39 and not a single plastic gun in my inventory. I've collected early post war S&W "Pre" Models since I was in my twenties. In my 30's I moved along to earlier Colt's.

Well, a couple have owned up to it - I am a curmudgeon about a lot of things and often decry a lot of what I perceive is being lost to our heritage in today's "culture".

But when I use the term "plastic" to describe a gun I'm using the term literally, in the traditionalist terms. A "wooden" gun is a toy I had when I was a kid - it looked like an old muzzle loader. A "steel" gun has a wood stock or grips and a "plastic" gun has a polymer frame. That's just how I think about them. No judgmental inferences. Now, when I am joking, I refer to my Glock 17 (yes, had it for years) as my "Tupperware" gun. I like it because it works, and it was primarily bought to participate in night matches and was outfitted with tritium sites from the get-go. But for carry purposes, I find a Sig 239 or a Browning HP fills my preference/needs for 9mm better. I've tried other "plastic" guns and let them go for other reasons besides the material they were manufactured from. I decided I didn't like the Springer SD's because, to me, the bore axis is too high and not comfortable to me or conducive to me doing my best shooting. I had two and traded them off. I've owned 5 Glocks of different calibers and traded them all off except the 17, mostly because I practice "Mexican" carry more than anything else and I don't recommend doing that with a Glock.

By the time the S&W M&P semis came on the scene, my stable of semi-autos was full up and though I like the way they feel, I saw no need to buy one since I didn't have a niche to fill. But it wasn't because they were plastic guns. The Sigma style guns . . . well, that's another story.

I just appreciate the artistry and workmanship of a fine "steel" gun with wood appointments; a "plastic" gun to me is a working tool.

I am 77 and do not own any plastic guns of any kind, don't own any black ones of any kind either, but see nothing wrong with those who do. All of mine are blued or stainless.
Glen

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NRA Life 1969
OGCA

69 and don't own a S&W newer than 1991.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I'm just a baby on this site, 39. I have never had a dishwasher safe gun. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to guns, no plastic pistols and my rifles all wear wood. There is just a better feel to a wood rifle stock.

^66 here in April. Own one glock and I like it. This year my favorite is my nickel 34 snub. Sold all other plastic and have a 36 blue airweight J frame this will be the wife's if I can get her well and taught how to handle the little 36. Her mother gave me the fathers old pre 10 and wife liked it. To large for her to carry. K frames seem to fit my hands better these days. authur-itus has played heck with both hands.

Im 24. I appreciate the spectrum of age range here, over the years a lot has changed but some stuff has stayed the same. It is nice to get opinions from people who have had various types of training and experience throughout the years. Also it is nice comparing new schoold to old school tactics and weaponry/equipment.

I started out at "0", I'm now "63" so I guess my average age is 31 1/2.


Don't sound so bad when I say it that way.

Badda bing, badda bam, badda boom! Works for me, Kraig.

No plastic here, either. Body parts are one thing, but guns?


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

62 & have some blue & stainless,plastice hand guns,rifles,shotguns, i like the stainless best because it gets hot & humid in east texas, like my guns with out locks.

I'm 56 & my accumulation runs from a '52 S&W blued wheelgun to a Parkerized 1911 to a Ruger KP90 bottom feeder.

While I don't much care for plastic guns I own a Ruger 22/45 and the wife has a SIG Mosquito. She doesn't know it yet but she also has a SIG SP2022 she was liking so much down at the LGS. Our anniversary is the tenth.

My preference is for old skool blued steel, but admire stainless and reallize plastic has it's place, tho I try to keep the polymer in my safe to a minimum.

You will never, ever see me totin' a long gun with a vertical foregrip tho, and it's highly unlikely you'll ever see me with a handgun that doesn't have a hammer.

