I don't like polymer handguns

[FourTeeFive]

Have owned a few of them, just never liked the "feel"...

Funny enough I don't care for the general ergonomics of most of them; a classic 1911 just points more naturally for me. Same with a Sig P220.

Anyway, nothing like starting the weekend with a small flame...

 

[psyopspec]

I don't like polymer handguns

Have a cookie. What kind of responses are you looking for here?

 

[Arc-Lite]

...fully agree, I don't like the feel or looks of plastic either... but most are very realiable, and perform their task well.... now ...if I am interested in looks, points and the correct "feel" of plastic...I go to hooters. nothing like a little water, on the week-end flame.

 

[Marshall]

Cool, more for me to choose from.


(I prefer steel too, my Hi-Powers point better than any semi-auto I own but I have no problem with good polymer guns. I really like my XD.)

 

[ozwyn]

I used to really like polymer frame guns, and they definitely have their place. Lightweight, easy to clean, and more often than not accompanied with a large magazine capacity.

Aluminum frames have many of the same traints, but end up more oversized and seem to transmit recoil as bad if not worse than polymer for more weight.

Then i tried a steel frame in a cz-75b and discovered why people like steel frames.

Yes it is heavier. Yes it requires more maintenance. However, the comfort/feel elements, particularly when shooting and not merely holding the gun more than make up for it.

I suspect this is one of the real strengths of the BHP design, and why it still has a strong following - because most designs out there also use steel frames.

I think steel and plymer offer very different tradeoffs in terms of benefits and sacrifices for both materials. If there is any dislike, it may be aluminum frames as the worst of both worlds.

I also think in time people will figure out how to make much more comfortable polymer frames, and get close to the weight/grip comfort/pointability steel frames seem to have naturally.

 

[ABBOBERG]

If I had a nickel for every time someone complained about a gun costing more than $600....

I don't like the feel of plastic guns either, but the polymer-framed gun is answer to keeping manufacturing costs down and keeping profits at a sustainable level. There is very little profit in making and selling guns to begin with. Even polymer guns don't get a lot of profit since people expect them to cost significantly less. I think that the only way Kel-Tec (the epitome of inexpensive plastic guns) is able to make any profit is that they sell such huge volumes. This is probably also true for Glock.

I had once estimated that a polymer frame can reduce the price of a pistol by around $100-$200, depending on the make. Now I see that you can get various aluminum, steel, or titanium frames for Glocks for a few hundred bucks. If you want real metal, all you have to do is pay for it.

 

[FourTeeFive]

"What kind of responses are you looking for here?"

I know that polymer handguns are very popular, but I was curious if others shared my opinion. I've often wondered if the development of them came more from the manufacturers wanting more cost-effective manufacturing methods.

 

[salvador31c]

I don't like polymer handguns

bite your toung or us plastic lovin folk might come n get ya

na just playing

i do love the weight n feel of steel guns but them plastic wonders do have their place in this world especialy my little world

 

[enikkor]

Variety!

I prefer all steel myself but I am not a gun snob and do realize that there
is a practical need for them. They are cheaper to manufacture, lighter
and very tough for daily use. The torture tests for Glock and XD's have
shown that these guns can take a lot, perhaps more than some all steel.
The alloy frame like Sig is a compromise to cut weight and that is why
law enforcement uses them.
To each is own. If I can't afford an all steel gun I don't have any problem
buying plastics. I just don't want to own too many varieties, since it
hinders my learning.

 

[psyopspec]

Gotcha. Other benefits besides low mfg cost are durability and easier to handle when it's cold out (up north the list of supplies for a range trip gets twice as long in the winter - mittens, hand warmers, snow boots, coffee...).

With all that, I still generally prefer aluminum and steel.

 

[GunNut]

Yeah, well I don't like aluminum framed guns. What's the reason for them to be lighter(like a polymer framed gun).

While I now enjoy ALL firearms(polymer, aluminum, and steel) I prefer polymer for their capacity and a weight.

Steve

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Polymer frame pistols are not at the top of my list either, but a "hate thread" by any other name is not allowed.

This, I think, is one of the good natured ones, but Mr. Guest did advise about this a good while back in a sticky at the top of this section.

For those who missed it:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=133354

Thanks.

 

[Boats]

I like the plastic ones more for the carrying than the shooting. Lighter weight, less maintenance, and all of that, but I also find them to be poorer in balance when firing than most alloy or steel framed pistols, because their feel changes more dramatically as the mag empties.

The increasing use of changeable backstraps helps in the grip department though, so maybe it's too early to give up on the formula.

Right now I am at the "take 'em or leave 'em" stage. They just don't interest me right now, though a Beretta PX4 in .45ACP might get my attention at 12+1 or better if it gets made.