Polymer vs steel

Status
Not open for further replies.
Look at how much polymer (plastic) is used in your car. Lighter thus more energy efficient. Polymer frames have steel inserts for the wear surfaces for the most part. I think there have been a few pistols made with just the plastic for guide rails, etc.

I still think it's funny how they use the term "polymer" instead of "plastic". Milk jugs are made out of a polymer.

They also like to say "alloy frame" instead of "aluminum frame". 4140 steel is an
alloy.

All the Best,
D. White
 
I like steel, but I carry polymer. Steel pistols are reputed to absorb recoil better, but my stable is too small for any kind of definitive testing. (IOW, I need to get out and shoot more.) Polymer, striker-fired pistols are lighter, (typically) simpler, and plenty durable and reliable. I'm fairly well convinced that I could replace any part on my polymer pistols on my own, and I'll be the first to admit that I'm not really mechanically inclined. I can't say the same for my 1911.

Depending on the model you choose, some of that "weight savings" will be eaten up by extra ammo that you might have in a poly. FWIW, over the course of about 8 years, my carry pistols have included a gov't model 1911 in .45, a Glock 19, a S&W Shield 9mm, and a Ruger LCR. I don't really carry the 1911 any more, because it's the only one of those that has a thumb safety. The Ruger LCR is my pocket pistol. My real EDCs are the G19 and Shield, and they get more time on my belt than anything else.

I'll also join that chorus that is urging you to get a good gun belt. A good gun belt is purpose-built to support an extra couple of pounds and makes a world of difference in your comfort level when carrying.
 
There are some Glocks out there with over 300,000 rounds documented through them with no major parts breakages. They have had small parts wear out and the springs replaced, but the plastic guns will last at least as long as steel.

Maybe longer. I've never seen anyone document much over 100,000 rounds through a steel pistol. Not saying it can't be done, I just haven't found any documentation to prove it.
Click to expand...

Depends what you want it for i have Sig P226 for the range, but i am not sure i would want to carry it all day.

PS Have you a link to the Glock 300,000 rounds documented. ?
 
Oh is it that time again for another poly/metal discussion?
OP Do a search you'll find enough threads to put you to sleep.

Glenn I've seen Beretta 92 comp shooters with that many rounds on the frame.. those are aluminum.
Not that it's not an impressive round count.


My personal opinion is I won't pay as much for a poly gun, I see poly guns as disposable (as in they'll be the first sold if I need money)


It's like the difference between collecting gold coins and collecting hammers.
The coins are special, unique, nice to look at, maybe you'll frame them.. A hammer you throw in a box till you need it and don't much care if it breaks and you buy another.

I have zero attachment to any of my poly guns if someone offered me a good price i'd sell any one of them in a heart beat.
They're never gonna be family heirlooms.

A nicely polished stainless or blued gun is however, a work of art.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, ymmv, poly guns work fine but they're the elephant man of firearms.
 
I'm sure some hammer collectors will be mad at you. https://www.collectorsweekly.com/tools-and-hardware/hammers

I agree above aesthetics. I think some of my revolvers are beautiful. But if someone is asking a serious carry question based on which materials will work as they think the poly guns won't - then we know the answer. They work.

As far as gold coins - you have to be careful. Many of the modern gold collectibles are sucker bait and end up being worth bullion value. It's like the folks who bought a collectible lever action that was all gussied up and advertised in a gun rag. Just a gun.

I collect coins that are from before the current glut era. Some have done well. However, it's probably the same as a good fund.

I saw some poor guy at the coin show trying to sell modern US proof commemorative silver dollars and could only get the metal value. But I digress.
 
lol I picked those 2 things out of the air, I don't collect either.

I want to personally apologize to the "hammer" collectors out there.
 
Plastic has replaced metal for my CC guns because weight does matter. My G23 is from 1995 and hasn’t fallen apart yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I think you are a little late to the party about questioning the durability of the polymer designs. They have been thoroughly vetted and proven throughout the world by police and militaries over the past 30 years. Durability of polymer frames is just not in question anymore. Glock 17s have been known to last 100,000 rounds. No offense but I've never understood the concern for durability in any modern pistol design. Very few people will ever shoot enough to wear out a pistol. And even if you did wear out a pistol at let's say 25,000 rounds, at that point you will have spent at least $5000 on ammo. So it's just really kind of pointless to worry about spending $500 on a new pistol after just exhausting $5000 worth of ammo. What is going to wear out are things like springs and that is the same regardless of it's a polymer, allow, or steel frame.
 
jmr40 said
Plastic is so much better than aluminum that most of the aluminum guns are being phased out. Smith and Ruger have both stopped making them.
Click to expand...
I agree. Mostly. And I am a believer in modern plastics. That said, polymer-framed pistols still have metal sub-frames or at least imbedded metal inserts that serve as strengthening support and/or slide rails. Few guns have been designed where the slide runs on polymer. (Ruger’s P9x series). Many polymer framed pistols still have aluminum sub-frames and aluminum rails to keep weight down, though it seems many are also using steel sub-frames and slide rails. Polymer is very strong and durable where it can be used but like anything else, it also has areas where it doesn’t work as well. It might be quite a while before we see polymer barrels.
 