63 YRS OLD..... OWNED ONLY REVOLVERS TILL LAST YEAR...STILL MY FAVORITE..BUT I PICKED UP A RUGER SR22 CAUSE IT'S CHEAP TO SHOOT, AND A SIG P238 .380 CAUSE IT SLIPS NICE AND EASY INTO MY POCKET.

I'm 65 and remember many of my generation thought the 9mm couldn't cut it stopping power wise. Most plastic guns were 9mm so maybe where the prejudice came from? With todays premium ammunition probably lack of power is not an issue. I carry a model 60 my wife a model 66 with 2.5 inch barrel and round grips. I truly am most comfortable shooting a K or L frame and range results show it. Our son at 24 has a Ruger 1911 in 9mm and a Walther PK380. I did once buy a 1st Gen Glock 17 because they were police turn ins with new barrels and only $275.

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Common sense isn't.

I apologize for gettin' off subject here a bit, but Bullseye and a few others might get kick out readin' this.

It talks a bit about changin' names etc.

Itchy's Name

Now keep in mind that Ol Iggy would tell you a story 3 differn't way afore he'd tell you a lie....

Pilamaya yelo, kola! What a great story. Icamaniwin, indeed. Just to keep this somewhat related to the thread, I'd like it if some of the young guys on here came up with stories as good as those Iggy, Keith44Special, and some of the other older sons of the West on this forum have to tell.


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I'm 41 for a few more days. I have a few "plastic" guns. All were purchased for a specific purpose, and they do that well. However, if I want to get something out of the safe that looks pretty, it always has wood furniture and a blued finish. And I think the last time we had one of these threads, the average age was mid-50s, IIRC.

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Insert short witty words here

Average age would be 55,IMO.I'm 66-what used to be "Never trust anyone over 30" has changed to "Never trust anyone under 60". And all my guns are not made of plastic.

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WALSTIB

Pushing 66 here (though I prefer to think of it as pulling 65); I have no plastic in the safe and no interest in changing that situation. I'm not even that comfortable with guns new enough to have model numbers stamped on the frame under the yoke, though I admit to having a few of those. Basically, if it was made after I turned 12 I'll probably tolerate it, but I'm not likely to chase it.

My impression is that the mean age around here is in the early '50s.

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David Wilson

I'm 25 until Saturday.

I own 5 plastic handguns: Glock 27, M&P40, Kel Tec PF9, Ruger LCP, and Bodyguard .38. The Glock goes with me a very high percentage of the time.

The Glock is one of my favorites simply because of how dang well I shoot it. I'm going to toot my own horn here.. it's pretty ridiculous how accurate I am with that thing. The other plastic ones have their place... kind of.

However, the ones I really love are my revolvers (S&W of course). 14 of them. If I had to get rid of all but one gun, the one I'd keep would be my 681. I absolutely love that revolver.

My buddies laughed at me once when they came over to use my range. I brought a few revolvers, my open sight lever action .30-30 and a single shot break action 12 gauge. I guess I have a soft spot for more traditional guns. When I go for walks in the woods, there's no way I carry anything black or plastic. I think that would be illegal actually......

As far as the cranky old farts of the forum go, I personally enjoy them! I wouldn't want to spend much time on a forum filled with the young tactical crowd I've seen elsewhere. The folks here are top notch and I value their opinions.

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- The Federalist #46 -

60+ and the WIFE owns two plastic guns Mine are all American steel

70 and I carry in my front pocket a p3at; have 3 plastic and 5 steel handguns............to each his own.

I am 60, past halfway to 61. I like the feel of nice walnut and the look of good bluing. Most of my stuff is in this catagory. Not to say that I don't have others but I like the traditional firearms better.

I'm gonna skew the average toward older. Polymer guns work fine. Metal guns work fine. maybe finer. I like to carry light.
My age? I served in WW II. Can you count that high?

