Ok How Many Shots Can U Put Through A Kimber 45
- Thread starter rollie100
- Start date
Depending on the frame(steel or alloy) many many thousands before you will see any problems. Alloy frames tend to stretch and become loose a lot faster than steel frames. This doesn't mean the gun is unsafe it simply means the action will rattle and may cause your groups to open up. You'll probably never out shoot the life of a handgun. If you do, you've got more money and time than most of us.
TDC
TDC
I would think well over 20,000 before you'd want to replace the barrel bushing or guide rod. Barrel life would depend mostly on how hot the rounds are that you're shooting, but many many thousands.
You might want new springs sometime after 10,000.
1911 pistols are built to last, and Kimbers are top notch.
A pistol is lots like an engine; keep it clean and oiled, don't let it get insanely hot, and it'll last a long long time.
You might want new springs sometime after 10,000.
1911 pistols are built to last, and Kimbers are top notch.
A pistol is lots like an engine; keep it clean and oiled, don't let it get insanely hot, and it'll last a long long time.
Hi
Am I shooting with it or at it?
Stuff like springs will need changing every few thousand rounds to keep things running smoothly. The recoil spring it the that gets changed the most often, followed by the mainspring.
With jacketed bullets you probably will shoot out the barrel at 20,000 to 30,000 rounds. With lead bullets the barrel is good for > 100,000 rounds. There is some variation depending on how hot you load and exactly how accurate you expect the pistol to be.
The frame to slide fit will start to loosen up as soon as you begin shooting. With an alloy frame it will get objectionable at 10K to 30K rounds. There are a *lot* of different alloys out there. You can not re-tighten an alloy frame, so replacement the only option.
On a steel frame, you should go 20K to 30K rounds before things get loose. Most steel frames can be tightened up three to five times depending on who is doing the work.
Past that it's just small stuff. You aren't going to get 150K rounds out of your original sear or disconnector. I would expect at least one odd part to break every 20,000 rounds or so.
That's all in terms of wear out of the firearm.
In terms of operation, you should be able to run a thousand or more rounds through a properly lubricated weapon without a malfunction. Cleaning is optional on a 1911 through about 500 to 1,000 rounds.
Bob
Am I shooting with it or at it?
Stuff like springs will need changing every few thousand rounds to keep things running smoothly. The recoil spring it the that gets changed the most often, followed by the mainspring.
With jacketed bullets you probably will shoot out the barrel at 20,000 to 30,000 rounds. With lead bullets the barrel is good for > 100,000 rounds. There is some variation depending on how hot you load and exactly how accurate you expect the pistol to be.
The frame to slide fit will start to loosen up as soon as you begin shooting. With an alloy frame it will get objectionable at 10K to 30K rounds. There are a *lot* of different alloys out there. You can not re-tighten an alloy frame, so replacement the only option.
On a steel frame, you should go 20K to 30K rounds before things get loose. Most steel frames can be tightened up three to five times depending on who is doing the work.
Past that it's just small stuff. You aren't going to get 150K rounds out of your original sear or disconnector. I would expect at least one odd part to break every 20,000 rounds or so.
That's all in terms of wear out of the firearm.
In terms of operation, you should be able to run a thousand or more rounds through a properly lubricated weapon without a malfunction. Cleaning is optional on a 1911 through about 500 to 1,000 rounds.
Bob
How is it that several pistols such as Glock have recorded well over 100,000 rounds on original parts without failure or degradation to accuracy. Yet, everyone seems to feel that other quality built firearms such as Kimber Springfield, etc etc will not survive as long? Low velocity projectiles like those in most semi autos will not induce any appreciable wear to the barrel. Springs wear out, its part of the game.
TDC
TDC
So, a 1,000 factory rounds in 9mm is roughly $200 now, 50,000 rounds = $10,000, right? Even if you reload, it's still about 8-10 cents a round with 50,000 rounds costing $4,000-$5,000. If one goes thru and spends so much on ammo they should expect maintenance expenses for the gun or even replace the gun at one point.
