Practical Polymer.

[grayhambone]

As far as the polymer pistol goes, everyone seems to compare each one to a glock. Personally I am a glock fan but those who aren't, I'd like to know why not?

Not another Glock fanboy page.

Just a few reasons why you have gone with another polymer framed pistol compared to the glock.

Sig
M&P
XDM
basically all of them.

 

[Breakmyfootoff]

I prefer Glocks personally, but there's lots of reasons to use the others you listed. Some of those reasons are fit, price, availability, aesthetics, ergonomics, and compatibility with previously owned firearms, or family members firearms. Everyone has different physical builds/hand size, and different likes/needs, so there is no one pistol that is perfect for everyone.

 

[Mike1234567]

I've never liked Glock grips or their angle. I like XDM and M&P.

 

[armoredman]

I can't stand Glocks, they don't fit me at all, and I don't like the trigger action. I qualify Expert or Distinguished Expert with one every year, so I can shoot one. Just don't like 'em. But this country is great, lots of guns to choose from - if we all liked the same thing, forums like this would be boring.
The polymer pistol I did choose? The CZ SP-01 Phantom. The grip angle fits me perfectly, I already have experience with CZ quality, and the longer barrel gives for even more accuracy than a typical concealment pistol. I carry it concealed quite often, and have had not one burp of trouble with it. Shown here with standard 16 round magazine for more concealability.
My polymer pick.

 

[barnetmill]

I own polymer keltecs because glock does not make thin and supersmall autos yet.
I have a polymer HiPoint only because I wanted to if they would work. I also own glocks.

 

[Carter]

I have an sr9c that I got over a glock because of the price, and a cz phantom I got due to price, external hammer, and I wanted a cz.

Looking back I wish I would have gotten the glock instead of the ruger. I'd never take one over my phantom though. The Cz with the smaller backstrap sits perfectly in my hand, its super accurate, and its something not everyone has. The only thing I don't like about it is the mags rattle.

As far as fitting my hand, the compact glocks feel good to me. I don't particularly care for the fullsized grip though. I still shoot a glock 17 just fine. Its just not my first choice.

 

[grayhambone]

I've shot basically every polymer pistol except the cz's!
Id like a little more specified answer. Why you choose the polymer you like/own. Not necessarily why you don't like glocks. I do choose glocks for simplicity. Keep it simple stupid hahaha. Also, with LE a glock is pretty resonable in most aspects of shooting. It may be because I'm use to holding it, but the grip angle works for me. As far as the coat on the slide, that's the best thing IMO to sliced bread and other things haha. I've owned xd, m&p, sig (sp&p series). My biggest gripe is the two different actions with the hammer fired guns, especially when firing with the non dominant hand.

 

[samurai]

I seem to shoot better with the M&P than I did with my Glocks- I think it's the grip angle and the different back straps.. The M&P 9c seems to fit in the middle of the 26 and 19 sizes- which is why it's my main ccw. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[mgmorden]

I have nothing against Glocks, but you could just as easily ask anybody who bought a Glock why they didn't buy one of the other brands you listed.

About the only thing Glock has going for it these days (over the competition) is that it made it to the market earlier - a factor that 30 years later I care little about. There are over a dozen other completely competent polymer pistols makers now. Most of them all make good products.

Why should a Glock be the "default" choice that one must give justification for not picking?

 

[snooperman]

I like Glocks too. I have the Glock 19 and 36. However, I changed the grip...

on mine--"Glock grip reduction". Now , they fit me perfect. I also have other Polymer guns such as the Ruger SR9, and S&W SD9, CZ Phantom, Taurus and a Keltec and like them as well. At age 70 I get bored shooting the old designs such as the 1911 etc all the time, and find the newer-lighter guns fun to shoot. I have my own range here at the farm and look forward 4 days a week of shooting them.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'd own a glock, but I'm not going out of my way to buy one. My poly pistol of choice was a Hi Point. I had $150 burning a hole. If I had to do it all over again, I'd either buy something else, or save it. But since I can't, I continue to use and enjoy my clunky ugly reliable accurate old Hi Point. Although, for carry, it has taken a back seat to my Smith. Of course, I always knew it would.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've shot basically every polymer pistol except the cz's!
Id like a little more specified answer. Why you choose the polymer you like/own.

