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

[MCMXI]

I suffer from techno lust to some extent and much prefer a synthetic/aluminum rifle stock to wood, but I simply can't get excited about polymer framed pistols. I bought my first handgun in '88 and I've shot a bunch of polymer framed pistols over the years and quite a few recently, but still don't own any. The closest I've come to buying one was a S&W M&P Pro but I wasn't impressed enough to pay $600 for it. Anyone else having a hard time getting into the polymer market? For the record, I don't have a huge handgun collection with 13 pistols and 10 revolvers, but I like what I have with no intention of selling any of them. The next two purchases will be stainless steel 1911s ... still no polymer.

 

[Glockeroo]

To each his own, but polymer pistols have proven themselves to date. I prefer them for their light weight. The Glocks have very little recoil, unless you get a G29 or G20. Give one a chance. You may change your mind.

 

[19-3Ben]

It's funny. I'm kind of a grouch when it comes to polymer. I don't want any polymer pistols.
However, every time that I'm evaluating pistols to fill different niches, the poly ones keep popping up because they make a lot of sense.
It has turned out that my revolvers are blued steel and wood, but most of my semi-autos are polymer framed.
What can I say, for pocket carry, the LCP is just so light and handy I can't deny its practicality over something steel. For a full sized carry gun, my M&P9 is so much lighter than a similarly sized steel gun that the polymer allows me to carry a service sized sidearm more frequently than i could if it were say, a 5906.

Oh, and I'm a fan of striker fire, so good luck finding many steel striker fired guns. The only modern one I can think of is the Kahr K or T series, and yes, I love my K40.

 

[harmon rabb]

My general issue with polymer guns is that they're striker fired and thus typically have crummy triggers. The polymer isn't the problem.

Picked up a FNP-40 today. Polymer frame, but with a real hammer. It actually has a decent trigger.

 

[Ala Tom]

I was intending to buy a 1911 for home defense. Weight was not an issue. But when I read about quality issues on the lower priced 1911's compared to polymers, I changed my mind. Years ago I had gotten some handguns for their unique aspects - a 120 year-old Colt 45, a long-barreled Ruger SA, a slim and sleek 380. I sold those and got a practical and dependable S&W MP 40 with a defense potential at least as good as a 1911. It was just over $500 with warranty and famously good service. Who cares what it's made of? I shot a rental before buying it and liked its weight, balance and the way it handled the recoil. I even bought a poly target pistol. It works great too - same good balance.

 

[towboat_er]

I have never owned one. Just not my thing.

 

[shrewd]

I understand bud. For my first pistol I really was seduced by all steel. I now (happily) own a cz 75bd.
My roommate, also buying his first gun, went with a smith & wesson mp9. While I still enjoy steel, his gun has been very enjoyable to shoot.

I prefer metal but have nothing against polymer.

 

[NMGonzo]

It's not the material; is the trigger feel.

 

[scythefwd]

I just got one. Didn't really want to get it, I wanted the alloy version of the same gun but it was just outside my price range. I like it so far, and it's not striker fired. They don't make very many compact non-poly handguns.

 

[swiftak]

I own several, but I really prefer the steel or alloy framed pistols

 

[zoom6zoom]

My only poly pistol is a repro of the Whitney Wolverine, and now that I have an original it's on the chopping block.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I've had several at one point. Down to one now. I doubt I'll be buying another one anytime soon. The one I have is a single stack sub 9mm which just makes a lot of sense for deep conceal carry.
I do like steel better and carry one most of the time.

 

[KingMedicine]

You know, now that i think about it, i dont own a single Polymer framed gun anymore. They come and go, but the older classics seem to never leave my safe.

 

[HisSoldier]

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.

Lifetime guns are solid steel and the tiniest scratch is a tragedy, throw away guns are made of plastic and nothing that happens to them can be tragic.

 

[mgmorden]

Nah, can't say that I'm like that. Of my 10 or 11 handguns that I own, I own only 2 polymer guns, so MOST of mine are certainly metal (mostly steel - 2 aluminum), but I can't say that I truly care much either way. Steel frames work. Aluminum frames work. Polymer frames have a 30 year track record now proving that they work just fine too.

Discounting them just due to them being "new" (in quotes because by now they're not even really new anymore) really just amounts to cane-waving and complaining about those pesky kids on your lawn .

 

[MICHAEL T]

Have some KelTec's 32 and 380 But that's only ones in my collection I want steel not plastic.

 

[REAPER4206969]

While I have, and like handguns of all materials, I strongly prefer polymer.

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.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Plastic guns are the bic pens of handguns, no one tries to hold onto a bic pen for a lifetime

A polymer pistol will out last a metallic framed pistol in any test imaginable.

Round count/weather exposure/torture test/whatever.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

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.

Lifetime guns are solid steel and the tiniest scratch is a tragedy, throw away guns are made of plastic and nothing that happens to them can be tragic.

If I like the gun I keep it, even if its plastic and I'm not gonna just throw away my XD40, your metaphor is way off. You want to know what a throwaway gun is? Take a look at those cheap "Saturday Night Special" guns.

I used to think Polymer framed pistols where bad and that I preffered all steel guns but now that I have my own poly gun I see they aren't bad and actually really decent guns. I'm not saying that you are bad for preffering all steel guns just that you are insulting them like they are worth just $100 or something.

 

[Winkman822]

I'm in the bracket of folks that does not own any polymer framed handguns. Don't get me wrong, there's a plethora of great polymer guns out there, but they just aren't my cup of tea. I'll take a good reliable 1911 any day over a polymer gun. Call me crazy, but that's just the way it is.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I've been fully faithfull to my 1911s, but I always come back to them. Over the past few years, I've had a Glock 23 at two different times, an HK USP Compact .40 and a Smith & Wesson SW99QA. The USP Compact and SW99 were the ones I liked the best out of the bunch, but they're all long gone now. My handgun collection now comprised of only 4 1911 pattern pistols and one or two may be shortly added. For me, the 1911 just works.

 

[Big_John1961]

I like both, but poly makes sense for EDC for me. Kind of a no-brainer, really.

 

[mgmorden]

A polymer pistol will out last a metallic framed pistol in any test imaginable.

Round count/weather exposure/torture test/whatever.

While I can't confirm this one way or another (just don't know enough about them, but I'd wager it most likely is true), I will say that it's amazing how attitudes change due to traditionalism and which industry you're looking at.

In bicycles, steel components are seen as your bottom of the barrel junk from Wal-mart due to their weight. Your better mid-tier stuff is all aluminum (which is backwards from the gun world where aluminum is seen as the cheapo alternative to steel). The top of the line stuff is mostly carbon-fiber. Much more expensive and much stronger than steel (while also being lighter). Carbon fiber isn't used much in firearms except in a few .22LR barrels that I've seen, but it's just interesting seeing how readily one industry (cycling) adopted a higher strength lower-weight non-metallic building material whilst another (firearms) seems so quick to dismiss it.

 

[REAPER4206969]

For me, the 1911 just works.

Do you CCW one?

 

[REAPER4206969]

(which is backwards from the gun world where aluminum is seen as the cheapo alternative to steel)

Aluminum is considered a "higher quality" material over steel in the handgun world.

Even the BATFE gives more import points for a Alloy frame Vs. a Steel frame.

 

[orionengnr]

Well, I still own a couple of them, but almost never carry one...