So, I have been looking at a lot of 1911 style pistols lately and love the feel and looks of them. Then I noticed a FNH fn 45. I took a look, and like the feel and the price, and have heard good things.:banghead: So here's the BIG question, Which is better, more reliable, overall better gun, and what makes them that way? the newer plastic gun, or the tried and true steel gun? Thanks for all your thoughts.
Polymer vs. Steel
- Thread starter Brutz
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burningsquirrels
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doesn't matter. they're both good. just get what fits your hands better. /thread.
wyocarp
Member
It doesn't matter. If you buy one gun, you will buy another and you will have favorites. I have guns that are worth thousands each about 20 feet from me but I have a Glock laying beside my keyboard.
One reason I use the Glocks is so that I keep my really nice guns nice. The Glocks function well and I don't fret if they should see some abuse. So you might buy the fn first and save up for a nice 1911 if that is your desire and you might still use the fn.
One reason I use the Glocks is so that I keep my really nice guns nice. The Glocks function well and I don't fret if they should see some abuse. So you might buy the fn first and save up for a nice 1911 if that is your desire and you might still use the fn.
BiggieFatz
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seriously, I just prefer the feel of the 1911's. I don't do plastic all too well.
Anna's Dad
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I picked 1911 based on your criteria. I just think it's a more refined and tested platform.
I'm sure either would work just fine for you, however.
I'm sure either would work just fine for you, however.
Floppy_D
Member In Memoriam
Better? Yikes, that's a tough one. I have a Springfield GI.45 that's had two errors in around 2200 rounds; both involved a round chambering without the extractor in front of the extractor groove; i.e. the slide didn't lock all the way forward. One was solved by manually picking the round out, one was solved by hammering the slide with the palm of my hand to see if that fixed it... it did. Both errors happened around 500+ rounds with a cleaning.
My dad has 500+ trouble-free rounds rounds through a Glock 21, he trusts it.
Any of the above can be good guns, but any gun can be a lemon. Pick one up, run it clean and dirty with several mags and ammo types, and see if it's worth trusting.
You could trust a gun without testing it first... but you could also trust buying a pair of pants without trying them on.
My dad has 500+ trouble-free rounds rounds through a Glock 21, he trusts it.
Any of the above can be good guns, but any gun can be a lemon. Pick one up, run it clean and dirty with several mags and ammo types, and see if it's worth trusting.
You could trust a gun without testing it first... but you could also trust buying a pair of pants without trying them on.
10-Ring
Member
As pride of ownership goes, steel 1911's just has so much going for it while most - if not all - polyguns are just tools
I voted 1911 because I shoot them better. That said go to a range that rents guns and try everyone you can, see what you like. Some like the fatter polymer gripped pistols, some like the thin 1911 style grips. The grip angle on different guns will matter as well but you can adjust that to some degree with different backstraps or mainspring housings. Good luck.
wyocarp
Member
What? I would venture to say plastic guns are quickly catching up with 1911 style guns with regards to amount of ammo having been shot through them and probably with fewer problems.
That's probably a pretty accurate statement and is for the most part how I look at my polymer guns. If I had to go to the safe and pick a wilson or brown or a glock to defend my life though, I'd pick up the glock every time.
Duke of Doubt
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Metal gun, good. Plastic gun, bad.
bluetopper
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I've already been through and matured out of the polymer/high capacity phase of my life. With polymers I found no "pride of ownership" with them.
Which will you most have the most pride in of passing down to your grandkids?
Which will you most have the most pride in of passing down to your grandkids?
possum
Member
what is better for one might not be the same for others, what is best for me and what i like best is polymer guns, high cap and strker fired, in particular the sa xd series.
I absolutely love to shoot well-built all-steel 1911’s. I just shoot them better than anything else, at least in terms of slow-fire, bullseye type accuracy. I also shoot my steel-framed CZ75B more accurately (slow fire) than I do my Glock 34, but for whatever reason, inside 12 yards or so, the G34 is the rapid-fire/acceptable accuracy king of my stable.
One thing about 1911’s is that you really can’t lump them together as a whole. My old Auto-Ordnance/Thompson 1911 was more different in comparison to a Les Baer 1911 than say (just randomly) an XD-9 SC is to a Glock 20, in terms of functional reliability, accuracy, durability, and build quality. I’ve had a really crappy 1911, I’ve had an OK one, and I’ve had an awesome one that makes me not want to shoot anything else. My best-performing 1911 was by a considerable margin the most expensive, but I’ve had friends who’ve reported great luck with inexpensive ones. My two cheaper 1911’s were at best slightly disappointing (Springfield GI), or at worst complete garbage (90’s era AO).
