50,000 (now 88K) rounds and counting: Springfield Operator

[Ned Christiansen]

No FCS on this one.... dunno why. I am not intimate with the SA model lineup and what changes it has gone through over the years but this one is I suppose 6-8 years old and was green originally.

I'm guessing he already has made arrangements with SA to get the slide replaced. The gun is in exceptionally good shape otherwise.

[SeriousStudent]

Thanks for showing us pics of that Commander, Ned. I always appreciate a chance to view your craftsmanship with metal.

Have a safe and happy New Year's.

[ScreaminSS01]

What a great thread! Thanks for posting and all the update!

[Coal Dragger]

Well that is super impressive, considering the minimal amount of parts that have needed to be replaced given the round count.

If we assume a low cost of only $.25/round fired that's a bit over $25K worth of ammo digested by that pistol at 103,000 rounds.

[rushca01]

Well that is super impressive, considering the minimal amount of parts that have needed to be replaced given the round count.

If we assume a low cost of only $.25/round fired that's a bit over $25K worth of ammo digested by that pistol at 103,000 rounds.

25k puts things in perspective.

[Coal Dragger]

Looked at another way, if you had a car that averaged around 30MPG and gas averaged $3.50/gallon and you burned $25,000 worth of fuel (and never wasted a drop idling etc.) your car would have 214,286 miles on it, having burned 7,143 gallons of fuel. How much would that car have cost you in maintenance compared to that pistol over the same operating period?

[Ned Christiansen]

That does put it into perspective. 95%-plus of these rounds were 200 SWC handloads, so whatever 95K handloads costs.... roughly 67 pounds of powder at 5 grains per shot (now there's another interesting perspective). $25 a pound? What are 200 grain H&G 68's now, maybe $90/1.000 delivered? More? Primers, been a while, $25/1,000? That'd be--
67 X $25 = $1675
95 X $90 = $8550
95 X $25 = $2375

Total, $12,600 and on a 1050 machine such as Rob uses, I suppose a good 120 hours, with tumbling, primer tube loading, and all that. Am I in the ballpark on component prices? I only buy this stuff every two years or so.

[opngrnd]

If you're buying the powder in 8 pound jugs, I think you could knock around a third off of the price of the powder.

[Coal Dragger]

But one should realistically factor in the cost of their time as well.

I reload as well, but stand by my $.25/round estimate once labor is factored. In fact for me, compared to my regular job I'm low balling myself on labor rate on some ammo I make because I enjoy it.

[Ned Christiansen]

Cracked slide: