Since the HK VP70z, the pistol manufacturers have started to make more pistols with plastic/polymer furniture rather than all metal. Still some are made in all metal frames. I wonder, what do most people prefer? I prefer one in polymer, because it greatly reduces the weight, and this is help full when I have to conceal carry my gun for longer duration. Plus it reduces the risk area for oxidation. But I also would like to see guns made in all metal frames which are used for non-conceael situtaions. What do you think?
Do you like the new generation pistols with plastic furniture?
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wad
Member
I have a few plastiguns (a Steyr M40A1, a FN FiveSeven and PS90) but everything else is metal and wood. To me, a firearm molded out of plastic just doesn't feel right.
wally
Member
The ability to make ergonomic shapes easily in polymer has definitely warmed me up to them. But not all makers have "got it". For example I much prefer the original steel frame EAA Witness pistols to the same size/caliber Witness-P in terms of hand fit.
The plastic Bul/Transmark (Kimber BP, Daly M5) double stack 45 frame is so thin that some custom grips on a standard 1911 are thicker overall. But, the extra weight of the steel (or alloy) in my Para Ordnance makes them shoot better for me, although the plastic guns are nicer to carry.
Just one more in a long series of trade-offs one must make to find what's personally best.
--wally.
The plastic Bul/Transmark (Kimber BP, Daly M5) double stack 45 frame is so thin that some custom grips on a standard 1911 are thicker overall. But, the extra weight of the steel (or alloy) in my Para Ordnance makes them shoot better for me, although the plastic guns are nicer to carry.
Just one more in a long series of trade-offs one must make to find what's personally best.
--wally.
bluetopper
Member
I know the mechanical quality and functionality is still there in today's production pistols but I sure miss the beautiful polished blue finishes and wooden checkered grips of the past. Seems all phases of our society are trying to cut production costs and asthetics in handguns are sure suffering. Just my opinion.
GHF
Member
Polymer Frames
I am for them. The corrosion control, lower cost, and lighter weight are good things.
The most important thing is not what the frame is, but how the piece fits your hand.
I am for them. The corrosion control, lower cost, and lighter weight are good things.
The most important thing is not what the frame is, but how the piece fits your hand.
ugaarguy
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Basing a poll strictly on material is far too general. Do you like chairs covered in cloth or leather? Personally I like both, as long as the underlying chair is comfortable. I'm sure most of us have sat in chairs covered with both materials, and found some comfortable and others not; where changing the covering material wouldn't add or detract any comfort because the underlying chair is comfortable.
I like S&W's new M&P pistols because they're comfortable in my hand and have a constant DA trigger pull. The same can be said of the SA XD / HS 2000 pistols. I like the FN FNP because it feels great in my hand, but I'd want one of the SAO models because I dislike the DA/SA transition. These pistols all point naturally for me.
I like Glocks, but I find they do not point naturally for me and I struggle to shoot them as well as I do my 1911s. The Glock 21 is also uncomfortably large for my hands, while The M&P 45 and XD 45 fit me well.
Likewise I think the German Luger is a very interesting pistol. However, like the Glocks it doesn't point naturally for me. Since I like shooting my guns and not just keeping them in the safe I've passed on a couple of Lugers leaving them for collectors who'd enjoy them more.
Perhaps the Ruger MKI/II/III standard and 22/45 22 LR pistols are the best example. The standard pistols are metal framed while the 22/45s are poly framed. Save the mag release location on the MKIs and IIs the pistols are functionally identical. I prefer the grip angle on the 22/45s, regardless of material, while the standard pistols don't work for me - again because of grip angle and not material.
Last, there are lightweight metals. Materials like aluminium, titanium, and scandium are virtually rust proof in their widely used alloys. Machining and material expense is the only downside when compared to polymer.
In the end I'll always put my priority on a gun that fits me well, and one which I can shoot well. Then I'll worry about different materials if I find the weight too little or two much.
I like S&W's new M&P pistols because they're comfortable in my hand and have a constant DA trigger pull. The same can be said of the SA XD / HS 2000 pistols. I like the FN FNP because it feels great in my hand, but I'd want one of the SAO models because I dislike the DA/SA transition. These pistols all point naturally for me.
I like Glocks, but I find they do not point naturally for me and I struggle to shoot them as well as I do my 1911s. The Glock 21 is also uncomfortably large for my hands, while The M&P 45 and XD 45 fit me well.
