[pcolapaddler]

Talking to sales person. Comparing the Smith 380 to the Taurus. Salesman commented that the Smith had a heavier barrel, therefore wouldnt 'burnout' as quickly.

First, to my naked eye, I could not see any difference. Perhaps a caliper or other precision instrument could measure a difference.

Second, what is it to 'burn out the barrel'. Is this real? How does it happen?

Thanks.

 

[Laker]

The salesperson dosen't have a clue. Probably works on commission. You won't be able to afford the ammo necessary to "burn out a barrel". Besides, if you did, Taurus has a lifetime warranty!

 

[Peacemakr40]

sounds like a sales pitch. Many firearms will exceed 100,000 rounds before a barrel replacement is needed.

 

[Montkun]

I haven't seen a 'burned out barrel' except for maybe a gun that's been in a fire. Many barrel troubles come from lead buildup that was never properly removed IMO, it's very hard to actually kill a barrel in just about any gun. My 1938 Mosin-Nagant and my Grandfathers 1944 Remington Scoremaster don't seem to be victims of burned out barrels, they shoot anything with a primer right where you want them time after time.

 

[jwc007]

I have severely worn a barrel (17,000 rounds), but NEVER burned one out. In a Firearm, what typically wears, as you shoot it, is the Barrel Throat, just after the chamber. Barrel weight has absolutely no bearing on how long a Barrel will last.

Just got an idea for a book, titled "Tales Gun Salesman tell". For those schooled in Firearms Ballistics, it should prove to be a tragically absurd comedy.

 

[Peacemakr40]

Just got an idea for a book, titled "Tales Gun Salesman tell". For those schooled in Firearms Ballistics, it should prove to be a tragically absurd comedy.

WRITE it. I'd buy it.

 

[Ranch Dog]

The salesman is an absolute idiot and does not know what he is talking about.

I look at a lot of firearms, the barrel stock and chamber cuts, through chamber impressions and Taurus has some of most consistent and tightest work I've seen.

 

[rcflyer]

If he works on commission he makes more money selling a higher priced S&W than a Taurus.

 

[TXEric]

Salesman BS. I'll bet he was hocking extended warranties over at a Big Box electronic stores before he got this job. I can hear him trying to sell you a $50 HDMI cable as "the ONLY way you can get 1080p OMG!!11", when a $2 cable from Fry's will do the same thing.

And that lifetime warranty on Taurus? "Lifetime" means just that... Fire away!

 

[dadillac]

He probably works on comission. And with the rise in first time gun buyers recently i am sure that line convinced several people, who didnt know any better, to spend more money. Its all about knowing how to spin the facts to make a sale.

 

[ice]

What an idiot! Or as everyone else said, works on commission!

 

[MOONDAWG]

:bs::bs::bs:This rocket scientist rates 3 BS Flags...salute. :icon_ poke:

 

[Harry]

Sort of like used car salesmen.

 

[TexasAviator]

As others have said that guy is full of :bs:

 

[TheOldRedneck]

It is possible to burn out some rifle barrels. A good example is the old 220 swift that had loads. running 40 grain .22 caliber bullets at over 4000 fps. It is not hard to run a bunch of rounds through one of these in a praire dog town and burn the throat out of the chamber. Usually more barrels are ruined from rust because of lack of care, or cleaning rod wear from excessive cleaning the wrong way. The average gun owner does not shoot enough to wear a barrel out. Burning out a handgun barrel in a .380 is extremely unlikely. I'm old and have been shooting over 50 years, have worn out, burned out throats and destroyed guns from abuse. Good quality guns with reasonable care last a life time. Ranch Dog it right about Taurus chambers and barrels being better than average usually.

 

[glenwolde]

It is possible to burn out some rifle barrels. A good example is the old 220 swift that had loads. running 40 grain .22 caliber bullets at over 4000 fps. It is not hard to run a bunch of rounds through one of these in a praire dog town and burn the throat out of the chamber. Usually more barrels are ruined from rust because of lack of care, or cleaning rod wear from excessive cleaning the wrong way. The average gun owner does not shoot enough to wear a barrel out. Burning out a handgun barrel in a .380 is extremely unlikely. I'm old and have been shooting over 50 years, have worn out, burned out throats and destroyed guns from abuse. Good quality guns with reasonable care last a life time. Ranch Dog it right about Taurus chambers and barrels being better than average usually.

I was gonna say the only thing I'd seen a "burned out barrel" on was a 220 Swift that had about 3,000 rounds through it. It still shot MOA though, but not as good as it had before. With handguns the barrel is probably the last thing to go, outside of heavily used magnum revolvers that get forcing cone erosion. In a .380 it just isn't a concern.

 

[Qwiks draw]

As the others have shown in their posts tons of Moooooo,Moooooo, Moooooo, digested grass material, and some not, is the case with the clerk.

He could be an idiot and on commission.

 

[tazelmo]

Did the salesman also try to sell you a bridge. If not I have one for sale!

 

[dbeardslee]

As far as heat is concerned, a thinner barrel will dissipate heat faster than a thicker barrel. As far as wearing one out, that's determined by the lands and grooves, and last time I checked those are pretty comparable regardless of barrel thickness.

The problem with Taurus barrels isn't their thickness - it's the plating in the bore on some models that can be problematic. I had to replace the barrel on my PT145 after about 2000 rounds because the plating was flaking off. I recommend solvents only in Taurus bores - no abrasive type cleaners like Remington Bore Cleaner.

 

[LonestarJake]

Perhaps shoot a barrel out is a better term, which for a 1911 used to train Marines for a period of years, shooting tens of thousands of rounds in bad conditions, multitudes of shooters etc., but most likely, the slide will wear out faster.

Last I checked, the Marines didn't ever train that extensively with a pocket .380, and to blow that kind of smoke up your rusty butt over that type of firearm is about as ludicrous as anything he could have said.

My oldest son just borrowed (Hah! Borrowed, just like my 8 Horsepower Shop vac he has had for 5 years, my broadcast fertilizer spreader he has had for 4 years, and a few other items) a box of .380 fmj and 14 hollowpoints. Yep, I figured I was giving him the ammo, and my defensive .380 hollowpoints only get fired at the rate of 14 per year, so a box of 50 normally lasts me close to 4 years. The only real need of ever shooting 300 rounds through a pocket .380 is to break it in initially, after that, if you shoot over 50 rounds a year, it is probably because that is the only handgun you own.

Anyhow, he had won a shotgun in a raffle, having plenty of shotguns, and recently selling his Kel-Tec P3AT, he asked the gunshop if he could get something other than the shotgun and settled on the bodyguard .380 with a laser.

I held the little .380, tried the trigger....not as smooth as my Kel-Tec, and it felt the same in my hand.

Go back to that shop, buy the PT380 and if he starts his spiel again, just give him a big old toothy smile and say Horse Hockey!