Some pistols shoot great—right up until they don’t. Frame cracking isn’t common, but when it happens, it’s a dealbreaker. And it’s not always the cheap stuff, either. You’ve got pistols that run smooth for a few hundred or even a few thousand rounds, then suddenly fail where it matters most: the frame. That kind of failure ends your range day real quick and puts the gun out of commission. Here are the pistols known to crack frames, even if they start out strong.
SIG Sauer Mosquito
The Mosquito was supposed to be a fun, scaled-down .22 training pistol. But the zinc-alloy frame hasn’t held up well over time. It shoots fine for a while, but repeated cycling eventually leads to cracks in the frame rails or dust cover.
The issue seems worse with high-velocity ammo, which these rimfires don’t always handle well. Even though it feels like a SIG, it doesn’t wear like one. Most folks who’ve put real time behind one end up shelving it for something more durable.
Walther P22 (Early Models)
Early P22s gained popularity for their size and ease of use, but the polymer frame under stress revealed problems. Cracks near the slide stop or trigger guard weren’t unheard of—especially if the gun was run hard or used with hotter .22 ammo.
Walther has made updates in recent years, and newer versions seem better. But if you’ve got an older one, or you’re looking at buying used, give that frame a close look. It’s a fun shooter until it decides it’s not.
Taurus PT111 G2
This compact 9mm earned praise for budget performance, but it’s been plagued by long-term durability issues. Some shooters have reported cracks forming around the rear frame rails or locking block after extended use.
It’s one of those guns that feels fine on the surface—good grip, decent accuracy—but it’s not built for a high round count. If you’re planning to shoot regularly or train heavily, it’s worth looking for something that can take the mileage.
CZ P-07 (Early Duty Models)
The first-gen CZ P-07 “Duty” models had frame cracking issues that showed up around the decocker and trigger pin holes. The polymer used wasn’t quite ready for long-term abuse, and cracks would form after moderate use.
Later versions fixed most of the problems with updated materials and reinforcement. If you’ve got an early Duty model sitting in the safe, it’s worth checking closely. It might run well now, but you don’t want to find a structural issue when it matters most.
Kel-Tec P-11
The P-11 is known for being small, lightweight, and harsh to shoot. But beyond the snappy recoil, it’s also known for developing cracks in the frame rails and locking block area, especially after repeated use with standard or +P 9mm loads.
It’s a pistol that was always meant for carry more than range time. Unfortunately, even light carry and occasional shooting can take a toll on the materials used. Many owners report visible wear far earlier than expected.
Beretta U22 Neos
The U22 Neos is a slick-looking .22 with solid accuracy. But some of the earlier batches were prone to frame cracking near the slide assembly and takedown pin. Most reports came after thousands of rounds, but it still happens.
Beretta addressed some of the concerns in later production runs. Still, if you’ve got one from the earlier batches or find one used, inspect it carefully. Once the frame starts to go, you’re looking at replacement rather than repair.
SIG Sauer P250
The P250 modular system looked promising on paper, but some owners saw frame cracking in the grip module near the fire control unit after moderate use. Since the serialized part is the FCU and not the grip frame, it’s easy to replace—but still a red flag.
The polymer in earlier grip modules didn’t always handle recoil or torsion stress well, especially on compact or subcompact models. It’s not every gun, but the ones that fail tend to do so fast once a crack forms.
Glock 17L (Early Gen 1 and Gen 2)
Glocks are known for durability, but some early long-slide G17L models had issues with frame cracking near the dust cover and locking block. The extra slide length and recoil impulse weren’t always well-matched with the early polymer designs.
Later versions and current Glocks aren’t known for this problem, but older Gen 1 or Gen 2 long-slide variants should be inspected. Even Glock isn’t immune if the balance isn’t right or the materials weren’t ready.
Springfield Armory XDS (First Gen)
Some early XDS models experienced cracking near the rear rails or around the trigger housing, especially when heavily used or exposed to +P ammo. Springfield addressed this with improvements, but the first wave had enough failures to raise concerns.
If you’ve got an older model, check for frame stress near the pins and locking areas. They’re not guaranteed to crack, but when they do, it tends to be sudden and complete. The platform’s been improved, but the early issues hurt trust for some.
FN FiveseveN (Older Models)
The FiveseveN is a unique gun, and most shoot well for a long time. That said, some early models did show hairline cracks around the trigger guard and dust cover, especially under hard use or when loaded with hotter ammo.
FN made updates in the later generations that improved frame strength and materials. Still, older models with high round counts have shown wear in areas that can’t be ignored. It’s one to inspect carefully if you’re buying secondhand.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