Just a few reasons why you have gone with another polymer framed pistol compared to the glock.

I have shot almost every polymer framed service pistol...including the CZ, but not the Wilson or Kimber 1911s (I have shot the SVI/STI 1911s)...also many, but not most, of the pocket/sub-compact ones.

In my experience the finest Polymer framed gun on the market is the H&K P30 and it's larger sibling the HK45. The ergos of these guns is outstanding, it actually has a personality with style and it's accuracy is superior to most. It has a wide range of options to tailor it to the user. How can you go wrong when you ask Nills to design your grip panels? These guns are a nice evolution of the USP. H&K was the first company to introduce the polymer framed production gun to the American market and continues to produce a fine product.

At the other end of the price range, the best bang-4-buck polymer framed gun is the SigPro series...Sigs little value secret. NIB for < $400 with a very nice DA/SA trigger and outstanding accuracy...one of the most shootable guns right out of the box.

If you are looking for a striker fired polymer gun, the most stylish is the Walther P99...it has the cool Bond cache.

In the mid-range service guns I prefer the S&W M&P over the Glock.

I happen to really like my G19 quite a bit (Gen2, carried it for years), but for competition I've found the M&P9 superior in my hand for putting shots on target quickly and the adjustable backstraps make a bigger difference than I thought they would.

In moving up to the .40 caliber, there isn't any question in my mind that the M&P is the superior gun. It was designed from the outset for the .40, whereas the G22 as adapted from the G17. While I have a lot of faith in the 9mm Glocks, there have been enough issues with their .40 gun to give me pause.

I've been very pleased with the Springfield XD and XDm also. They are very accurate and the trigger very tunable...I was lucky enough to shoot an ex-Leatham gun. The XD doesn't fit my hand as well as the M&P and the XDm isn't available in my location.

There isn't anything inherently wrong with the Glock, I find them a great tool...like a Ruger...but I find that they lack enough soul to engage me

 

[acmax95]

I chose Glock because nothing has fit my hand like a G23. I have never shot a handgun as well as I do my Glock. I don't have experience with the other polymers except the SR9c my buddy just bought , and a Taurus 24/7(good, reliable gun, terrible trigger) I bought and sold a few years ago. Both are good guns but I shoot my Glock better.

 

[grayhambone]

@mgmordem

Well I used glock as a reference because that's what I carry everyday! If not glock, or the m&p
Why or why did you choose your hammer or striker fired poly

 

[Jrsmith]

I've never cared for Glocks because of the grip angle and trigger. The grip angle doesn't point "naturally" and I find them very uncomfortable to shoot. Not sure what I don't like about the trigger.. just something.

I had an XD9, liked it fine but I just never really loved it. Sold it. I went into the gun store intending to buy an M&P, love the ergo, could live with the trigger but decided to just give the SR9c a chance. Bought the Ruger, and a few hundred rounds down range its my new favorite gun of all of em. I even like the trigger better than my W. German P220 (Gasp! Blasphemy!).

The little Ruger carries well, shoots amazing (for me) and hasn't let me down yet.

That said I was sorely tempted to buy a Glock 19 I saw for a deal the other week, just BARELY held off...

 

[KAS1981]

They don't fit my hand. Way too thick & blocky. Even tried a Gen 4 with the thin back strap, no bueno.

It's too bad because I really want to like them. Whenever I buy a poly pistol it will be an XDM. Out of all the pistols I've tried, it's the best fit. Almost felt better in my hand than a 1911.

 

[grayhambone]

@9mm

Thank your for that review! That's what I wanted, I'd like to try the CZ's!!

 

[Zerodefect]

My Glock 23 fills the role that a 4" 1911 would normally have. But it's hardier and has a higher capacity. I need a little CCO, but thats $$$.

The only thing that stinks, is Glocks terrible trigger shoe. Who was the idiot that decided to split the trigger down the middle and put a pointy lever there?

I like the metal trigger on the M&P i got to shoot last weekend alot better. It wasn't noticable, allthough it was firmer.

