Polymer frames

[electric wombat]

Ok so what's the deal with polymer framed handguns? Why are manafactures turning toward polymer frames & why have they gotten so popular? This is only my opinion but aesthetically they look like toy guns or cheap airsoft guns. They tend to feel very bulky in my hand & to me are very top heavy (especially glock models). It's almost like plastic & i feel like if i accidentally drop it or put it down too hard it'll break. I've talked to other in the gun shops about this & i'm not the only one with this opinion. I'd like to hear some of yalls opinions on polymer frames pro or con.

 

[fletcher]

They're durable, light, and inexpensive. Molding is cheaper than machining, and their toughness and elasticity allow for thinner sections to be used than with metal.

I wouldn't be concerned with them breaking - it's not really going to happen unless you do something severe to it.

But, I still prefer metal frames. I prefer the weight/balance and the "solid" feel, although I have no doubts that a polymer frame works just fine.

 

[MarcusWendt]

I used to be in the all metal crowd as I tried Glocks and just didn;t like them. They seemed crappy to em, didn't feel goo in my hand and weren't very accurate.

Since then, I've purchased an M&P, a Walther P99, and a Springfield XD. I have a Sig Pro2022 on order.

I love them all. I honestly worry more about scratching my sexy all stainless gun than I do about any of my poly guns.

The M&P thus far is my favorite. I shoot .40 S&W in almost all my guns and the M&P really tames the .40

 

[briang2ad]

I'm a CZ guy...

because I like the steel and classic lines in a modern gun. BUt, now, I am an XD fan - excellent desing (except the extractor) and it looks great in my book. Go figure.

 

[DougDubya]

Polymer as a material has been proven to work since HK first created their polymer-framed handguns in the 1970's - the P9S and the VP70.

Basically, since it works, I have no compunctions. Glock, Springfield XD, HK USP - they work as well as 1911's, Berettas and alloy SIGs.

If anything, I have a hankering for either a SIG SP2022 or a SIG P250 now.

 

[PO2Hammer]

It's good to see a young guy who appreciates walnut and steel, but someday you might come to understand the poly pistols' advantages.

My H&K USP .45 will always look ugly next to a Les Baer, but there's not a steel pistol out there that will do everything my H&K will do.

 

[Zak Smith]

The great thing about Glocks is that they work, from the box, and they're all the same. For a defensive handgun, there are functional characteristics which, with proper mindset, should over-ride first reactions like "doesn't fit hand" (all you have to be able to do is press the trigger-- the vast vast majority of people can do this properly with a Glock) or "feels cheap." A polymer-framed pistol is lighter than a steel-frame pistol and as such often reveals poor trigger press and grip habits to a greater extent that steel handguns and many conclude that they are "less accurate" because of this-- in error.

On the other hand, this technically has a polymer grip also-

............... Larger version of above photo.

 

[Ala Dan]

Yes, polymer frame guns do work~!

But, I still prefer all metal frame designs; including the aluminum alloy
SIG frames. Here in Alabama, throw one of those "fantastic plastic"
guns on the hat rack of your vechile with the windows rolled up; on
one of those HOT STEAMY July-August-or September days, [when
the temp is 110 degrees in the shade] and see what happens to
your favorite firearm~!

 

[DawgFvr]

Rediculous...I carried a glock at Fort McClellan, AL all year long. It was half the size/weight of a metal weapon...and, unlike my 1911, it was always reliable.

 

[Wineoceros]

Here in Alabama, throw one of those "fantastic plastic"
guns on the hat rack of your vechile with the windows rolled up; on
one of those HOT STEAMY July-August-or September days, [when
the temp is 110 degrees in the shade] and see what happens to
your favorite firearm

What is it that you would expect to happen to a polymer-framed pistol under those conditions?

 

[Ske1etor]

What is it that you would expect to happen to a polymer-framed pistol under those conditions?

The same thing that will happen after shooting about 500 rounds nonstop...

 

[electric wombat]

It's good to see a young guy who appreciates walnut and steel, but someday you might come to understand the poly pistols' advantages.

I know polymer pistols have their place & advantages but you won't find one in my collection. In my book I appreciate the look and feel of a steel frame & wooden grips. To me it has more character.

 

[jocko]

polymer all the way

would not think of carrying anything but my kahr PM9 polymer only 14 ounces extremely lite, super accurate and rides in my front pocket 24/7. Love the all steel versions but just can't see myself carrying it when I can carry about half the same weight. Guess that is why most mfg-ers make both styles. THEY AIM TO PLEASE. But it does seem the newer models being introduced in the market are POLYMER...

 

[Halo]

Since Glock frames are made out of Nylon 6, which has a melting point of 216 Celsius, they're not going to melt in your car anywhere on this planet. If you're somewhere hot enough for it to melt you have bigger problems on your hand.

 

[DawgFvr]

Weapons are tools! Walnut and steel...what is it with people who want to personalize and make their weapons into pieces of art. Oh sure, I can appreciate a fine made weapon...I do so love my M1 Garand...but if I had to slog in the swamps or trek up mountains, I'll choose the M16 over it every time. Every job has the right tool for it...don't start getting romantic with your pistol or revolver though...eh?

