Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Wearing out a handgun

    I have a Bersa .380 that I cc. I also take it to the range every weekend (along with my .40) and put anywhere from 50 to 100 rounds through it. Over the course of a year that could be over 4000 rounds. I clean the gun after every trip and it looks/functions great. My question is what is the expected lifespan of a gun used this much? Is it like a car in that no matter how well you take care of it with enough miles on it she will eventually fail.
    Last edited by Rblakely; May 5th, 2013 at 06:50 PM. Reason: Spelling

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Montco, Pennsylvania
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    I'm sure it's different for every kind of gun. I think I read 20,000 rounds for a Beretta 92fs.
    I guess you would just replace the barrel after that.

    On the other hand, I have a ring if fire .25 that seems to have worn out after a few hundred rounds. It is just plain bad.

    You might be able to contact Bersa and ask them.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    It's a blow back design, so the frame will take a beating under recoil. Not that it's an inherent design problem, but seems to be with that model (not the design, just the impact on that particular pistol) , and the slide impact on the frame under recoil with my wife's was fairly violent. A cheap 1911 doesn't even have that kind of impact. Also, it's a cast slide on an aluminum frame, both of which will wear faster than a carbon or stainless steel slide on a carbon or stainless steel frame. With proper cleaning and lubing, you should expect to get three or four years out of it before it starts getting sloppy, but if you use a super good lube, maybe even longer than that. You could start checking for chamber erosion anywhere between 5 to 6000 rounds and just keep a check on it every 500 or so, thereafter. I've not seen any long term write ups on a Bersa 380, so this is JMHO. I think my wife and I put just over 1100 rounds on hers before we sold it and except for the frame and slide rails, you couldn't tell it was used. In that time, the slide to frame fit only loosened a little and seemed to not get any worse, albeit it was hand racked about 400 times because the first 5 or 6 mag fulls FTF/FTE about half the rounds. After the hand racking, it was perfect.

    Parts for that gun are not expensive, so I'd just shoot it 'till it goes South and either renew some parts or pick up another one. At 3 bills for something you're going to shoot the piss out of, it isn't going to last forever.
    Last edited by harold63; May 5th, 2013 at 09:31 PM. Reason: Added last sentence
    BCM and Glock...for a bigger pile of 'cold dead hands' brass.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Nazareth, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    Most quality guns will outlast you by far if you take care of them

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    Quote Originally Posted by 10PointHunter View Post
    Most quality guns will outlast you by far if you take care of them
    True, but he's talking about putting upwards of 4000 rds per year. The materials that the slide and frame are made from on the Bersa just won't hold up for a lifetime of 4000 rds per year, no matter how good it's taken care of. Unless the OP is related to Donald, I'd put my money on the cost of .380 ammo helping that gun last a long time.
    BCM and Glock...for a bigger pile of 'cold dead hands' brass.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    altoona, Pennsylvania
    (Blair County)
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    I remember reading somewhere Sig recomends new recoil spring every 7-8k, new barrel 15-20k depending on rounds used. This was for a p229.

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Free State of, New Hampshire
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    Who can afford to wear out a gun nowadays?

  8. #8
    Hokkmike Guest

    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    Quote Originally Posted by 10PointHunter View Post
    Most quality guns will outlast you by far if you take care of them
    Yes... This MAN is correct.

    It is NOT something to worry about.

    And if it ever happened it is just a good reason to buy another.

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    (Philadelphia County)
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    the only thing ive come across is the firing pin area face, that has slight erosion and the recoil spring retainers coming loose when you take the gun down for cleaning. 5000 rounds ish

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Reading, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
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    Default Re: Wearing out a handgun

    My 1911 has lasted 61 years, 7 girl friends, and 8,000 rounds.

    My ak has lasted 37 years, 4 girl friends, and 10,000 rounds.
    Last edited by Zet70; May 8th, 2013 at 01:43 PM.
    Emergency Medicine prevents natural selection

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