Anyone else here who doesn't own AND doesn't want a polymer framed pistol?

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25-yrs old debate could be settled, if ...

everybody liked pan-cakes instead of oatmeal for breakfast. Wait . . . . that's NOT gun-related! This is: " Polymer framed gun anymore .... they come and go, but the older classics seem to never leave my safe."" (KingMedicine) Yup, that's a perfect place to keep a defensive hand-gun. "They don't make very many compact non-poly handguns." (scythefws) Could it be that no-one wants an overweight deep-conceal gun that weighs twice as much as a poly-gun? As far as "... come and go ..." state of polymer pistols, analyze this: 1911-types have been selling for 100 years; Glock alone has only been selling for a little over 25 years. Yet Glock has over 6,000,000 satisfied owners (and a hand full of bixxing ones), while 1911-types have less than 6,000,000, plus even including Government and LEO mandated "owners" thrown in the mix before Gaston was even born. "You can't fool all the people all the time", although some Steel-wood-fans say that Glock has!
 
You're right. There's nothing exciting about a polymer pistol sitting in a safe.
 
Nope, don't like plastic and don't like striker fired pistols either. Actually, I don't particularly care for pistols in general, preferring revolvers. But, I had a case and a half of 40 S&W around here and nothing to shoot it in so I went hunting. Bumped into an old, out of production, FN forty-nine pistol in like new shape for a really cheap price. Doesn't look like it's had more than a box of ammo through it in its entire life. It's old, double action only, with a medium heavy trigger pull that's long and very smooth. It feels surprising like a decent double action revolver with about the same trigger reset distance. Learning curve was very steep. Loaded with 14 rounds of 40 S&W the FN weighs almost exactly what my loaded model 66 with 2 1/2-inch barrel weighs and they're exactly the same size over all. The first trip to my little garden range yielded a group size at 15 yards about the size of a half dollar and that standing, two full magazines, 28 rounds and not a single failure of any kind. What's not to like about that except picking up the brass? Now I have to reconsider my previous opinion. That little FN, with nothing but stainless steel and plastic pieces, is going to earn a place here right quickly. I just wish it had a hammer but can't for the life of me figure out why.
 
REAPER4206969 said:
Aluminum is considered a "higher quality" material over steel in the handgun world.
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I don't agree with that and I doubt many others would either. Aluminum is lighter but considerably less durable ... it's a compromise.

It's no mystery that polymer framed pistols are typically lighter and cheaper than their aluminum or steel framed counterparts, but neither of those criteria are sufficiently important to me to make me want to buy one at this point. Polymer framed pistols don't have a monopoly on reliability, accuracy, ergonomics and aesthetics. When they do, maybe then I'll think about making a change.

The title of this thread wasn't "try to persuade me to buy a polymer framed pistol" so thanks to those that gave a simple answer to a simple question.
 
Generally I like my guns to be blued steel and walnut, although I have a few in stainless steel.

I have a Keltec P3AT (it's polymer) and it's great to carry and awful to shoot -- it's so lightweight each shot is like a firecracker going off in your hand. Maybe I should have bought the .32 instead of the .380, or maybe I need to get some lightly-loaded ammo instead of shooting the hot stuff all the time.
 
Many years ago I had a full size 5" 1911 Colt pistol. All steel of course, and very heavy to carry concealed. As the years wore on, I carried many pistols for the federal government and got to try a lot of pistols I had never thought I would. I ended my career carrying a Glock 19 pistol. Now I can carry whatever I want to, and I carry an HK45CT, which is a polymer .45ACP pistol. It is much lighter than the old 1911, and much easier to conceal. The 1911 was a nice pistol, but the HK is a fantastic pistol. It is certainly not a throwaway gun, but one I'll keep the rest of my life. My 1911? I got rid of it years ago and don't miss it at all.
 
