Aluminum Frame Handguns

[Beretta11]

I'm looking at a CZ RAMI right now which has an aluminum frame/lower. Is it true that aluminum frames have a finite life of only 5,000 to 15,000 rounds before they crack or wear out? Is it just not possible for one to last as long as an all steel or polymer & steel gun?

[SkyHawk]

The Beretta M9 proved a MRBF of 35,000 rounds during Army testing. And during monitored testing of randomly selected M9s pulled off the assembly line, they went an avearge of 22,500 rounds each without even a single stoppage.

In one Army supervised test, twelve randomly selected M9 pistols fired 168,000 total rounds without a single malfunction.

There was a guy who claims over 100k rounds fired through one, his Youtube video is out there somewhere.

[Oldmandan]

Nope, not true

[Tere_Hanges]

Nothing to worry about. Check out the P01 and PCR they are aluminum framed as well.

Even steel framed guns could crack. Its possible.

[Milsurp1]

I was issued a lot of different M9's over the years at bases all across the globe, and fired them all in various range scenarios. They had all been carried by many people before my turn too. In all the post-range and periodic cleanings and inspections over 20 years I never found any cracks. The older pistols were noticeably looser than the newer pistols, but they all worked fine.

[ar15barrels]

I'm looking at a CZ RAMI right now which has an aluminum frame/lower. Is it true that aluminum frames have a finite life of only 5,000 to 15,000 rounds before they crack or wear out? Is it just not possible for one to last as long as an all steel or polymer & steel gun?

The design is as important as the material.
If the design is appropriate to the material, the life can be very long.
If you try to substitute aluminum into a design made for steel, aluminum frames have a very short life.
That is likely what you are hearing about.

[unusedusername]

A properly lubricated aluminum framed pistol will outlast an all steel gun that is run when dry.

A lubricated aluminum framed pistol will outlast it's fire control group and several barrels.

[fal_762x51]

My Ruger P89 has seeen untold amounts of ammo throughout its life. No galling at all.

[MosinVirus]

The design is as important as the material.
If the design is appropriate to the material, the life can be very long.
If you try to substitute aluminum into a design made for steel, aluminum frames have a very short life.
That is likely what you are hearing about.

^^^^this.

[Two Nuggets]

No issues with my P-01 after 10k rounds. Running strong and ugly as hell under the hood.

[depthcharge]

Maybe dumb q, but has polymer been put to the test without stoppage or any statistics before stoppage?

[russ69]

...If you try to substitute aluminum into a design made for steel, aluminum frames have a very short life...

The first thing that comes to mind is a Lightweight Commander 1911. 1911s have been in service a long time and it is known that frames can beat themselves to an early demise but you have to put a LOT of rounds through the gun to find the weaknesses. I love Lightweight Commanders so they get shot but I usually put them on light duty. Except for serious use target guns, I have no hesitation buying aluminum frame handguns.

[warbird]

all have advantages and disadvantages so pick the one that feels best to you. No weapon is perfect so it is important to find what fits you best. I am not a polymar or aluminum frame person but then I am old school. I would never bad mouth someone who felt better and shot better using one of those two framed guns. I would be glad he found what was right for him or her. take care of your guns and they will take care of you.

[Mauserguy]

When the Walther P-38 was made into an aluminum model they developed lots of problems. The cracking problem was corrected by inserting a steel pin at the lock block location. Allu minum was definate ly less durable in that case. Having said all this, however, by s designed from the start as aluminum seem to have no troubles, such as with the Beretta.
Mauserguy

[I Swan]

I've personally seen Beretta 92FS frames, slides, and especially locking blocks crack many times. I've even seen a barrel develop a crack. These were high usage and abused range rentals mostly in the late 1990's-early 2000's time frame. I have seen most the major brands eventually develope cracks.

Actually I have never seen an aluminum frame Ruger P series frame crack. I talked to a Glock rep about it she tried to blame it on commercial reload range ammo but all the rentals were fed the same type ammo so an equal playing field.

The durability champ was a Ruger GP100 only ever needed some minor spring replaced once. I currently have a Beretta 1951 that needs a locking block, you guessed it, it cracked.