Useful life of a revolver before it needs maintenence

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Roddy

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Something I have heard a few times in the past is that revolvers don't last forever. Some reviews say things like "should hold up well unless you feed it a steady diet of +P ammunition."

An article I read, about the Colt Python specifically, said that the internal parts need servicing and replacing from time to time as they are hand fitted and wear out.

I have even heard that .38's are bad for a .357. They leave rings on the cylinder or something.

Is there much truth to any of this? I see spring replacement guides for automatics a lot but not much for revolvers. Maybe because they aren't as popular. I replace springs and parts on my automatic pistols all the time but I do not think I could disassemble a revolver. Tried once amd it was a disaster.

What are your opinions on this?
 
38spl in a 357 is prefectly fine, it will leave a carbon ring if you shoot alot. But all you need to do is clean it to take away the ring.
 
Here is what I know about some revolvers which is not a lot. I am no expert.

Older revolvers not designed to stand up to +P loads may wear some parts prematurely.
Colt Pythons are excellent guns fitted like a watch. However sometimes they will go out
of timing and the cylinders don't line up properly . Then they need to be retimed.
The first model S&W 29 .44 magnum revolvers had a design flaw in that the top strap
just above the forcing cone should have been stronger. A steady diet of fire spitting magnums
could cut away some of the strap over time.

.38's in a .357 mag chamber means that there is the shorter case does not go all
the way to the front of the chamber/charge hole. Carbon & dirt can build up there if
not cleaned on a regular basis.

IMO, modern revolvers are well designed and if they are fed the ammo for which they were
designed should last a hell of a long time.
 
It all depends on use and care. If you flick the cylinder in and out TV style, expect the revolver to begin spitting and shaving as you bend the crane. If you feed a steady diet of maxed out handloads, especially if you do so with heavy bullets, expect the cylinder to get loose over time. If you shoot a lot of fast double action, your going to wear the stop bolt and cylinder notches...everything mechanical wears. Proper care and judicious cleaning can relieve this somewhat. With the amount of shooting that most folks do, the majority of wear on their handguns is from over cleaning.
 
As others have stated, care and maintenance is important, but probably the biggest thing is what kind of loads you are feeding your revolver. If you shoot light lead 38 Special target loads out of your .357 Magnum, it will last longer than you likely will. You could literally shoot 100,000 light target loads and with lead bullets the revolver would have minimum wear.
On the other hand if you shoot max loads of a slower buring powder like Win 296 or H110, with light bullets (the gas cutting of the top strap & forcing cone is worse with light bullets as the powder charge is heaviest), you could burn out the same revolver in 30,000 or less rounds.
This is a lot of shooting.
My dad buys many guns at estate auctions and generally he finds most of the hand guns he buys look like they have had minimal use. It is the rare shooter that actually shoots enough to wear out a revolver or pistol, likely only those that shoot competitively alot.
 
or you can shoot 38 LOADS in 357 mag cases- that way there is no 'CRUD RING" (and that's what it's really called)- the only provision is that you have to make sure the load is up against the primer or seat your bullets just a little deeper
 
Okay thanks for the info everyone. I was mostly wondering because I shoot maybe one or two hundred rounds out of my Python a year and I didn't know how much wear I am putting on it. I don't know where I would send it to have work done if it ever needed it so I would like to avoid that altogether if I can.
 
A couple hundred rounds a year, your grand kids will be shooting with no problems if it's cared for. If you don't want to beat it and yourself up light load in 357 cases.
 
I ran 30K through a Model 10 in one year - no damage, no visible wear beyond the finish of the gun. All were either 38 special standard velocity 158 grain, or lower velocity target loads. Gun was kept clean, that's all.
 
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