I own a Sig SP2022 9mm and its not my fav Sig....it was the price that got me
I just prefer the weight of steel or alloy
 
Absolutely hated the idea of those worthless plastic things. Went in to buy my first handgun at age 21 and walked out with a Glock 23. I have had many guns over the years including high-end 1911's. It comes down to: Metal guns are what I buy as a gun enthusiast when I want something nice to look at, shoot occasionally and keep safely in the safe.
Polymer guns are what I buy as a person looking for daily self protection and carry, 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. 99% of the time that is a 1993 Glock 23 I have had since new. The rest of the time it is a Ruger LCP.

However, there is nothing whatsoever wrong with someone not wanting a polymer gun. Nor is there anything wrong with someone who owns many!
 
REAPER4206969 said:
Argue with the BATFE.
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I don't need to because it's obvious why the BATF rated aluminum framed pistols higher than steel ... because they're lighter and not because aluminum is "higher quality" whatever that means. What decade is that form from anyway?

PREREQUISITES:

1. The pistol must have a positive manually operated safety device.
 
Plastic guns are the bic pens of handguns, no one tries to hold onto a bic pen for a lifetime, no one tosses a Mont Blanc.
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I know it's just a metaphor, but I have to point out that a Mont Blanc is mostly plastic too. They call it "black precious resin" and it might be a high grade of plastic, but it's plastic just the same. The really precious part is all the gold in the nib, clip, and rings. No gold in the Bic, nope. :D

But back to handguns: at last count, I own 19 of them. Only two of them are polymer: a Glock 26 and a Kel-Tec P32. These are the two I carry more than any of the others, but they're not the ones I would choose to just go and put some rounds downrange for fun. For training, yes, but not for fun. My 2¢.
 
doa, there is a 30g max difference between the polimer and the alloy framed gun that I bought vs wanted. Both are lighter and smaller than the HP I did carry. If I could have gotten the store to come down 50 on the alloy framed one, that's what I would jave bought. I have never said poly guns were inferior, I just feel the have no soul where blued steel and wood do. Hell, drop in the 7+1 mag in the alloy and the 9+1 in the poly and they probably weigh the same loaded. I don't care about the weight, but I'm not going to pocket carry either.
 
Not for me....have never seen an engraved polymer gun that looked classy.
 
My Glock 23 for example, is much smaller, half the weight and twice the capacity of my 1911.

That kind of advantage can not be dismissed.
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Yes it can - if none of those "advantages" are important to the person buying the gun. Different needs or wants for different people lead to different conclusions for people.
 
I definitely appreciate the reliability and 'shootability' of quality poly pistols, but:

I just much prefer the weight, balance and trigger of all-steel hammerred pistols.
 
REAPER4206969 said:
Do you CCW one?
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I do indeed CCW a 1911. I alternate between a Wilson Combat CQB Compact, Springfield TRP and Springfield EMP. The Wilson and TRP are the top two in terms of carry time, but the EMP sees its fair share during the summer months when I need a lightweight gun.
 
Not for me....have never seen an engraved polymer gun that looked classy.
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I hate to say it ... I rarely see all steel guns that are classy when they're engraved. >.<

I like both plastic and steel guns because I think there's a "look" for both of them. Gimme a fancy plastic space age gun anyday. On the other hand, the .45 Colt in stainless and wood is one sexy lever action.
 
I resisted polymers for years insisting that I would never soil my safe with these unholy aberrations.

Until I bought a Glock 22 for a really good price. I figured that I could shoot it for giggles and sell it for a small profit down the road. Sadly, it's been 100% reliable and I shoot it well and my notion of only owning steel or alloy guns has gone out the window.

Now I still prefer the look and feel of steel, but I'll never say "Never" to a polymer ever again.
 
I have nothing against progress, and I guess making things that work for less money and lighter weight, may be considered progress. However, I am not a big fan of polymer. They just feel wrong to me. I only own one polymer pistol, and HK USP Tactical .45, solely because it was designed for a suppressor, and even that may get sold in favor of another 1911 or CZ-97B. Real guns.

I can pretty much tell the age of the posters when they come here and post a poll of Glock, XD, M&P, Sigma, etc.
 
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