Shear_stress wrote:
Absolutely, but, again this is an example of an implementation of a mature technology. The types or processes and controls used to make investment cast turbine are not the same as those used to make gun parts. The fact that investment casting can be used to make aerospace or mil-spec parts does not automatically mean that such parts are comparable to golf clubs or gun frames. My point is that you can't use one example of a use of a forming technology to either praise or bash everything made that way. How many single crystal Ruger pistol frames are out there?
The investment casting process used by Ruger for firearms differs substantially from the casting process for golf clubs and aerospace applications by the type of alloy used. ALL of Ruger's IC work is top notch.
MIM is bashable, not in its processes, which demonstrably work to form things that are useable, but in the end application of those parts. Forgings and ICs are more consistent part to part and time proven to take all manner of mechanical stresses. MIM is a demonstrated failure in taking repeated impacts whether that be hammer strikes or whether that be the lateral stress of ripping spent cases out of a chamber while being violently moved away to the rear by a slide.
Mind you MIM doesn't fail in every such small part application, but it has failed in enough such applications to have people rightfully concerned about being guinea pigs for cost cutting.
I am a Ruger fan alright, but I am a Ruger fan primarily because their IC products are state of the art and legendarily tough. They earned this reputation for bombproof toughness over time. MIM is a different process and a johnny-come-lately. I will accept the widespread use of MIM
only after it has proven itself, which to my mind, hasn't even come close to happening.
Just for the record:
I have and had no problem with Sig Sauer's folded sheetmetal slides.
Aluminum alloy pistol frames.
Polymer receivers, especially those sandwiching steel reinforcements.
Polymer guide rods.
Plastic coated metal parts, ala Beretta
Titanium alloy frames and parts.
Stampings ala the AK.
I also think MIM would make for excellent sights, XD grip safeties, metal magazine tubes, and other low stress applications, but is misapplied in wear items, such as extractors, ejectors, magazine catches, firing pins, pins in general, sears, disconnectors, hammers, triggers, trigger bars, or safety/decocker switches which directly interact with the sear, hammer, or trigger.
Maybe MIM will get there someday, but that day isn't here yet.