Hi
The definition of shot out on a barrel depends a lot on your accuracy standard. If function is your only criterion, then pistols go for a long while.
On a 1911 that starts out at 1.5 to 2" @ 50 yards, it will open up to about 2.5 at 10K rounds and >3" by 30K rounds. That's fine with some people and not fine with others.
Bob
The definition of shot out on a barrel depends a lot on your accuracy standard. If function is your only criterion, then pistols go for a long while.
On a 1911 that starts out at 1.5 to 2" @ 50 yards, it will open up to about 2.5 at 10K rounds and >3" by 30K rounds. That's fine with some people and not fine with others.
Bob
I dunno, send me one and I'll get back to you
Seriously though, I doubt you'd find out how many it takes to wear one out in one lifetime. I read somewhere that Jerry Barnhart has a gun with a half million rounds through it, obviously it's been maintained but it apparently still shoots well enough to win. Obviously it's pretty tough to wear out a gun barrel with lead bullets.
PS the only thing that strikes me as hinkey with Kimber is MIM parts, I know they get more common all the time, I just don't like the idea of them in a firearm (especially one with Kimbers price tag)
Seriously though, I doubt you'd find out how many it takes to wear one out in one lifetime. I read somewhere that Jerry Barnhart has a gun with a half million rounds through it, obviously it's been maintained but it apparently still shoots well enough to win. Obviously it's pretty tough to wear out a gun barrel with lead bullets.
PS the only thing that strikes me as hinkey with Kimber is MIM parts, I know they get more common all the time, I just don't like the idea of them in a firearm (especially one with Kimbers price tag)
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Hi
You can make a jet engine out of MIM parts (and they do). Properly done, with the right stuff and processing there is nothing wrong with them.
Before we had MIM there were all kinds of problems with milled and cast parts. Even today some of the parts that fail are actually cast rather than MIM. Cheap parts that are poorly made fail. It doesn't matter how you make them, if you cut corners the parts aren't going to last.
Bob
You can make a jet engine out of MIM parts (and they do). Properly done, with the right stuff and processing there is nothing wrong with them.
Before we had MIM there were all kinds of problems with milled and cast parts. Even today some of the parts that fail are actually cast rather than MIM. Cheap parts that are poorly made fail. It doesn't matter how you make them, if you cut corners the parts aren't going to last.
Bob
Hi
MIM = metal injection mould.
Essentially you injection mould a metal powder mixed with a plastic binder. You put the part in a furnace to bake out the plastic and fuse the metal into a solid piece. Properly done it's an excellent way to make tight tolerance parts with a good finish on them.
If you bake the stuff wrong, or start with the wrong mix, the result is not so good. It's no different than casting or milling a part from the wrong material as far as the mix goes. Poor bake out leaves the same type of entrapped crud as a bad casting.
Bob
Hi
Given the problems of machining high grade forged stock, a lot of milled parts are made of some pretty unexciting steel.
Bob
Hi
I don't know that alloy frames stretch, they do crack from time to time.
The main reason the alloy frames get loose and stay that way is that you can't tighten them up the way you can a steel frame. The alloy cracks when you try to cold forge it back into shape.
Bob
I don't know that alloy frames stretch, they do crack from time to time.
The main reason the alloy frames get loose and stay that way is that you can't tighten them up the way you can a steel frame. The alloy cracks when you try to cold forge it back into shape.
Bob
The space shuttle is made mostly out of aluminum. Would you buy a gun that had an aluminum barrel? I'm not arguing either for or against MIM, but your analogy simply does not hold water. What works for jet engines does not necessarily work for certain gun parts. You are comparing apples to oranges.
Hi
They don't make gun barrels via the MIM process. The parts they *do* make via MIM have a lot in common with jet engine parts. They are tight tolerance, they require a good finish, and they have to hold up to a lot of abuse. Turbine engines running at 100K RPM fly apart if the components aren't just right.
Bob
