[DougCxx]

I went into a big, semi-distant gun shop Monday and saw an HK SL8-1 for the first time. Anybody own one of these things? I am not particularly interested in buying one, but I was curious: does it, um, , , , -melt? I asked the guy behind the counter how much of it ws plastic and was told that "it's a co-polymer, stronger than aluminum". I asked what happens if you rapid fire, oh, say, 100 or so shots through it, and he didn't know right off, but he said he knew of no disadvantages to it being mostly plastic (an experienced salesperson, he had a great story for just about every gun on the rack or in the case). And I admit that I have no qualms about synthetic conventional stocks, but this gun did look and seem a bit odd. I wanted to field-strip it, but but the place was pretty busy and since I wasn't really looking to buy, I decided to be courteous and not ask.
--------
For that matter, I have not owned any "plastic" gun yet, was considering the Walther P-22.... When the Glock came out I remember all sorts of reasons it would be worse than steel tossed around. What of those accusations has been found to be true? The only one I can think of right off is that injection-molded plastic should be considerably cheaper than machined steel, but none of these guns seems particularly inexpensive, , , -->in fact, the cheapest pocket pistols (Davis, Phoenix, Sundance, etc.) are still made of zinc and steel.
.
Overall, if gun manufacturers asked, what would your comments on plastic guns be?
~

[jercamp45]

and is a .45:evil: !!

I have owned two glock 30's and fired alot of Plastic over the years. It is part of the evolution of firearms....to try better, more durable and lighter materials and new ingnition systems. Experimentation. Field trials. Adoption.
The Glock never quite fit me and was too fat for my requirements, but if they work for you.....have at it. A cousin loves his USP's, I do really care for 'em...but they work too.
I have always been a fan of the .45 SMG's, shot them all at one time or another...but they were all pretty heavy, until HK comes along with the UMP. It may never become common place, but I like it alot! And if, I could get one, I would go through the hassles of Class 3 just to have a UMP...and a nice suppressor!
From wood and steel, to aluminium, plastics, titanium and heck who know what is next.....just steps up the ladder.
I like my 1911's...one day I MAY own a polymer framed one(KZ 45 Compact get s my vote right now, but if an STI .45 were to fall in my lap...I would not complain much.
There are alot of choices...that is for sure!
Jercamp45

[Jack19]

1500 years ago, everybody "knew" that the earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody "knew" that the earth was flat. 20 years ago everybody "knew" that steel weapons were far superior to plastic.......

[lee n. field]

"it's a co-polymer, stronger than aluminum".

So what the heck is a "co-polymer"?

[Art Eatman]

Well, Glocks work; they have a pretty good rep for reliability. That's about all that's important. I avoid them solely because of aesthetics, no other reason.

Only drawback to a lot of guns with plastic is that they just won't polish out real good and take a bluing...

:D, Art

[Dorian]

I voted "I don't care if it works good".

This is adamantaly obvious if you ever ask me what weapons I want to own in the future:

All SIG model pistols(metal)

All HK Pistols(polymer)

And my dream guns, a HK G36 and a SIG 551, polymer and metal respectively.

[jrhead75]

Plastic is nifty, I don't care as long as it works, and .45 is still better than 9mm. :D ;)

My carry weapon is a Glock 30. I've got close to 1k rounds through it without a hiccup. It rates very high up on the list of best handguns I've owned. It's relatively light, really accurate, dependable, simple, and all but rustproof.

Go with what fits you best all around. "Plastic" guns have been around since at least the '80s, and there's a whole lot more companies making them than there were, so the concept can't be too bad, eh?

[Kharn]

Lee n. field:
So what the heck is a "co-polymer"?
A fancy name for plastic.

Kharn
[and in case anyone is wondering, I'm a Chem Eng, currently taking a course on polymer science and manufacturing]

[Werewolf]

I used to be one of those guys who said - plastic! get that POS away from me until I wanted to get me a Beretta in .40 S&W. Well - the shop I normally went to didn't have one but they did have a Glock 22. I was frankly shocked to even have had it suggested to me but after a bit of coaxing I handled it, fired it and bought it on the spot.

Now don't get me wrong I still appreciate the all metal pistol and love my 1911 but to be honest the Glock with polymer frame is now my pistol of choice. It's unlikely I'll ever buy a total metal pistol again.

Times change, things get better, change with the times or be left behind. Polymer is a good thing.

[ceetee]

So what the heck is a "co-polymer"?


It's one of those "new-fangled" polymers... much better than the old-fashioned uni-polymer!

And just not as ..."wheeeeeee!" ... as the oddball "bi-polymer"...

[gun-fucious]

alot of the bias against plastics is derived from poor experiences with 1960s-1970s plastics

the more moderne stuff is pretty well engineered for its structural applications.
Heck, they are working on encapsulated polymer reservoirs that will result in self healing plastic products.

i would not be surprized if in the future a polymer matrix was created for barrel "steel"

Don't expect miracles from the current "carbon fiber" polymers thou,
most are not laid up, woven or spun out from long length fibers.

They just add chopped short length "aramid fibers" to the liquid mix
it really does not do much for the final products strength.

but it does add CDI points

[Redlg155]

Polymer weapons are nice and very functional. I actually prefer them for many uses.

