Life of “plastic” guns?

. . was intended to be a joke.

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I know, but you'd be surprised how many people still believe it. And, they probably also believe that plastic is just plastic; and, that steel is just steel - too.

I hate to argue over cemantics; but, it's important to be precise when a purchase is contemplated. Otherwise one is bound to end up with an inferior product.

All the polymer framed H&K VP-70Z pistols I've shot/handled were running strong for being almost 40 years old.

I don't recall where on the Net I read it, but I do seem to recall having read that there is now a bacterium which eats Nylon. In one of Larry Niven's stories there is mention of a bug which eats polyethylene. When another character asks the mentioner what was done, he replies, "We had to quit using it."

P.s.

Of course, there are bacteria which eat iron, too. That's why what's left of Titanic is collapsing into the ooze of the sea bottom.

Nothing lasts forever.

Nothing lasts forever.

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gold and diamonds do...

There is the saying "diamonds are forever"...

Nothing lasts forever

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The mortgage on my house will.

I posted a similar question here in '04 with some interesting replies.

Plastics in general last a LONG time. About the guy with the disintegrating crate, yeah it broke apart, but the plastic was still there right? It still existed. I think that in 100+ years, the Glocks, and other polymer guns will still be around, may or may not work though.

If left out in the weather for a century, I would expect a polymer-framed gun's metal parts to corrode or rust severely, while the frame would remain intact. I would also add the somewhat facetious analogy that metal corrodes while plastic lives forever in landfills.

Based on what type of scientific knowledge and experimentation?

Metals degrade, rust and decompose....plastics tend to live forever....try again..

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Ive done Plastics for 10 years... Rapid prototypes of all sorts of materials. Think again before you spout off because of your fanboy'ism.

JOe

Ive done Plastics for 10 years... Rapid prototypes of all sorts of materials. Think again before you spout off because of your fanboy'ism.

JOe

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So do you have any results for the polymer gun frames?

Plastic guns will last up until that point where you use it as a club. Then it's toast.

I like dual purpose weapons myself.

my USP .40 is over 10 yrs old, and it's still a tank. since i keep it locked up, there's definitely no chronic UV exposure.

maybe if baywatch had an offcial sidearm in clear holsters it would be different... but then the salt water of the ocean spray would have something to worry a lot of non-plastc gun folks.

I have a Nylon 66 that's still going strong after 30+ years

"They are 23 years old now"
that's not a track record, that's just a beginning

all plastic is polymer, all polymer is plastic, all are "thermosetting" (as are metal alloys, steel, SS, if heated hot enough)
civilian/LEO guns are not made of plastic because it's better (or worse) they use plastic because it's cheaper

the Glock 9mm was an innovative ingenious design for 20 something years ago 9mm pistols, and it has had a lasting impact on the marketplace
Glock makes a fine 9mm service pistola
and there is a reason why there is STEEL in the rails
(and mebbe a reason why they look so "blocky")

and nothing lasts forever, except house mortgages
for most mortgages, 23 years is just a good start

JMB would laugh at you for clinging to an essentially un-updated design with no thought for modern materials or manufacturing processes ... dude was a innovator, I highly doubt he was of the opinion that he had made a "final design for the ages"

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You're probably right. He'd be all for new materials etc. And I doubt he thought the 1911 was THE gun for the ages, but I'll say this about the 1911 - it is the gun for my hand, and I love em!

Whether by accident or design the ergonomics on that gun just fit a large number of people, and that's where it's agelessness comes from.

"They are 23 years old now"
that's not a track record, that's just a beginning

all plastic is polymer, all polymer is plastic, all are "thermosetting" (as are metal alloys, steel, SS, if heated hot enough)
civilian/LEO guns are not made of plastic because it's better (or worse) they use plastic because it's cheaper

the Glock 9mm was an innovative ingenious design for 20 something years ago 9mm pistols, and it has had a lasting impact on the marketplace
Glock makes a fine 9mm service pistola
and there is a reason why there is STEEL in the rails
(and mebbe a reason why they look so "blocky")

and nothing lasts forever, except house mortgages
for most mortgages, 23 years is just a good start

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Im not sure why you quoted me on that, I gues it was because you wanted to make a point about that not being that long. But I am going to take exception with your thoughts there.

Those guns are not made out of plastic because its cheaper. They are made out of plastic because it is so much lighter. Anyone who has to carry a full size service pistol would probably be a lot happier with a gun that weighs half as much, and usually holds almost twice the ammo.

All of the crap of "it will last forever" or "it will fall apart look at my 40 year old cars interior" is just that, fanboy crap from one side or the other.

Long lasting...150 years year old Snider I got from IMA in untouched condition.

One way to look at it is if they pass a law that some how manages to halt any more pistols being sold and the american people are left to the pistols they currently have... which pistol will be the most reliable to my great grandchildren??
Folks this is not very exaggerated... there was a federal ban on pistols that almost passed many years ago, and it is reasonable to take into consideration when buying a pistol if it will be reliable in 100 years when there aint to many pistols around

There are not many reports of Glocks turning to dust under harsh conditions, at least not that I am aware of.

BS thread.

Gentlemen......Forever has not happened yet so just how can we tell what will last until then!.....

I just don't like plastic guns. I fill my fist with steel... the real deal!

My line of work is in the construction industry. Back in the 80s and 90 they started experimenting with different building products to save money. The big ones that come to mind are polybutelene pipe and "press board" siding. Each was lab tested to have a long life. The lab tests simulated years of use, in the standing environment, in a couple of months time. The only thing that they couldn't simulate is time. And each of those two products were recalled, and replace at the manufacturers expense, within 10 years of the start of production.

I don't care how "late and great" some new product is. It doesn't matter how many labratory tests come out and say it will last "forever". There is nothing out there that can simulate time, and how a product degrads with time. Time is the only thing that can do it, and we can't wait on time to get a new product on the market.

The 1911 has been around for over 100 years (from design and patent, not military adoption in 1911). Wood and steel rifles have been around hundreds of years.

Yes the Glocks have been around for 27 years. The only gaurantee that can be granted from that fact is that a Glock will last 27 years. There is no way that anybody can gaurantee that they'll make 28 year life span. (Highly probable, but not absolute.)

Wyman

FTR- I do own a Glock. It is my least liked gun I own. One of these days I'll get around to selling it. The only gun I own that I couldn't care less if I owned it, or if I shot it.