Your thoughts on Polymer handguns

[10-Ring]

It took me a while to find one that I really liked & now I've become a total convert...well, at least I've learned to like a specific design!
My personal choice is the HK USP & USPc line of poly guns

 

[one45auto]

I've heard some good things about polymer pistols, and even held and shot a few in my time, but frankly they've never appealed to me. I'm a bit old fashioned in that regard, I suppose. I like the feel and reassuring heft of cold, hard steel when it comes to shooting.

 

[Lagadelphia]

I am a polymer guy. I've never owned a non polymer pistol. I have shot steel/alloy framed hand guns and liked them just fine as well and plan to own some at some point.

Most of the arguments against seem to stem from purely astetic reasons. I agree that poly pistols are not as astetically pleasing as your steel and wood types can be.

People have mentioned not liking the triggers. Personally the triggers on my Glocks are exactly how I think a trigger should feel. From the first shot of my G 27, I said to myself "This is it. This is how a gun should feel." Purely subjective, I know. But then what about firearms isn't aside from wether it goes bang or not or is reliable or not?

The pro's to polymer, Glocks in my case, are :

The finish, the weight savings, the ruggedness

Con's: If it doesn't fit your hand, you are SOL. With frame and wood guns, you can swap out the grip pannels and go larger or smaller to fit your hand better.

At the end of the day, there are so many makes and models out there made of the various materials that there is something for everyone. With that stated, there really isn't any reason for people to bicker over what is "better" when what is considered "better" is purely subjective.

 

[Tag]

At the end of the day, there are so many makes and models out there made of the various materials that there is something for everyone. With that stated, there really isn't any reason for people to bicker over what is "better" when what is considered "better" is purely subjective.

ok, I think that is the end game of the debate, Polymer guns make good tools and have no soul, steel guns make good tools and can have a lot of soul.

How about the different polymer guns themselves? I used to own a Glock and made what I considered a jump up to an HK.

Who makes the best polymer gun? I'd say HK. Everything that I did not like about my glock, specifically the loose slide to frame fit and the weak slide stop are non issues w/ the HK...

The double action trigger on the stock USP is evil but it does smooth out some with use.

I don't much care for the roll pins and the warnings against detail stripping the USP but in reality thats the beauty of the polymer frame, just rince it out in the sink and hit it w/ some compressed air, dishwasher safe.

 

[Mannlicher]

I don't own a plastic handgun, and won't

 

[Mil Novecientos Once]

I dislike plastic in guns, but my 1911 rides on a kydex iwb

 

[TheFrontRange]

The only polymer-framed gun I've owned was a Ruger P95DC. It was actually a GREAT gun...but...I guess it's something I can't verbalize all that well...it just didn't move me the way a non-polymer does. A 1911...a Smith K-Frame Magnum with wooden grips...those guns move me.

I was recently debating between a Glock 19 and a SIG P228. Both are in a size range I like. Both fit my hand very well. In the end...the nod went to the SIG. When the dollars were the same between polymer and alloy, alloy won for me. No knock at all to the Glocks and other polymers of the world...they work and work well for a lot of folks, and more power to 'em.

 

[magsnubby]

polymer handgunsw

i own several glocks and love 'em all. tough little buggers. still ain't nothin' like blue steel and walnut.

 

[outofbattery]

I view my guns as tools , they're no more inheirantly significant or embody anything special about them than my toaster oven or electric toothbrush . I happen to prefer certain toaster ovens and electric toothbrushes over others but I don't get too passionate over which toaster or toothbrush I must have and use or which ones I loathe - just like guns . I grew up reading Sgt Rock comic books and had an official Sgt Rock .45 for years of playing Army so of course it became my favorite pistol .It was the disappointment of a lifetime when I finally got to shoot one that I found I really didn't like it and have never been able to get along with any 1911's since even though I keep trying I've never got too caught up in having an emmotional attachment to any particular gun after that and don't really see a need to . As long as it is comfortable in my hand , goes bang when I want it to and generally puts the bullet where I want it to be I couldn't care less what the gun is and what it's made from . It's pretty much a toss up on any given day whether I'll be wearing a plastic Walther , a steel or plastic Sig , a Glock or an alloy framed Smith and Wesson ; I have a much harder time deciding which pair of shoes to wear !

In short : plastic works just as well for me as steel . I don't really get those folks that bad mouth *tupperware* but to each their own , all I can say is that they're missing out on some really great guns by being so closed minded .

 

[45R]

I've owned 3 polyer guns and I really like them all. No problems with any of them. Each has been reliable and durable.

I still prefer steel.

 

[stealthmode]

i have a usp and i like it alot. it is super accurate and have not had any misfeeds or fail to whatever with it, its a great performing weapon.

there are however a couple of thigs that i would change about it. the grip is a little thin walled and on the frame rail things i would make them more robust. other than that fine weapon.

after that, i like metal guns better.

 

[Tag]

My USP just served to introduce two new shooters. Despite my best efforts there was some limp wristing involved. Through 200 rounds the HK did not miss a beat, I think the USP design is immune to limp wristing...

