"Polymer-phobia"

NOTPARS

Okay, I admit it, I have polymerphobia. I am middle-aged so to me, a gun has to be metal to be a gun. But, I know on a rational level, this is just not true. My concern is, that after repeated firing, they will, well, "break" or the frame, holes, etc., will wear out. But I am ready to face this phobia. Where I work, I must leave my firearm in my car/truck all day. So, I was thinking a polymer firearm would be a better choice than metal (humidity, rust, etc...) and they seem to be cheaper than the same model in metal. Now, how do I overcome this fear that the plastic gun will somehow wear out or break?

Mooseyard

If it wears out, just buy a new one.[:D] The polymers that are used today are so much stronger than what people consider plastic to be. Plastic has always seemed like the cheap alternative to metal or wood, but it really has come a long way. Think of it as a new high tech improvement in your metal gun! By the way, I also prefer a metal gun. I have several of each, and while I'm not afraid of wearing out or breaking the polymer ones, I do prefer the heft of the metal ones.

beantownshootah

quote:Now, how do I overcome this fear that the plastic gun will somehow wear out or break?
Buy a Glock.

Put 50,000 rounds through it.

After that, look at the gun and notice that it hasn't broken and still works just fine. Your psychological problem is solved.

If you don't want to do that, go to your local "rent-a-gun" range and go inspect the rental Glock. . .same idea. Or ask the senior guy at the range to show you his oldest Glock, etc.

Personally, I'm not a big Glock fan, but the things DO stand up after a lot of use. I know a guy who claims to have put 50k rounds through his Glock 17 9mm without EVER cleaning it. . .and I believe him. Gun works fine and he's had it for 20 years.

In general, Glocks have been around since the 80s and lots of them have LOTS of rounds through them. If they were prone to frame breakage, or wearing out, you'd know it, but in fact their reputation is exactly the opposite. . .that they basically last forever.

The reason is that in polymer guns, the FRAME is polymer, but the slide, barrel, springs, firing pin, and generally ALL the moving/wearing parts are hardened steel like in any other gun. Those parts are subject to the same wear as any other gun. In case of the polymer guns, the polymer in question is special high-tensile plastic that is UV resistant. . .the stuff is nearly indestructible, and in fact its LESS likely to fail with repeated impact/stress than steel.

So in terms of wearing out, you've got nothing to worry about.

But if you are still worried anyway, there is another alternative, you might consider. . .a STAINLESS STEEL pistol.

NOTPARS

For Mooseyard: What you write makes a lot of sense and I am going to purchase my first polymer pistol within the next 6 months. I like Fred as well, just wish he was doing a lot better. Again, thanks for the insight. For me, its kind of a challenge to accept polymer but its time I catch up to the 21st century.

COLT

...[:D]...[:D] I don't have a phobia about plastic guns, I just don't like them....ugly ugly, and then their ugly...[:D]

...You can forget about changing/trying out new grips for "feel" or looks on a plastic gun, oh no, on some you can add little add-on blocky pieces of plastic to change the grip configuration, almost forgot.

...The enviroment in your car? Plastic wont be effected by humidity etc., that's correct!...but the internals and the bore WILL BE! [:D]..as those parts, aren't made from re-cycled model cars and pop bottles like the frame [:0]

...I'll keep my steel, use a little FLITZ polish now and then, and a nice gun oil in the bore and on the internals; as I don't mind tearing down to clean anything attracted to the "wet" on internals...the dry lube is nastier to me...so I'll suffer thru with my steel guns...[^][:p][8D]

...all this aside, most plastic guns arepretty damn good, I just like ragging on them...[:D]

NOTPARS

For Beantownshoota: What you have laid out is one of the best point by point reasons to go polymer I have read. It makes perfect sense. And, with the reality that I am unlikely to put 5000 rounds through any one pistol, I should never have a problem (its not that I don't shoot often, its just that I have to spread my trigger time out over a number of firearms). Okay, I am on it.

NOTPARS

For Colt: Interesting observations and you are correct, while focusing on the exterior, I completely forgot about the internals. I do take super care of all my babies but what you wrote is something to consider.

P.S. I went hiking yesterday with an EAA Witness, compact, .45 cal in steel. This is no light weight but it didn't seem to bother me. I hiked just under 10 miles in an inch or so of snow.

dfletcher

I'm very much the traditionalist and don't care for polymers. Personal choice, nothing against them. I did buy & use a Beretta 9000 in 40 cal, it worked very well. And I have no doubt that they will stand up to many rounds. But what about the effects of time? Will steel insert rails or housings separate from the polymer frame over the course of 50 to 150 years? Pin holes loosen? I have quite a few guns made from 1910 to 1930 - can we expect similar performance from the polymer & steel group?

Wehrmacht_45

I know a guy that has 175,000 rounds through his Glock 20 10mm. Glock is one of the few pistols that chamber that powerful round. Hell even Colt had alot of Delta 1911 guns break with that cartridge.


I had it to, until I bought my Steyr. I still like steel for recoil reduction, but polymer is very nice to carry around all day. If you can run over an XD with a 17 ton vehicle and it don't break, it wont firing it.

geeguy

Tuff subject. I mfg'r parts for firearms in "plastic" and, as most things, it depends on the quality/type of materials used. Just like cheap wood and quality wood.

Plastics offer the anti rust discussed, and yes the rails will stay in plastic "if designed" properly, will have a problem if not. Other advantages include the ability to offer a "soft" grip and glue on grip parts. Plus light weight and better design perameters. Some are "ugly" due to the cost of the mold to conture the parts.

Look at the wear of metal and wood, like the slide of a 1911 or cracked stock of a shotgun forearm, they wear and break also.

I don't believe you will ever change someone's mind until they try one, they may like it, they may not, but they are a good product with most name brands. "Better" is subjective.

I own both and prefer the metal/wood, but that's due to the looks for me, not the performance.

Best of luck.

Laredo Lefty

Here we go again...... The Glock rants. Yes, they are not pretty, but when Iam at the range Iam not trying to impress anyone with my beautiful gun. They work, that the bottom line.

I have 12 of them and a couple of my model 17's have between 7,000 and 10,000 rounds thru them and they are still shooting.

Dont get me wrong, I also love steel guns.. I have lots of them, auto's and revolvers. They all have their own nitch to fill.

Again, my suggestion is that if you dont like polymer guns then....dont buy one

I will always support your right to not buy a polymer gun.