My daughter and I were bored today, so we went to Gander Mountain and Shooters to look at new and used handguns. Didn't see any used any used S&W's of any sort. Saw alot of polymer guns, Springfield XD's, Glocks, Taurus and Berettas. and some other makers. I did see an all steel MAB-15 with 2 magazines at Gander, but I am worried about parts for that and spare mags.

I have looked at the M&P and PX4, I skipped by the Taurus models just because and it seems everyone wants a Glock. Even my non gun owning brother in law asked me about Glocks yesterday at Christmas dinner. I showed him a few that I own and told him to call me when he wants to go shooting I will let him try them.

I did show off my Ruger Vaquero Bisley with Executioner stag grips to the guys at Shooters and they all said the same thing "this is heavy". Most of these guys are my age or older so I know they have shot and held heavier revolvers so I didn't know what the problem was.

One of the guys mentioned he wanted to buy a model 29 but couldn't find one cheap enough, I told join the club.

I am not making any decision right away but I guess it will be a polymer auto for the next purchase.

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Stan

Are you thinking something for carry, general use, or?

either, but really just ranting I can't find any steel guns hardly anymore. I am debating in my other post between Beretta and S&W.

Just wishing for the old days.

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Stan

I still find plenty of nice non poly 1911s out there.


Jim

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Big bullets leave big holes

I've got two Ruger "P" pistols...they are fine...but I really like all steel....or at least all metal!

I guess polymer is here to stay...but I don't like it.

What really grinds my gears is when firearms that were originally designed as all metal start sneaking in non metal parts, i.e. 1911, Ruger 10/22.

Damn, I hate when they do that.

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G.P. Charlie

There are quite a lot of Sig pistols in all metal. I think they are good quality and available in many configurations and price points. It's funny,
I have many Smith and Wessons, my first was a Model 59 double stack pistol, I did not own it for long and I have never had another S&W Auto. I used to think I would like a Model 41, but my Pardini SP from my old friend and Olympian Don Nygord fills that space very well. I think Don has been gone 3 or 4 years now and I know many miss him.

Dwight

I cant make myself choke down the plastic thing. I did finally realize the need years ago that saving a few ounces helped carrying a gun all day a little more comfortable, so I accepted alloy frames as a viable alternative.

Having been a long time proponent of the 1911, I switched to lightweight Commanders and Officer Models. I had always liked the looks and feel of Sigs, but refused (and still do) to carry a 9mm. When Sig introduced the 229 in 40, I bought one and fell in love. I found I shot the Sig far better than a 1911 and while I am still not convinced a double action gun has any real advantage over a SA my 229 is my go to gun for carrying a bottom feeder.

I have a few 1911's already and some Hi Powers one of the Hi Powers is in 40 S&W and I have a Glock 24, I don't like the 40 S&W that much so I doubt I will buy anything in that caliber.


It just seems everyone is pushing the Glock, XD and SIG 250. I do own SIGS in 9mm and 45 and 38 super and I like them.

But most of the smaller stores have closed up shop, and we are left with the big warehouse stores to buy handguns from and they stock what is popular I guess. Christmas Eve I spoke to a lady I know and she was selling a Beretta Silver pigeon trap gun and she complained that when she took it to GM they offered her around $600.00 for it. She knows what the gun is worth and she kept it, I told her to try the net and I am sure there is a Beretta forum.

I go to Shooter's because I know the guys there and they can order just about anything. I haven't ever been to Badger guns in Milwaukee and I haven't been to the Shooter Shop in West Allis for about 2 years.

I go to the shows about once every six weeks and look around there but most of the S&W's for sale are now way out of affordability. That is partly our fault here if we had kept quiet they would still be cheaper maybe hahaha.

I miss going into Eagle Trading in Kenosha and seeing Fred who almost always had a half a dozen S&W revolvers in stock.

Maybe I am just getting old or maybe it is post holiday depression, to cheer myself up I go to the guns for sale and look at the old model 10s for sale there.

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Stan

Polymer is here to stay and I believe we will see more of it and other composite materials in the S&W revolver line in the near future. Think Ruger LCR and imagine how S&W might design something similar - that is a revolver with modular assemblies and composite materials. We certainly have not see the end of S&W's attempts to build revolvers that are cheaper to produce and yet offer shooters most of what they want except traditional quality and construction.

I saw a video from Ruger yesterday that demonstrates that the polymer trigger housing on the 10/22 is actually quite superior to the old aluminum one. By dropping progressively heavier weights on the trigger housings they destroyed three of the aluminum units and were still on the first polymer one which had only begun to crack and was still serviceable.

Heresy I say, heresy. As soon as Smith & Wesson tries to market a modular revolver the traditionalist and non-traditionalist alike will crucify them. Even in this thread there are those who will not recognize that many of the polymer semi-auto's are equal (and some cases superior) to their metalic counterparts.

Just like Harley Davidson eventually going to a water cooled V-twin, even if it's superior the naysayers will have no part of it for no other reason than it's different.

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- Change it back -

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I hear'ya man! I know what you are saying....but...I'm just a "traditionalist"...if you know what I mean?

God intended guns to be made out of blued steel and walnut....nothing else...get the picture?

(Psssssttttt.....I'm just jerking you around. Yes, I know we are going to have to live with polymer....but I don't like it!)

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G.P. Charlie

when i think about firearms i think about ,a graceful full stock Pennsylvania muzzle loader , a colt single action mod. p, a graceful s&w K mod , A colt 1911. I do not think of plastic this is just my opinion ,I think of holding MY wife and not a plastic blow up doll. I know plastic is GOOD in many applications such as sewer pipe (wont have residue sticky, won't let tree roots in )I still like the feel of the reel thing . I also think of the men that shaped the wood & metal.I hope we always have the artistry of fine wood & steel firearms

Yeah, the 1911 rack was all steel guns.

I only saw maybe 2 S&Ws used of any type last time I was in a gun store, though.

Not at my house. Steel is king here and will be for my remaining time on earth. I don't even like aluminum alloy. Only the AR 15, and the floor plate of a Ruger 77 have any aluminum about them. Oh yeah, then there's the wretched Kel Tec P3AT and its plastic.

I'm grateful that I'm not required to own polymer.

I suppose it's the future, but I rather like blued steel and wanut! Speaking of all steel gun's has anyone have any experience with the new Armalite AR-24's? Sorta would like one in 9mm.

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Stay safe people!