PS. both shooters were girls, and both were getting a good waffle imprint on their palms from those aggressive grips, good shooting though.

 

[TheFrontRange]

Hal and Dirty Harry

( I was watching Dirty Harry the other night for the umpteeenth time. Anybody else wince when he tossed his Smith across the concrete? All I could think was if it was poly-gun,,,pffft,,,who cares!)

Hal...yes...you are SO right! I cringe at that deep-blue-steel-sliding-on-concrete sound effect! A couple of years later in "Magnum Force," it's presumed that the 29 is blown to smithereens in Biggs's unmarked Ford. And later still in "Sudden Impact," the beloved Magnum is lost in the surf! Why does Clint do that to us?!?!?!

 

[jlw_84]

reading this I can tell how people use their weapons

CCW with practiced Tactics and Training

or

Saturday Morning Range time with two hour bull*** session afterwards about who has the biggest and most expensive

 

[Chubbo]

My thoughts on plastic guns is, the same as it on anything plastic. It makes a cheep, poor substitute for anything that can be made of a proven,substantial materal. It is a sign of our times. A manufacturer finds a cheep way to make a product, then sells the public on that product, through advertisement, and bribeing the testers of such products that it is the greatest thing since the discovery of fire. Once our gullible public has been sold on whatever cheep to manufacture product it might be, they will, in time be stuck with that product. If the S&W, Colt Browning, or any other gun manufacturer decided to build a gun from compressed camel dung, given the right praise from the gun writers, the right hoopla from the advertisers, the public would be buying them in record numbers. If it is the in thing, our public will buy it regardless. Given, somethings mad of plastic have their place, but not guns.
Chubbo

 

[Waxed Canvas]

MAKE MINE STEEL MAKE MINE STEEL

 

[fastbolt]

Hi again ...

After reading though many of the responses (subscribed thread), I took a quick peek inside my safe to made a rough count of handguns. There's 21 (easily seen, anyway ) ... 2 of those are polymer framed ... and of those 2 polymer framed pistols, one of them is issued.

Make of it what you will

 

[Tag]

Everyone (who looks down on plastic framed guns) always talks about how 'cheap' polymer guns are... that stuff is not cheap, injection molding compared to machining the frame is where the cost savings comes in, but materials wise, I bet the polymers used in Glock’s and HK's on a pound per pound basis would be more expensive than the steel used in your 1911.

 

[Norton]

If you think that we're bad....try being a musician and debating your equipment.

Mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, silver plate/lacquer coat, oil, large bore/small bore:banghead:

I'll take the same position on the polymer/metal debate as I do with my music rigs........use what works best for YOU. We are an incredibly complex machine ourselves, and to think that what works for someone else will inherently work for us is foolish.

Someone once told me that in an average marching band show, there is a possibility of something like 2 million mistakes that can be made...making it all the more impressive when a show looks good.

Look at all of the things that can vary between shooters.....height, arm length, palm size, finger length, finger thickness, near sighted/far sighted, neck length, upper body strength, stance.....well, you get the idea.

If you take into consideration all of those variables, it's a miracle that we can shoot each other's guns at all.

 

[Norton]

I grew up reading Sgt Rock comic books

Me too I miss my Sgt Rock comic books In fact, I read all of those old war comic books....learned a lot of history through those rags......

 

[magsnubby]

polymer handguns

I must admit i'm jus' uh dumb ole redneck farm boy who's very slow to accept modern technolgy. For someone who was raised on S&W wheel guns and Colt Woodsman .22's they was some strange lookin' thangs. But i deceided if i opened my mind a little (not to much,don't want my brain to fall out) and at least checked 'em out i could really have a reason to hate them tupperware lookin' thangs. Next thang i know 'im packin' home a Glock 23 in .40 cal. At that time i only owned three other handguns and the Glock fast became my favorite. Carried it on the tractor, in my truck ond on my hip. It was always ready to go if needed. I have two guns out 21 that i will never part with, my Glock and a Security Six i bought in 1977. So keep that mind closed. It leaves a lot more guns for the rest of us.

 

[roscoe]

reading this I can tell how people use their weapons

I only hope that someday I can meet your exacting standards. All these dumb ole' recreational shooters here at THR . . .

Anyway - I love my P32, but polymer guns ultimately feel like they are disposable. I mean - do you think the polymer will be reliable enough for you to feel confident passing the gun to your grandson/daughter in 50 years?

 

[Tag]

yes, I do.

so long as the said 'plastic' is not left in direct sun light or soaked in oil for the whole time... oh wait



But seriously, I have not seen any stories of a Glock or a USP failing because it was too old and they have got to be nearing 20 years of service.

worn out maybe, damaged, blown to pieces in a KB, but not "the polymer frame was too old."

PS. on a lighter note, I'd just like to congratulate all THR members who will be finishing up classes this week or the next. Summer is here guys

 

[mpthole]

Well... how do I say this...

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I love my HKs, but I'm falling in love with my 1911. For me, I can draw, aim and fire more accurately on target with my 1911's than with my HKs. Don't know why, just is... the timer doesn't lie.