If I had to carry something around all day (especially concealed), a lightweight frame starts to earn bonus points. And I imagine a modern poly frame with steel inserts/rails would hold up as well or likely better than an alloy frame. And most modern big-name poly’s have been demonstrating excellent reliability and durability. I must admit, I don’t plan on any of my plastic pistols reaching family heirloom status.
I much prefer the look and feel of all-steel pistols, and how they shoot (1911‘s in particular), next to any poly-framed job. If, however, I had to pick a $400 - $700 pistol and were to expect it to function out of the box perfectly, I might lean towards a well-reputed polymer-frame model vs. a 1911. I think the mass-production process lends itself better to the plastic-fantastics than it does to 1911’s.
One thing about 1911’s is that you really can’t lump them together as a whole. My old Auto-Ordnance/Thompson 1911 was more different in comparison to a Les Baer 1911 than say (just randomly) an XD-9 SC is to a Glock 20, in terms of functional reliability, accuracy, durability, and build quality. I’ve had a really crappy 1911, I’ve had an OK one, and I’ve had an awesome one that makes me not want to shoot anything else. My best-performing 1911 was by a considerable margin the most expensive, but I’ve had friends who’ve reported great luck with inexpensive ones. My two cheaper 1911’s were at best slightly disappointing (Springfield GI), or at worst complete garbage (90’s era AO).
If I had to carry something around all day (especially concealed), a lightweight frame starts to earn bonus points. And I imagine a modern poly frame with steel inserts/rails would hold up as well or likely better than an alloy frame. And most modern big-name poly’s have been demonstrating excellent reliability and durability. I must admit, I don’t plan on any of my plastic pistols reaching family heirloom status.
I much prefer the look and feel of all-steel pistols, and how they shoot (1911‘s in particular), next to any poly-framed job. If, however, I had to pick a $400 - $700 pistol and were to expect it to function out of the box perfectly, I might lean towards a well-reputed polymer-frame model vs. a 1911. I think the mass-production process lends itself better to the plastic-fantastics than it does to 1911’s.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
LOL, I literally did. Your gonna catch flack for that you know. Even my 6 year old loves his plastic guns.
usp9
Member
Polymer is the future.
Steel is the past.
Steel is the past.
Moccw
Member
1911, Get yourself a nice 1911, it will last you forever. They are great shooters, and most are very reliable...
kd7nqb
Member
If reliability is to be considered, than you have to mark down the 1911, the platform is GREAT but 1911's especially higher end ones are NOTORIOUSLY picky on ammo so be prepared for that. I know the 1911 guys will say you don't run crap gas in your Maserati so don't run cheap ammo in your Kimber. But the fact is a lot of guys like cheap ammo and for good reason.
PhillyGlocker
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You must not have fired a Glock yet. My G26 has a very soft recoil, and so my G30SF.
General Geoff
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simple function of physics, heavier gun = less felt recoil. I'll stick with steel given the option.
osteodoc08
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There are other quality steel sidearms besides 1911 guys. CZ of all sorts, BHP, etc. The original poster says steel vs polymer, but is it really 1911 vs polymer? Poll says one thing, but thread title says another....
That being said, I like my aluminum framed Kimber...LOL.
That being said, I like my aluminum framed Kimber...LOL.
JohnBT
Member
"Polymer is the future."
Let me know when we get there.
Let me know when we get there.
d2wing
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I have steel, alloy and plastic guns. I am more attached to the steel as classic guns, but to actually carry and use, plastic S&W Sigma. It's like shooting a hi-cap, more comfortable, double action compact revolver.
What do you like shooting, Single or double action, hammer or striker? Hefty or light, carry concealed? Shiney or stealth? A nice well finished 1911 is a thing to love, and modern poly pistol is a gun to shoot.
What do you like shooting, Single or double action, hammer or striker? Hefty or light, carry concealed? Shiney or stealth? A nice well finished 1911 is a thing to love, and modern poly pistol is a gun to shoot.
Eightball
Member
I voted 1911. If you shop smart, and aren't dumb about the "break-in" procedure, it'll be smooth sailing, as the kinks in the design have kinda been worked on in the last 90+ years.
Plus, I could've sworn I read somewhere about recent batches of those FN pistols breaking parts of their trigger pack if you dry fired on DA too often. Not a good sign, IMO.
BTW, I own, CCW, and love my Kimber 1911. Shoots like few other semi autos I've seen, and one of my coworkers' Kimbers shoots even tighter.
Plus, I could've sworn I read somewhere about recent batches of those FN pistols breaking parts of their trigger pack if you dry fired on DA too often. Not a good sign, IMO.
BTW, I own, CCW, and love my Kimber 1911. Shoots like few other semi autos I've seen, and one of my coworkers' Kimbers shoots even tighter.
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