Maverick223
Member
I said most, not all, parts are reinforced...some are not, but IMO the best designs utilize reinforcing materials (I think that is in there somewhere as well).
Who trusts plastic rifles?
- Thread starter Broken11b
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Maverick223, I wasn't arguing with your point.
I was just trying to make the point that there's good high-tech polymer design and manufacturing, and there's junk metal, too. There's no easy rule about materials in the modern world -- you have to find out if the particular item is designed and built well.
I was just trying to make the point that there's good high-tech polymer design and manufacturing, and there's junk metal, too. There's no easy rule about materials in the modern world -- you have to find out if the particular item is designed and built well.
Maverick223
Member
Sorry, thought you were referring to my statement above. I completely agree that there is poor quality plastics, as well as metals. Cast zinc is likely the worst POS ever inflicted upon a firearm, and I would trade it for high quality plastics any day. It largely depends upon what the part is used for and how it was designed, you can use the best plastics, steel, or other metal (titanium, scandium aluminum alloy, et cetera) and if it was not manufactured sufficiently thick or with the proper shape, then it is no better than one made of poor quality materials.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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I guess I trust certain non-essential parts being plastic (trigger guards, etc.), but I certainly don't prefer it and don't have to like it!
SMGreen
Member
I don't mind plastic furniture (and sometimes magazines), but I try my hardest to stay away from anything else that's plastic. To me at least, metal and wood are highly preferable.
essayons21
Member
Plastic guns have their uses. They are incredibly weather resistant pretty tough, cheap, lightweight, and easy to manufacture. I own a few and trust them with my life.
However, plastic has no soul. It doesn't have the look or feel of a well oiled black walnut stock or a deep gloss blue.
I'm also not confident that plastic guns have the same longevity of metal and wood. Maybe some of the newer polymers will last hundreds of years, but from my experience with other plastics, they break down over time, whether it be 50, 100, or 400 years. I expect my quality guns to last that long if properly cared for.
As I speak there is a fully functional 400 year old firearm hanging over my father's fireplace made of brass, steel, and wood. Only time will tell if the new polymers have the same longevity.
However, plastic has no soul. It doesn't have the look or feel of a well oiled black walnut stock or a deep gloss blue.
I'm also not confident that plastic guns have the same longevity of metal and wood. Maybe some of the newer polymers will last hundreds of years, but from my experience with other plastics, they break down over time, whether it be 50, 100, or 400 years. I expect my quality guns to last that long if properly cared for.
As I speak there is a fully functional 400 year old firearm hanging over my father's fireplace made of brass, steel, and wood. Only time will tell if the new polymers have the same longevity.
Quentin
Member
My buddy has a Bushmaster Carbon 15. While I don't know how long the polymer/fiber receivers will last under heavy use, so far it's been a tough little rifle. And light.
CMP
Member
Isnt the HK G36 mad of an awful lot of polymer?
Maverick223
Member
Yes and from some accounts a bit of a melting problem.
Uncle Mike
Member
I don't know about the HK melting...but I DO know Glocks will melt!
Will Fennell
Member
CX4 carbine
rcmodel,
The Beretta CX4 carbine has a plastic hammer.......its huge[ the hammer itself], and I have not heard of one failing.
rcmodel,
The Beretta CX4 carbine has a plastic hammer.......its huge[ the hammer itself], and I have not heard of one failing.
Maverick223
Member
I was talking about melting while firing (during prolonged FA fire, an unsubstantiated rumor that I heard)...or has that happened to Glocks as well? ...and before you ask...I mean discharging the gun, not putting it into the fire (or on a camp stove).
Uncle Mike
Member
I have never heard of a Glock going limp from usage...but they don't do well left on the stove overnight! lol hehehe
Man, I would have cried...I think I did when I saw it! hehehehe
I have heard of hand-guards getting mushy, as you say, during full auto fire ...never seen it though.