I think you are a little late to the party about questioning the durability of the polymer designs. They have been thoroughly vetted and proven throughout the world by police and militaries over the past 30 years. Durability of polymer frames is just not in question anymore. Glock 17s have been known to last 100,000 rounds. No offense but I've never understood the concern for durability in any modern pistol design. Very few people will ever shoot enough to wear out a pistol. And even if you did wear out a pistol at let's say 25,000 rounds, at that point you will have spent at least $5000 on ammo. So it's just really kind of pointless to worry about spending $500 on a new pistol after just exhausting $5000 worth of ammo. What is going to wear out are things like springs and that is the same regardless of it's a polymer, allow, or steel frame.
Click to expand...

The thing is, you don't even need a new pistol. You can replace the barrel for $125, the recoil spring for $10, the striker and spring for $30-$40, and the trigger spring for $3.99. At which point you basically have a new gun. The areas where the rails ride is steel and wont wear any faster or slower than a 1911. .....


And like the quote above says, you have to replace the springs in a steel framed pistol too, and though I have not checked, probably at similar intervals.
 
Truth is these type discussions got boring, old and pointless about 2001. Earlier even. But some folks looking to buy a gun now weren't born then, or were 7 years old, so they don't know that.

So many here think it's important that the younger and/or newer shooters should also go through the same pointless and boring debates. They too should be mis-educated, learn all they know about guns from video games, learn from bearded You Tube hipsters, provided with rumors, given poor examples, good advice, proper resources, etc. Leaving it up to the newer fellas and gals to figure it out for themselves the same way some of us did. Sort of a rite of passage, or dues.

So on with it! Let's see if this can't go for 6-10 pages!

tipoc
 
I’m relatively new to semiautos but something in back of mind keeps having an aversion to polymer and wish steel frame was the status quo and majority.
Click to expand...

Back in the late 80s I too thought I would NEVER own a plastic frame pistol but finally picked one up a few years ago. Back then I used to carry around an all steel semi-auto but it was a small 380 and by today's standards quite heavy for the size (Walther PPK/S) For a carry gun the light weight of plastic or aluminum frame is not bad thing.

That said, polymer-framed pistols still have metal sub-frames or at least imbedded metal inserts that serve as strengthening support and/or slide rails.
Click to expand...

Exactly , that is the way my Smith Shield is made. I figure if I ever wear it out it won't be because of the frame material. For range use I still like my all steel 1911 or PPK/S pistols and all steel rimfire semi-autos.
 
A bud of mine, his Son joined one of those Special, super secret, forces and was deployed, "killing Kony's" in deep dark Africa. This is stuff you will never hear of, because the US Government does not want the population to know where these guys are deployed, and what they are actually doing. "Advisors", Bah! Son got rid of his polymer frame pistols and carried a steel M1911 that his Dad gave him. One reason was that the big 45 slug worked better than smaller slugs, and, when he fore handed, or back handed a Kony with a polymer pistol, the frame snapped off. However, the good ole US made, steel, M1911, held up, even after denting a Kony skull.

Son had it down. A shot in the shoulder would get the Kony spinning, and on the way down, he put a bullet in their head. The Kony could have worn some body armor on their torso, but obviously, not on the head!

Kony's were not to be pitied. They had fun chopping the limbs off kids, to watch them crawl and cry.
 
A bud of mine, his Son joined one of those Special, super secret, forces and was deployed, "killing Kony's" in deep dark Africa. This is stuff you will never hear of, because the US Government does not want the population to know where these guys are deployed, and what they are actually doing. "Advisors", Bah! Son got rid of his polymer frame pistols and carried a steel M1911 that his Dad gave him. One reason was that the big 45 slug worked better than smaller slugs, and, when he fore handed, or back handed a Kony with a polymer pistol, the frame snapped off. However, the good ole US made, steel, M1911, held up, even after denting a Kony skull.
Click to expand...

Proof that you can say anything on the internet. :rolleyes:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top