Likewise I think the German Luger is a very interesting pistol. However, like the Glocks it doesn't point naturally for me. Since I like shooting my guns and not just keeping them in the safe I've passed on a couple of Lugers leaving them for collectors who'd enjoy them more.
Perhaps the Ruger MKI/II/III standard and 22/45 22 LR pistols are the best example. The standard pistols are metal framed while the 22/45s are poly framed. Save the mag release location on the MKIs and IIs the pistols are functionally identical. I prefer the grip angle on the 22/45s, regardless of material, while the standard pistols don't work for me - again because of grip angle and not material.
Last, there are lightweight metals. Materials like aluminium, titanium, and scandium are virtually rust proof in their widely used alloys. Machining and material expense is the only downside when compared to polymer.
In the end I'll always put my priority on a gun that fits me well, and one which I can shoot well. Then I'll worry about different materials if I find the weight too little or two much.
trueblue1776
Member
I like to buy guns that I know will be around for 100 years if well cared for. So I vote no to plastic. I also have doubts on lightweight alloys ("white metals") for longterm corrosion resistance.
phantomak47
Member
Glock frames cost about $4.00 to make, end of story.
I've had about a 50/50 mix of all metal and poly handguns over the last 30 years, but I have been mostly poly-framed through the last ten years.
However, for some reason that is not quite clear to me, I am strongly heading back to all-metal handguns these days. I think that the heavier metal frame gives me a clearly faster follow-up shot and I frankly just like the metal feel in my hand. Plus metal has an apperance appeal that the poly guns just don't give me.
So yeah, I like modern poly guns, but for now I'm leaning toward all metal.
However, for some reason that is not quite clear to me, I am strongly heading back to all-metal handguns these days. I think that the heavier metal frame gives me a clearly faster follow-up shot and I frankly just like the metal feel in my hand. Plus metal has an apperance appeal that the poly guns just don't give me.
So yeah, I like modern poly guns, but for now I'm leaning toward all metal.
ftierson
Member.
So far, bacteria haven't been 'designed' to eat steel...
But I like plastic framed guns that might end up as bacteria lunch anyway.
Just make sure that you keep a couple of steel ones around, just in case...
Forrest
But I like plastic framed guns that might end up as bacteria lunch anyway.
Just make sure that you keep a couple of steel ones around, just in case...
Forrest
aka108
Member
My preference is fine wood and blued steel. I can barely stand stainless steel and rubber. Plastic just doesn't get it for me. Maybe too many squirt guns when I was a kid. But, hell, I'm getting old and set in my ways. You know how us cooters are.
sm
member
No.
I only own one, and the only reason I have it, is I kept it after testing and evaluating it.
It fits a niche for me, and therefore I only recommend it/ other poly guns to fit a niche.
I prefer wood and blue. and this talk of blue being harder to keep up and rusts, just makes me snicker, look at how many guns made of wood and blue, are still around?
Ease of maintaining comes up, well then , if folks really did inspect and maintain properly, they would not have problems.
How many folks bought a Stainless gun "because it won't rust" and we see post all the time "My stainless gun has rust!"
Stain-less means "stains" + "less" - it will rust, just less prone to do so.
It is still the responsibility of the owner to properly inspect and maintain.
Poly :
These will rust. Yep, sure will. rust will cause steel springs, and other internals to weaken and break too.
Now that o-l-d revolver, or semi auto can be taken down, and I do mean "down" and some are easier to do so than others.
Oh there may be some flecks of run, worn finish, bluing gone, this stuff on the exterior is not what keeps one alive, it is the internals that keeps one alive.
I have heard and felt the "click" of a busted internal part, and it is not that easy to get all the way into a Poly gun to fix it.
The poly only like to have pins removed so many times, before problems start.
Metal guns will wear too, just some by design allows one to get to internals, and this wear problem is easier to fix.
One still has to inspect and maintain - never a good idea to rely on Marketing, Hype, and Buzzwords.
Just my thoughts...
I only own one, and the only reason I have it, is I kept it after testing and evaluating it.
It fits a niche for me, and therefore I only recommend it/ other poly guns to fit a niche.
I prefer wood and blue. and this talk of blue being harder to keep up and rusts, just makes me snicker, look at how many guns made of wood and blue, are still around?
