All steel, aluminum frames, or polymer guns?

[AirPower]

After trying out different guns of various metal/plastic composition, I don't think I'm particularly picky about the material. I can like the polymer Walther as much as the aluminum Sig, or the steel S&W and Colt. Do you shy away from certain guns simply because of the material?

 

[rock jock]

Nope. I have all steel 1911's, aluminum 1911's, and polymer guns, including the P99 and Glock. All are reliable and function well.

 

[Majic]

No polymers for me thank you very much. I prefer steel, but can tolerate some aluminum.

 

[Standing Wolf]

As long as it's made of steel, I'll consider it.

 

[GaryP]

I prefer all steel but own aluminum and polymer frame weapons also. Since Polymer will slowly become brittle over time I realize I'll have to replace these around 150 years or so from now and that is somewhat discouraging!

 

[The Dutchman]

Polymer is lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel, it also more durable and impact resistant. Kimber and Wilson Combat make incredibly good 1911's and they are all steel. Sig and Beretta make very accurate and reliable guns that are partly made of aluminum. And finally Glock and HK make some of the best handguns out there and they are partly made of polymer. All these handguns do the job and they do the job well. All shoot straight and all cycle reliably, the difference is just preference. Some people like all steel.....some people like polymer. It is my opinion as an engineer that polymer is superior but only in situations most people are unlikely to encounter. For example being deployed for weeks at a time in harsh weather or being immersed in salt water for extended periods of time. Thats when polymer passes the others in terms of surface wear and rust resistance. Steel rusts, Aluminum oxidizes but polymer is very difficult to break down or corrode. However steel adds weight which helps reduce recoil which then helps get you faster on target. I know people who can shoot an all steel 1911 faster and more accurate than someone who is used to using a Glock 21. Most competitive shooters, Doug Koenig for example, what does he use, an all steel 1911. I tend to go towards guns made out of polymer myself.

 

[DT Guy]

Steel or polymer are OK with me, just no aluminum.

And I only buy polymer with steel frame inserts.

So I guess I'm just playing along with this 21st century thing, sort of.



Larry

 

[LoadedDrum]

I used to have two polymer guns (glocks), and now I am down to one. I prefer steel handguns and heavy handguns in general.

 

[P95Carry]

Being an ''old Phart'' purist - steel is my proclivity but - I have both Al framed guns and polymer, as well as all steel. I must say - polymer is not all bad at all. Tho I have no Glock - look at the construction - polymer frame yeah but - steel guides!!!!

I do appreciate some weight-saving tho am not phased by weight at all.

My SW99 and P series Rugers - have a place and shoot well - my R9 Rohrbaugh is all but space-age technology re tolerancing etc - and I am perfectly happy there to have an Al frame.

My carry tho - well, full size these days and all steel - P226. If revo - all steel SP-101. But R9 does do BUG duty.

 

[GaryP]

My HK USPs have steel inserts embedded in the frame slide rails, but my Ruger Polymer frame P97 does not. What's up with this?

 

[Boats]

If polymer was so awesome, S&W would have made a revolver out of it by now, therefore, plastic must be great for lightly stressed parts like auto pistol receivers, but not for serious ballistic applications.

All of the critical parts of a polymer weapon are made of good old steel whether molded, stamped, or forged.

That said, I do have an XD I like very much.

 

[coylh]

I'd like plastic guns more if I could change the grip panels. Doesn't seem like it would be that hard: make some cutouts and locate places for grip screws.

You know you want to put pau ferro grips on your glock 22.

 

[Sean Smith]

I don't mind any of them, if done well. I do think titanium is a better solution than aluminum, however.

 

[The Dutchman]

That would be a good idea to replace the grip panels in polymer guns....but it would take the integrity out of the receiver. Unless they put extra steel inserts which is never a bad thing when it comes to polymer guns.

 

[lycanthrope]

I have stainless frames, aluminum frames and polymer frames......

My evey day beater is a Kimber Eclipse with a stainless frame. My carry gun is a Kimber Aluminum Compact. My House/Competition gun is a STI Edge.

Weight matters to me for everyday carry, but I find I don't trust a weapon fully until after a few thousand rounds. In the hot seat, I'd go to the STI Edge because I've demanded of it so many times and It never let me down.

A lot of people equate polymer with the cheaper lines, but forget the 2011 guns which are remarkably reliable and durable.

 

[XLMiguel]

I have some of each, no worries, mate. I do my homework and believe you get what you pay for, I don't buy cheap guns. If I ever actually wear one out, I'll be here to brag about it.

 

[Kamicosmos]

I don't like polymer guns. They 'move around' too much when they shoot. Guess it's a balance issue.

I would like polymer for a carry gun, and have considered a few, but...I believe in actually training with your carry gun, so I went with steel guns. (In fact, the only non-100% steel gun in my collection is my Beretta 96FS.)

 

[foghornl]

I'll admit I am an "Old Coot", so I like metallic frames and wood grips/stocks. No real reasons, because look how many rounds go down range from Glocks, Springfield XD's, and Ruger Poly frames. Just MY preferences.

 

[Brian Williams]

I prefer Steel guns, I have a Sistema 1911 with a generic slide, that is all steel and my revolvers are S&W 13 3" and 65 4" pencil, but my normal EDC is a S&W 642.

I have been drooling over Zak Smith's Caspian Titanium framed Commander, tis a thing of beauty.

 

[lyricsdad]

2 polymer pistols for me.. but I want to get either an aluminum framed or steel framed pistol next.. CZ maybe. I have been watching a cz-40p at my local scheels.

 

[mainmech48]

Back when I was just a budding geezer, I had serious doubts about aluminum. I was wrong, as the Illinois State police proved by using the S&W M-39 with +P and +P+ ammo for over fifteen years. CZ had their aluminum framed P-01 go over 30,000 rounds in testing without wearing out or breaking.

Ditto polymer when the Glock hit our shores. Wrong again.

Now I have examples with all three frame materials, and frame integrity hasn't been an issue with any of them.

IIWY, I wouldn't worry about it and just go with whatever has the features and feel that suits you best. Any of them are likely to last for a good many more rounds than you'll ever put though it, unless you compete heavily or neglect the maintenance.

 

[Gixerman1000]

I like them all as long as they have quality.

Of my auto's
Polymer = 8
Aluminum = 9 (+ 1 on the way)
Steel = 11

All of my revolver's are steel though.

 

[deputy tom]

I have/had 'em all.S/S,blued steel,Alloys,plastic.The only plastic pistol I kept out of two dozen others is a S.A.XD-9.My EDC remains a 649 or 642.tom.

 

[AirPower]

someone here raised a good point, why aren't more revolvers made with polymer, or even with aluminum?

they're usually Titanium or Scandium and I'm guess it's because of the structural strength needed exceeds that can be provided by polymer or aluminum.

Come to think of it, why aren't more automatics made with Titanium?

 

[Shootcraps]

Come to think of it, why aren't more automatics made with Titanium?

Because it's a bear to mill.

I have (or have had) all 3 types. No serious design flaws in any of them. They have all proven their worth.