Man, I would have cried...I think I did when I saw it! hehehehe
I have heard of hand-guards getting mushy, as you say, during full auto fire ...never seen it though.
Maverick223
Member
From laughing so hard?
murdoc rose
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steel covered in wood here, what I'm wondering is in 30 years will these plastic guns still shoot or just fall to dust.
I've got a few old Mossberg 22's from the early 40's. Mossberg experimented with a new plastic called "bakelite" at that time. The trigger gaurd and buttplate are made of it. The only thing they do is shrink a little but then so did the wood. Today's composites are much more durable IMO and will last even longer. So I'd say most composites will last at least 70 years. My 1950 M70 Supergrade has a bakelite forend cap that looks like new too. I had a 2005 special order Kimber with ebony wood forend cap that cracked. In many cases composites will outlast wood.
CYANIDEGENOCIDE
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I like polymer better than steel when it is designed properly.
example: take the magazine out of glock and hit the bottom of the magwell with a hammer, it will bounce back. Try the same thing with a steel 1911 and it will permanently deform. I see dropping a more likely scenario than overheating.
Of course when I saw all the plastic inside the FCG of the new remingtons I bought an older model and swapped out the plastic for metal parts.
example: take the magazine out of glock and hit the bottom of the magwell with a hammer, it will bounce back. Try the same thing with a steel 1911 and it will permanently deform. I see dropping a more likely scenario than overheating.
Of course when I saw all the plastic inside the FCG of the new remingtons I bought an older model and swapped out the plastic for metal parts.
We already know if composites will last decades. The Remington Nylon 66's are still running. HK's sold in the '70's are still good to go. The FRN furniture on them would take a ferocious beating and put up with a lot more abuse than wood. I've never heard of handguard problems firing them. The Germans don't have a reputation for designing failure.
If anything, all that soulful wood and blued steel will cause major maintenance and structural failure in hard use. That's why modern combat rifles no longer use them.
Working tools have robust finishes. The SCAR will do just fine being dragged through gravel or banging around in a HMMV. It would probably look better than the post '64 lever .30-30 I have. There would be no rust, cracks in the stock, or faded case hardening.
Tools sometimes have to be used in the rain. I prefer mine to be environmentally resistant.
If anything, all that soulful wood and blued steel will cause major maintenance and structural failure in hard use. That's why modern combat rifles no longer use them.
Working tools have robust finishes. The SCAR will do just fine being dragged through gravel or banging around in a HMMV. It would probably look better than the post '64 lever .30-30 I have. There would be no rust, cracks in the stock, or faded case hardening.
Tools sometimes have to be used in the rain. I prefer mine to be environmentally resistant.
I think this question in general is blown out of proportion. Honestly I'm not trusting my life on any rifle. I'm not out hunting bad guys and I don't leave one by the night stand. I'm in an area where most people trust firearms to take game and that's about it. For me I trust them enough to shoot them at the range or field but neither plastic rifles nor metal ones are in a position to defend my life.
I feel non-metal parts can do a specific job just as well if not better than their metal counterparts, though execution and design are still the biggest issue. If those two issues are squared away I don't worry much about the material used.
I feel non-metal parts can do a specific job just as well if not better than their metal counterparts, though execution and design are still the biggest issue. If those two issues are squared away I don't worry much about the material used.
Uncle Mike
Member
I always use the Glock when hammering nails! Never the 1911! lol hehehe
Mav, that guy was tore up! Yeah, we laughed then cried.....I sold him a new one!
You know, we HAD to send that pistol to ATF and then it went to Glock and finally back to the owner... oh the embarrassment!
Maverick223
Member
I think the Colt Army/Navy models were made for that...not a very ergonomic pistol, but a pretty ergonomic hammer/club.
Seriously?...why did you have to do that?
kd7nqb
Member
It seems like most the guns with polymer in them have enough out in circulation that if there were a major issue a gun board like this would be an easy place to find a horror story. Lacking that I say your fine.
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