Ease of maintaining comes up, well then , if folks really did inspect and maintain properly, they would not have problems.
How many folks bought a Stainless gun "because it won't rust" and we see post all the time "My stainless gun has rust!"
Stain-less means "stains" + "less" - it will rust, just less prone to do so.
It is still the responsibility of the owner to properly inspect and maintain.
Poly :
These will rust. Yep, sure will. rust will cause steel springs, and other internals to weaken and break too.
Now that o-l-d revolver, or semi auto can be taken down, and I do mean "down" and some are easier to do so than others.
Oh there may be some flecks of run, worn finish, bluing gone, this stuff on the exterior is not what keeps one alive, it is the internals that keeps one alive.
I have heard and felt the "click" of a busted internal part, and it is not that easy to get all the way into a Poly gun to fix it.
The poly only like to have pins removed so many times, before problems start.
Metal guns will wear too, just some by design allows one to get to internals, and this wear problem is easier to fix.
One still has to inspect and maintain - never a good idea to rely on Marketing, Hype, and Buzzwords.
Just my thoughts...
10-Ring
Member
I prefer poly over alloy & have a good mix of steel & poly in my collection -- have yet to see a poly wheelgun tho 
My current faves are Colts & HKs -- these guns are tough to beat!
My current faves are Colts & HKs -- these guns are tough to beat! Give me Blued Steel and Wood. I'm pretty young to, that stereotype about kids being obsessed with polymer is false. I fail to see why pistols need to be made out of plastic, what does it solve that some proper maintenance couldn't prevent? Seems like firearms producers are just trying to increase their profit margins and throwing all these polymer guns at us under false pretenses.
Quentin
Member
In general I'll line up on aka108's side. Don't have anything against SS and plastic and admire many of my friends' guns. But when I buy it's blue steel and wood for me however my last gun is a Taurus Millennium Pro 9mm and must say the frame is durable. It was so cheap and small I had to get it. Nice to contrast a modern 9mm against my Lugers!
So, I voted yes on polymer as it makes sense for some guns.
WarMachine
Member
I don't have any preference toward steel, aluminum, or polymer framed pistols in most situations as there are VERY fine examples in all three materials. Limiting yourself to one because of a perception that the other two are inferior is silly in my opinion, but people can do as they please.
However, I do prefer a heavier framed gun when shooting full power .40 caliber loads. They are little to snappy for my taste out of most ~20 oz. polymer handguns. 9mm and .45 is usually not an issue.
However, I do prefer a heavier framed gun when shooting full power .40 caliber loads. They are little to snappy for my taste out of most ~20 oz. polymer handguns. 9mm and .45 is usually not an issue.
rantingredneck
Member
+1 for Warmachine. I have pistols that are metal and poly framed.
My only experience with a .40 was a poly gun. Probably why I don't own any .40's right now.
My only experience with a .40 was a poly gun. Probably why I don't own any .40's right now.
lee n. field
Member
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Like? Sure. One more option, and they work, by and large, as well as metal guns.
What you don't get, is the pride of owning something that's beautiful on account of a large amount of skilled hand labor going into it. Compare a classic S&W revolver with something that a mold excreted at the Glock factory. They both work, but one's defiantly prettier.
Which somehow doesn't translate like you'd expect into a sub-$200 G17.
michiganfan
Member
less weight easier to carry
BADUNAME13
Member
My top 3:
1911
Hi Power
CZ75B
That answer your Question?
I own a couple examples of 'combat tupperwear' but despite trying to like them I like what I like.
1911
Hi Power
CZ75B
That answer your Question?
I own a couple examples of 'combat tupperwear' but despite trying to like them I like what I like.
wally
Member
Make my chairs covered in leather
--wally.
--wally.
cbsbyte
Member
I fully understand the rational and need for polymer handguns, they are just not my cup of tea.
Black Majik
Member
I used to be a die hard "everything metal" type of person. SIGs, 1911s, Berettas, etc... but there are definitely advantages to polymer pistols. My myself, I feel they can handle more abuse, usually more reliable in unfavorable conditions and lighter to carry. There are advantages to all metal pistols, and there are advantages to polymer pistols, it just really depends on the intended use for the pistol.
Come to think of it, my last 4 pistol purchases have all been polymer guns (3 HK, 1 Glock).
Come to think of it, my last 4 pistol purchases have all been polymer guns (3 HK, 1 Glock).
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