There are some other known issues with higher pressure and/or overpressure ammunition, in select cases.
Some magnum revolvers are known for issues shooting a high volume of full-power cartridges. This is especially true for medium-frame (S&W K-frame, Colt L-frame such as Python and Trooper revolvers) pistols in .357 Magnum and older large frames in .44 Magnum.
Typically, the “issue” in question is a warping of the cylinder walls if the user feeds the gun a steady diet of .357 Magnum and/or .44 Magnum. This was due to insufficient material in the cylinder walls or inadequate heat-treating.
This was a known quantity at the time; magnum revolver aficionados such as Elmer Keith, Jeff Cooper and others held that the typical Colt or S&W was good for about 1,000 rounds of the hot stuff until replacement was necessary.
Modern revolvers, however, do not have this issue; Smith and Wesson, by the 1990s, was heat-treating and reinforcing their magnums. Ruger replaced their Security Six line altogether with the GP100, which has no issues with a spicy diet.
Colt also took steps to address this problem by going bankrupt and not making revolvers for more than 20 years. New production King Cobra and Python revolvers don’t have any reports of accelerated wear due to using too much .357 Magnum…but they’re relatively new guns.
Another related issue concerns Colt Delta Elite pistols, which are a 1911 chambered in 10mm. Early models of the pistol were known for developing a stress fracture in the frame with enough use of 10mm ammunition loaded to original specification, ie the 10mm Norma load.
That issue has also been addressed; Colt started making a relief cut in the frame where the stress fractures occurred. Look for a square notch above the controls in the grip area; the current models have it as well.
1911 pistols in 10mm from other brands may not have this feature, so bear that in mind if you intend to shoot full-power 10mm.
It is also the case that you shouldn’t shoot .45 Super loads in a standard .45 ACP pistol. While some are rumored to be rated for it, that isn’t the case; the springs are almost certainly not.
For those unaware, .45 Super is an overloaded .45 ACP cartridge, which generates about 28,000 psi of chamber pressure and propels .45 ACP bullets to full-power 10mm velocity and energy levels. However, it uses the same case as .45 ACP, just with thicker case walls.
.45 caliber pistols must be converted to .45 Super use, or else case head failure is a very possible outcome. The recoil spring, mainspring and firing pin spring must be changed at minimum, if not far more than that.