Still, there is nothing like the feeling of a full steel 1911. Sometimes I just like to work the slide and feel how everything works together smoothly. :D

Although utterly reliable, you won't get that feeling with a Glock. Racking the slide feels kinda empty compared to my .45.

Good Shooting
Red

[gulogulo1970]

I don't care as long as it works well.

And Glocks do work well, they put bullets where you want them, easily. I've very rarely had a malfunction (bad ammo) and they are so instinctive for me to shoot well.

I swore I would never own such a gun. All I ever shot was Colt 1911's and Colt revolvers. I shot a friends Glock and was so impressed I went out and bought one for myself. I have not regretted my purchse (since then I have bought 4). They are ugly, not traditional, but I can't fault a tool on aesthetics alone.

[Sunray]

Um, the slide is not plastic or a polymer. It's steel. Same as Glock. Only the frame is plastic.

[marvl]

20 years ago everybody "knew" that steel weapons were far superior to plastic.......

20 years ago they were. And I think the jury is still out.

I'll accept the validity of plastic guns when I finally see one with a plastic barrel. :cool:

[spacemanspiff]

pffffttt! i aint interested if it dudnt say 'SPACE-AGE co-polymer' all over it. anything less is unacceptable.

:neener:

[Rebel Gunman HK]

As long as it shoots well looks come second. But I dont buy unless they do both well. Gotta be sexy:evil:

[Carlos Cabeza]

I don't mind the polymer made pistols and other components on some rifles. They are the best choice for duty or service weapons. But..................
if I'm going to a barbeque, I want a big ol' slabside ! :D Nothing beats looks AND performance !:cool:

[Jack19]

20 years ago they were. And I think the jury is still out.

20 years ago I couldn't strap a 16 shot 9mm (G19) to my ankle. Much as I love my BHP, the 19, these days, is the one that gets carried as it's lighter and has greater capacity.

Is plastic superior to steel? In many cases, yes.

The jury went home. :D

[jsalcedo]

I probably won't ever own a polymer pistol.
It's not because I don't think they are good .

I just don't like the weight and feel of plastic on guns.

After checking and holding about 40 different polymer pistols
a week ago I missed the weight and feel of cold metal and couldn't bring myself to buy polymer.

It is just a personal dislike that has nothing to do with practicality.

[Schuey2002]

Anybody own one of these things?
Yes! I own one.
but I was curious: does it, um, , , , -melt?
No, it doesn't melt.

Does anyone really believe that 'The World's Premier Small Arms Manufacturer' is going to market and sell a product that is bound to melt into a giant puddle of melted grey plastic after 1000 rounds? Or 5000? Or 25,000? :rolleyes: A rifle that is based upon the same weapons system (the G36) that is issued to the German Bundeswehr and has since been adopted by the Spanish Armed Forces.

:uhoh:

[Standing Wolf]

I like the idea of low maintenance plastic guns, but they never feel right in my hand. Why no plastic revolvers, if plastic is such hot stuff?

[Keith]

When they start selling these guns made of plastic and metal stampings for what they're worth (about 99 bucks), I'll buy one - heck, I'll buy two!

Keith

[Chris Rhines]

Funny, I never noticed a huge glut of Glocks gathering dust on the dealer's shelves...perhaps they are being sold for what they're worth.

Plastic revolvers? Hmmm. That's a very good question. From an engineering standpoint, there's no reason one couldn't be made. OTOH, revolver shooters may be a more traditional crowd... Dunno.

- Chris

[coylh]

I tend to avoid plastic pistols simply because you can't change the grips. I don't like the "one-size-fits-all" quality. All the glocks and H&Ks I've handled felt like dime-store flashlights.

Why don't they make glocks which can accept a typical screw-in grip panel? How many of you would put Hogue grips on your glock if you could (without resorting to the jumbo rubber-band)?

It seems like some shops are offering backstaps of different sizes, but they're still the same material. I hope they become more customizable in the future.

[Ryder]

I see a lot of people haven't handled an XD yet. :D

[DougCxx]

Funny, I never noticed a huge glut of Glocks gathering dust on the dealer's shelves...perhaps they are being sold for what they're worth.... - Chris Rhines
"What something is worth" is "what someone is willing to pay for it". My point was that plastic guns should be considerably cheaper to manufacture than metal ones, but the prices of most big-bore plastic pistols is about the same as steel-framed ones, and the cheapest Daniels-family pocket pistols are still steel and zinc.
---------
And if we look at production auto parts, most interior pieces are now plastic. These work fine, for what they are intended -- but the types of designs used now for the plastic parts is far more complex and (probably) impractical to duplicate economically in steel--so automakers are taking advantage of an advanced application there. The part isn't cheaper, but overall it does work better..... Yet plastic guns all seem to pretty much imitate their traditional steel counterparts in overall design and function. -So that's two strikes: in guns, plastic isn't less expensive than metal, and (so far) plastic isn't being used innovatively. So what was plastic supposed to do for guns, originally?
........
-If a plastic pistol cost more than a steel one, would you still want the plastic, or the steel?