Durability of other polymer pistols compared to Glock

[Sam1911]

So you mean which polymer gun has the most expensive small parts? Glock, M&P, xD, HK, etc?

(Hmmm...I don't know, but I'd guess HK. I don't know enough shooters who even own an HK -- and certainly none at all who put the kind of round-count through them that would wear a gun out -- to have heard their accounts of parts costs, though.)

I'm trying to think of any modern polymer guns that have parts you can't swap yourself, at the kitchen table. Not sure there's much gunsmithing cost involved.

 

[Water-Man]

Right. The cost of the parts, how often they fail and can you get said part from the mfg. and do it yourself or not.

 

[Fishbed77]

Walther had videos (they may still be there) on their German website demonstrating the P99AS being fired underwater, filled with sand, and frozen in ice and functioning properly. They once had some long-term torture test info posted as well. I have no doubt that the P99 design is at least as durable as the Glock, if not more so.

.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Torture tests are more stunts than tests. They are really about torturing the minds of people who worry about their guns much like men who worry about how the size of there endowment measures up to every other man's.

 

[powder]

No, they do not.

Part of reliability is parts accessibility.

 

[possum]

I have an XD service model that has over 21,000rds through it. the trigger bar broke on me on both occasions. One at about 5k and the second time at 18k. I don't have that many rounds through any one other gun so it is hard to compare. My Glock 19 has over 11k through it and I have not had any parts breakages to date.

 

[Vonderek]

Although I won't be alive to care, it would be interesting to see how the structural integrity of polymer frames hold up over several generations. Well cared for steel guns are perfectly serviceable after 100+ years. Don't know how polymer frames will degrade over a similarly long period of time.

 

[peacebutready]

So, up to $30k in ammo, and you are worried about maybe 50 bucks in spare parts over the life of the gun?

If the gun goes down, it'll hurt at least a little to depart with that $50. Money spent on ammo is different because you're getting something for your money. Money spent on parts or repair just gives you back what you already had.

 

[peacebutready]

Walther had videos (they may still be there) on their German website demonstrating the P99AS being fired underwater, filled with sand, and frozen in ice and functioning properly. They once has some long-term torture test info posted as well. I have no doubt that the P99 design is at least as durable as the Glock, if not more so.

This kind of info is helpful to us.

 

[peacebutready]

Torture tests are more stunts than tests.

I say its useful for some things. If picking out a gun for doomsday scenario's, which would you pick, a Glock or a Kimber?

 

[peacebutready]

I have an XD service model that has over 21,000rds through it. the trigger bar broke on me on both occasions. One at about 5k and the second time at 18k. I don't have that many rounds through any one other gun so it is hard to compare. My Glock 19 has over 11k through it and I have not had any parts breakages to date.

Good info. Maybe the XD is not as robust as the Glock. I thought they were.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

My firearm gets way more wear and tear bumping into the radio console and other things while constantly getting in and out of the car, or being rubbed by seat belt fittings than it ever will getting run over, buried in gravel, thrown off a roof or anything else. It's nemesis is uniform and holster lint.

I want to see someone do a 100K holster draw torture test. Or a 100K drop the mag and cycle the action torture test.

 

[possum]

Good info. Maybe the XD is not as robust as the Glock. I thought they were.

I think that was a part issue more so than an XD issue. Mine is a .40 XD and .40 handguns are a little rougher compared to the same gun in 9mm. I have often said that if mine was a 9mm, I don't think the trigger bar would have broken.

 

[CaliCoastie]

My xd40 has run great, no problems and somewhere in the 17k range. Glocks don't fit me. Wife runs a g36 joy alt of rounds through that one but no problems either. Their used to be a xd torture test similar to the Gluck one running around the net, if I was inclined I'd take a search.

 

[Nom de Forum]

I say its useful for some things. If picking out a gun for doomsday scenario's, which would you pick, a Glock or a Kimber?

A Glock. Fewer parts to replace. Parts that require no hand fitting to install. Many more Glocks lying around in the ruins of Police facilities than for Kimbers. Oops! Peacebutready we are straying into TEOTWAWKI land. Best not pursue this inquiry in the thread, PM me if you like. Sorry Mods. Mea culpa.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Good info. Maybe the XD is not as robust as the Glock. I thought they were.

It was not as robust as that Glock. Repeat with two other examples of those pistols and you could get the opposite result.

 

[Nom de Forum]

My firearm gets way more wear and tear bumping into the radio console and other things while constantly getting in and out of the car, or being rubbed by seat belt fittings than it ever will getting run over, buried in gravel, thrown off a roof or anything else. It's nemesis is uniform and holster lint.

I want to see someone do a 100K holster draw torture test. Or a 100K drop the mag and cycle the action torture test.

My firearms get more wear and tear from the near constant adoring caresses I give them while they fill my mind with fantasies of empowerment and superiority. Just kidding.

Thumbs up on that 100k holster draw torture test and drop the mag and cycle (ain't gonna use the mean "T" word) test.

 

[Blue Brick]

There's plenty of Glocks with well over 100,000 rounds through them. That's probably several lifetimes for a wheelgun.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/ruger_security_six.htm

If one bought a Security Six, one could expect a lifetime of full use and still be able to hand it to one’s children with nary a problem. I once knew of an indoor range that had one as a rental gun and it digested, by their estimate, some 1,400,000 rounds with no parts breakages and minimal maintenance. That is the essence of a good deal!

 

[horsemen61]

That's insane about that ruger

 

[guyfromohio]

How are there stoppages, but zero malfunctions?

 

[ScottsBad]

My first post on THR

You might want to include the Walther PPQ M2 or M1. It is a very nice polymer pistol (I have 2) and it's trigger is excellent. I've put maybe 500 rounds through it so far and haven't had a single malfunction of any kind.

All of the polymer pistols are pretty reliable. I have a couple old Glocks that just keep on ticking. As for warranty, I sent them to Glock just be checked out and they replaced parts, clean them, and test fired them, and shipped them back to me with the test targets no charge. I wasn't the original owner of one of them.

Finally, you can just about buy two Glocks for the price of an HK. It just doesn't make sense to buy the HK.

 

[Fishbed77]

How are there stoppages, but zero malfunctions?

A stoppage could be the result of bad ammo or user error.

 

[jon_in_wv]

A Glock. Fewer parts to replace. Parts that require no hand fitting to install.

Really if you look at the parts count of a 1911 and a Glock they are almost the same. Especially if you eliminate grips, grip screws, and escutcheons which the 1911 can function fine without. When it comes to moving parts I would bet the 1911 actually wins. The fact Glock parts are much more universal and don't require hand fitting is a much more valid point however. That being said, I'd still take the Glock over a 1911.

 

[jjones45]

I started drinking the glock kool aide years ago, then really drank hk kool aide for a while, then enjoyed the m&p flavor, and now I am really digging the walther ppq. All of these pistols are excellent quality and durable. I trust every polymer gun I own to be reliable as the next. Right now though the ppq is my favorite and I suggest you take a look or shoot one if at all possible. Kind of like what a striker fired hk p30 would be. I love my plastic fantastics

 

[Nom de Forum]

Really if you look at the parts count of a 1911 and a Glock they are almost the same. Especially if you eliminate grips, grip screws, and escutcheons which the 1911 can function fine without. When it comes to moving parts I would bet the 1911 actually wins. The fact Glock parts are much more universal and don't require hand fitting is a much more valid point however. That being said, I'd still take the Glock over a 1911.

I am calling it a night. Tomorrow I'll do that parts count with you and I don't think we will find that the Glock has more parts, even after not counting the 1911 parts you eliminated from your count.