 

[SeanMTX]

Here in Alabama, throw one of those "fantastic plastic"
guns on the hat rack of your vechile with the windows rolled up; on
one of those HOT STEAMY July-August-or September days, [when
the temp is 110 degrees in the shade] and see what happens to
your favorite firearm

LMAO!

 

[Zak Smith]

At the 2005 ITRC, I shot 305 rounds through a Glock 19 in 12 minutes while running through the shoot house. Most of the ammo was Winchester "Nato" 9mm. It ran fine the entire time and was hardly warm afterwards. Contrast to the prior year-- my partner's Kimber poly double-stack 1911 had visible mirage coming off the slide.. however, it also ran fine.

-z

 

[CWL]

Why are manafactures turning toward polymer frames & why have they gotten so popular?

Methinks this question is about 30 years late. Polymer handguns have long-since proved themselves. It is only the individual's personal preference on whether to like or dislike.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

"Why are manafactures turning toward polymer frames & why have they gotten so popular?"
Polymer frames allow a greater profit margin for the manufacturer. Plain and simple.

 

[fastbolt]

Double action revolvers ... metallic cartridges ... center fire ammunition ... smokeless powder ... aluminum frames!?!

I imagine a few firearms innovations were met with a bit of initial skepticism and mistrust over the years.

Granted, I've always appreciated a well-crafted steel handgun with wood grips. I even traded off a Colt lightweight Commander for one of the then-new Combat Commanders ... for concern over the durability of the aluminum frame. Wish I'd kept it, of course.

I came a bit late to accepting polymer-framed pistols. I liked the P9S chambered in .45 ACP which I carried for a while, but didn't particularly care for the Glock when it was first released. The grip angle, heft, balance and trigger were 'odd' compared to the steel & aluminum-framed pistols I favored and carried.

Fast forward a number of years and I find I own a couple of Glocks, a couple of Walther-framed SW99's and have a M&P45 on order.

I've fired thousands and thousands of rounds through polymer-framed guns in the several years I've owned personal examples and carried an issued SW99 chambered in .40 S&W for a few years.

I've been through 7 armorer classes for 4 different polymer-framed pistols.

Granted, if I were unlucky enough to experience an over-pressure event I'd prefer to have a metal-framed pistol in my hand.

Polymer can be chipped, cracked and broken a bit easier than steel or aluminum in some unintended impact situations ... but it also withstands some stresses commonly expected to occur in the normal operation of a pistol better than some metal frames, too.

Certainly lighter and easier to carry around all day.

I think the major manufacturers have done rather well with recognizing and properly utilizing the inherent advantages and strengths of polymer frames in many of the high quality pistols available on the market.

It's less expensive to produce a pistol which uses a molded polymer frame, as well.

Owning 5 polymer-framed pistols might be 'enough' for me ... and having only 1 polymer-framed .45 pistol among the 9 of them I'll shortly own might be 'enough' when it comes to plastic .45's, too.

When all is said and done I look at polymer-framed pistols as functional, easy to maintain, serviceable tools rather than 'works of art'.

I reserve that status for nicely done single action revolvers. Everything else is just a handgun.

 

[boomer1911a1]

Did anybody mention that they don't rust? That's specifically why I bought my various poly-frames (Ruger P345, Tarus PT-111, Ruger 22/45.) If I get another, it'll be a coin toss between the XD-45 and the M&P .45. But that will come after I get the S&W M-21 .44 Spl.

 

[buzz_knox]

Polymer frames allow a greater profit margin for the manufacturer. Plain and simple.

They also allow for higher capacity in the same grip size (due to thinner walls and lack of grips) and lighter weight than an alloy or steel weapon of equivalent size.

 

[Gun Slinger]

I grew up with "all steel" firearms and still like them quite a bit.

However, with polymer framed handguns come many advantages like corrosion resistance, lighter overall weight, increased impact resistance and durability and somewhat increased capacity. They can also be tailored to fit more easily than 'all steel' firearms due to the advent of easily interchangeable grip inserts found on many of the designs that have come about in more recent years.

There are disadvantages in the trade-off of steel for polymer construction in terms of solvent compatabilty for certain chemically unstable polymers and the relative difficulty of repairing scratches or blemishes in a polymer frame, but overall the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by a fairly decent margin.

The "melting point" argument so often made by those who dislike polymer framed handguns is wholly without merit since the polymer in these 'newfangled' weapons doesn't melt until rather elevated temperatures are reached (Besides being chemically resistant, the Nylon 6,6 used in Glock's frames has a melting point of 505.4*F/263*C and doesn't begin to soften until ~450*F/232.2*C is reached) and will not melt if left in a hot car in the summer as is so often claimed to be the case by it's detractors.

These firearms have been around for well over 30+ years (the HK P9 and VP70, the Glock being a 'newcomer' hitting the U.S. market in ~1986 with only 22 years on scene) without issues of embrittlement arising and the polymers used today will most likely outlast the owners of these guns by a factor of ten.

I'd say that they are a definite advance in the field and judging from their three decade long success they seem to be here to stay.

 

[DWARREN123]

It works and suppose to flex and make recoil feel less. Cheaper to mass produce. Many answers.

 

[hybridgenius]

I was about to say... polymer isnt gonna melt in the sun like ZINC lol