 

[grayhambone]

@zero

The trigger on the m&p was nice but the seer (sp) disconnect was harder to find than on the glock, IMO.
Once broken in, I could feel the click on the m&p pretty well. I like the simplicity of both m&p and glocks! Although with the m&p I use the large palm swell for some reason (which isn't a bad thing). On the m&p 9 and 40 i like the glock concept of having the same grip size! The xd is good as well and I love all the diff options, but the m series is a nice add! I think less stamped parts from croatia???
As for the da/sa I like consistency
So the cz will really have to impress!

 

[frank c]

I sure like my Kahr PM9

 

[Mike J]

When I was shopping for a polymer framed pistol in 2007 I decided I wanted a .40. I began researching on the internet, Looking around gunshops, fondling guns etc. I saw the pic.'s (old now, I know they have beefed up their chamber support since then) of the difference in chamber support between the Glock & some of the other pistols I was looking at. I wanted a Glock until I ran across that. Everything I was seeing online at the time was either Glock, XD or M&P. I had decided against the Glock because of it's lack of chamber support. I couldn't find an M&P to check out. I wound up going with the XD. It has not disappointed me. It is an accurate & reliable gun.

For whatever it is worth. I have shot a 3rd generation G-23 since then. I really liked the way it shot & handled but I already have the XD & it works. I don't really see a reason to change. This may change before I have the funds to buy anything but right now I am really wanting a Ruger SR40c. I need to check them out closer before I make my final decision though.

 

[CZ57]

When I decided to get a polymer .45 I went with the XDm. It has a relieved ejection port (Glocks don't) It has a conventionally rifled barrel (Glocks don't) interchangeable backstraps to fit the pistol to my hand and an easily upgradeable trigger system.

 

[Fishbed77]

Walther P99AS

I went with a Walther P99AS in 9mm over a Glock 17/19 because I find it better in most every way.

First and foremost, the P99AS trigger is vastly better than a Glock trigger. Most folks just have to learn to live with a Glock trigger, but the AS trigger (following a short break-in period) is buttery smooth and never stands in the way of your shot. As a result, accuracy is better.

No need to pull a trigger to field strip. 'Nuff said. Easiest take-down of any pistol I've ever owned.

The P99 might be the only modern pistol that probably has a better reputation for reliability than a Glock. It's been subjected to many of the same extreme torture tests, and has been proven over the years. No history of kabooms. No string of reliability issues when a new generation is introduced (P99 is in 3rd generation, if you don't count the PPQ). They have a reputation for eating any ammo you can feed them. A conventionally-rifled barrel means no issues with lead bullets. Personally, mine has been 100% reliable through thousands of rounds of all different brands.

The fit and finish is vastly better. For about $35 more than a Glock 17, you get a pistol that is so much more refined. Yes, it's polymer, but it just feels so much nicer. Less "hollow" feeling and no plastic flash.

What sealed the deal for me was the ergonomics. The grip is shaped to fit an actual human hand, and the finger grooves are a benefit instead of the annoyance they are on a Glock. Controls are big and well placed. Some folks whine about the Walther/H&K mag release, but trust me - it works (actually, much better on a P99 than an H&K, due to the Walther's larger levers).


FYI - this isn't my Walther - just a nice photo of an identical one from the web.

 

[Old Dog]

(Caveat: Glock hater checking in) For a previous law enforcement job, I had to carry a Glock 23. Hated it. Little ticky trigger, doo-doo for sights, bad ergonomics, serious lack of aesthetics, zero soul. Accurate, reliable as all get out, but just not for me.

Come 2009, I'm issued the S&W M&P ... Trigger better than Glocks, consistent at least, excellent sights and fits my hand (with the medium backstrap) as well as my beloved 1911s. Way more accurate than any Glock I ever fired, reliability results pending (a hiccup along the way, but nothing too egregious) ... Appearance kinda growin' on me, almost looks cool now.

 

[Breakmyfootoff]

I like all the polymer pistols, I'm not going to belittle anyones decision to like a certain kind of pistol over another like a lot of the glock bashers in this thread. I chose Glock initially because no other manufacturer has established a reputation for reliability like they have. The M&P and XD are proving themselves to be good pistols, but Glock has a 30 year track record. The statements about a pistol lacking soul are kinda funny though . When did defensive pistols become fashion accessories?