isn't a great firearm material. You'd actually do better with polymer inset with steel where needed. IMHO, take it for what it's worth

 

[BCRider]

C&L is describing Titanium properties far more accurately. Ti bike frames are supple and comfortable to ride with no known fatigue cycle. These same alloys that are decently flexible and tough with long fatigue cycles are the alloys used in aircraft manufacturing.

But it's terrible metal for rubbing against other metals such as on a slide with rails and such.

Also since the slide WEIGHT is calibrated to the caliber and works in conjunction with the recoil spring a Ti slide would need to be far bulkier than a steel slide. Steel actually works FOR us in achieving small cross section slides and more compact guns that are shooting strong handgun rounds. It would actually be a step backwards to shift to Ti along with a greater expense.

 

[RickR1100]

The other day I handled a nice S&W .357 6" that was VERY light, made of titanium...impressed me!

 

[plinker 777]

There's a flintlock on the Black Powder EE right now with a Titanium barrel, cost $8000 cdn ...the irony of a Titanium flintlock is not lost on me BTW

 

[nevanevan]

The smith 357 you held Rick is not made of Ti, it is made from Scandium. Unbelievably light though, like holding one powerful pillow!

 

[shatthatkilledelvis]

Titanium also has the best "shape memory" making it excellent for springs. I'm pretty sure the svi pistol uses hardened steel inserts in the frame of that pistol to prevent galling. I used to gush over that pistol before I even started shooting. IMO its a novelty and a testament to SVI's manufacturing capabilities, but not terribly practical.

 

[pilot_dc]

Might make for good carry pistols as long as you don't do much range shooting and you live in an area where that's legal. The light weight might start to justify the trade offs in durability and price... If you're rich...