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ALLOY VS STEEL

n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
edited June 2002 in General Discussion
I need the pros and cons for each one.. I know the alloy is lighter but what else... I am speaking of a Ruger revolver..one is steel..the other alloy... what one is best?

Thanks..

One woman's opinion
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Comments

  • shaneshane Member Posts: 882 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Buy the one that feels better in your hand. After all you are talking about a Ruger. You are gonna get a quality gun either way.

    Sir Shane of the~Secret Select Society of Sauve Stylish Smoking Jackets~
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  • RembrandtRembrandt Member Posts: 4,486 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Load up a backpack with steel carry it around for a day, then repeat the process with alloy the next day....
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most people will not shoot a gun enough to wear out alloy. You'll save on weight with alloy and, as somebody just said, that will make a lot of difference by the end of the day. Unless you NEED the extra weight and strength of steel to a) reduce muzzle flip or b) because you're planning to shoot thousands of rounds, or c) you're planning to shoot lots of high pressure-near proof loads, it won't matter to you over the life of your ownership of the gun.

    Someone can probably come up with an instance of a poorly made alloy gun part that failed. But a quality alloy pistol should be just fine for most people in most cases. It's blessedly lighter; just don't buy junk.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • COONASSCOONASS Member Posts: 2,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would stay with the bowie knife.....




    or go with the alloy......the lbs will make the difference..

    coonass












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































    We Live in a World of Give And Take, But A Lot Of People Won't Give What it Takes.

    Edited by - COONASS on 06/27/2002 20:29:01
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  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    BR, A short listing:
    1. Alloy is normally lighter than steel 2. Alloy is also normally weaker than steel 3. Most alloys will not rust 4. Most alloys are more susceptible to flame-cutting
    Summary: Steel is better but alloy is preferred by the lazy!

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
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  • RosieRosie Member Posts: 14,525 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Iffen it ant steel it ant real
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  • COONASSCOONASS Member Posts: 2,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    LTS...alu of course...........I once got a foot of rope for $2.40..
    the next day another store had the same rope for .25 per inch. I got 200 feet of that........Man that other store ripe me off......

    coonass

    We Live in a World of Give And Take, But A Lot Of People Won't Give What it Takes.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    BR, it's been said above, but a quality alloy weapon, treated properly, will satisfy most folks' needs. For CCW use, I prefer such because it's far more comfortable at the end of the day. If I were buying a handgun for really serious shooting which would see a great deal of use, but not likely a lot of carry time, I'd definitely go w/ steel. My preferences and reasoning . . . your views may well be different.
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Roses,

    What revolver does Ruger make with an alloy frame?

    Or are you comparing a Ruger all steel with a S&W or Taurus alloy?
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  • bgjohnbgjohn Member Posts: 2,275 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you're carrying a lot and shooting it little, get alloy.
    If you're shooting a lot and carrying it little, get steel.
    JM
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    Competentone..
    This is from the Standard Catalogue of Firearms since I wanted to have proof..
    Standard Catalogue of Firearms lists the Single Six 22 magnum.. alloy frame, it also list the same Single Six 22 magnum with a silver anodized frame and aluminum cylinder

    The Bearcat.. the frame is alloy..

    The Blackhawk had a factory brass frame.. one model of the Blackhawk

    The Super Blackhawk,, one model of the Super Blackhawk in a 44 magnum had a brass frame...

    Below is the def of brass

    Brass.. an alloy essentially of copper and zinc... harder than copper and both ductile and malleable..

    That is just a few.. Now compententone.. tell me.. is the Single Six, the Bearcat or Blackhawk names that S&W or Taurus uses?....I mean DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... I do know of what I speak..


    Thank you all for responding... very imformative.. Thanks again


    One woman's opinion

    Edited by - BlackRoses on 06/30/2002 22:18:43

    Edited by - BlackRoses on 06/30/2002 22:22:22
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:
    I need the pros and cons for each one.. I know the alloy is lighter but what else... I am speaking of a Ruger revolver..one is steel..the other alloy... what one is best?

    Thanks..

    One woman's opinion


    Your original post implies a weight concern--the brass alloy has no significant weight savings.

    The aluminum alloy revolvers Ruger made are all discontinued items (same with the brass). There are no current Ruger alloy frame revolvers. http://www.ruger-firearms.com/revolvers.html you can click through to review their current revolvers.

    Now, you could argue that the "steel" used is infact an "alloy"--but wouldn't it be easier to just say "Ooops"





    Edited by - competentone on 06/30/2002 22:41:46
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    I didnt say new..or current...just said Ruger revolver... and I also know that steel is an alloy of iron containing carbon... its the amount of carbon that gives steel the different grades.




    One woman's opinion

    Edited by - BlackRoses on 06/30/2002 22:52:55
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:
    I didnt say new..or current...just said Ruger revolver... and I also know that steel is an alloy of iron containing carbon... its the amount of carbon that gives steel the different grades.



    "What we have here is a failure to communicate."

    The "alloy" designation for the "iron" used in firearms refers to the other metals added and not the carbon content.

    So what are you looking at? An old Single Six?
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    No, I happen to have run across the Super Blackhawk 44 mag with the brass grip frame..


    One woman's opinion
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