I'm 54 and have mostly semi autos in handguns, shotguns and rifles, I've got a single shot shotgun a pump and a semi auto Beretta all 12ga, got a Bushmaster m4 few years ago and that's very accurate weapon and has been fun customizing it... all my semi's are steel except my favorite .45acp a PX4 Storm like another fellow said "cause I shoot it so well" I just got my first revolver S&W 629 and I've had more trouble with that beautiful paper weight then any firearm I own, but S&W is replacing it sometime this week. The next few pistols I'll be buying will be revolvers cause they are really fun to shoot. I think this forum has a good blend of ages one of the better ones out there.

I'm 54. I own a 28-2, 18-3, 625-2, G-22, 686-1 and a 21-4. The G-22 is as close to perfect as a semi-auto will get. The revolvers are Smith and Wessons! There is nothing better. One day I may possibly again pick up a 1911 of some sort... but the G-22 will do anything I need from a semi-auto. And the S&W's take care of everything else.

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<><

I'm 58 and my collection is about 50/50 black/plastic guns and traditional wood and steel. I like the traditional guns much better but tend to use the others more for carry and daily use just because they're generally lighter with more capacity, and I don't care if I mess them up. They all have their good and bad points - I like 'most all of 'em!

First off I want to second what Navy96 said and every word of it.

Second, I will say that I own both a Glock 17 and a Ruger LCR. The LCR is just setting in the safe because it was a sweet deal and nothing more. I bought it new at a used Kel Tec price tag. The Glock is Glock perfection to me. Why? Because it has functioned for thousands upon thousands of cheap soot filled WWB and any flavor of HP I wanted to waste at paper plates. And if I ever have to use it I am beyond confident that it will function then also. Lastly, when it is taken as evidence I won't be crying if it has to be gone for a while, comes back dented or dinged, or some commie lawyer gets it destroyed through litigation during the trial. If I used my Combat Magnum for the same purpose I would feel equally safe but would FREAK if it was treated bad. Glock Perfection.

46 and like most all guns, but my heart is with the old smith &wessons !

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

Sigh, 61 and looking for an affordable SW 99 in 9mm.
I have no allergy to Plastic and alloy having grown up in the US Army with the M-16A1/M203 and M-60 GPMG.

Geoff
Who still shoots a 1911 best of all.

I've got one in .40 S&W. It's a very well designed tool that has functioned flawlessly. I think you'll like it.

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Insert short witty words here

Last time around I celebrated the 26th anniversary of my 39th birthday.....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I'm pushing 50, and partial to wood and blue (or parkerized) steel. I do, however, have a few of the newer designs, and they serve their purpose. If I go rifle shooting, I might take a Garand, U.S. Enfield or Krag, but my AR is always always along too.

This thread has given this old man reason to pause,and look back on 72yrs. of the good life.

Let me borrow a bit from the "Sound of music". These are a few of my favorate things; In no particular order.

Winchester model 97,12 and52,Remington 40x, 700,Savage110,S&W N frames,combat masterpiece, Swedish Mausers,

Broom handles, Walther p38, p5, ppk,H&K p7, Sig 38H, p220, p225,

Jack Daniels,single malt scotch,Porsches,Harley Davidsons,

raw oysters, pocket watches, well made knives.

The ability to walk away under my own power after 30yrs. in the fire house.

My LORD and saviour Jesus Christ.

Ozzie9

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Keep your hose dry !!!!!

I'm LXIV. I have 2 Glockenshpeilinski bulletgeshooteners. G23 and G36. The couple of S&W's I have are pinned, .38 spec J's.

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SOS USA

I'm 57 and own two Glocks, one of which was a duty weapon I was given when I retired. Haven't shot either more than once a year since then. The rest are all S&W revolvers and all have pinned barrels except for my 642 and 638 that are newer (with locks) but great shooters!.

I'm 59, all my handguns are either stainless steel, hard chromed steel, or ScTi mix.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

68 yrs young here in happy valley.. Mine are all stainless..

Sure is nice being around so many young guys - I consider anything under 75 as young I'll be 77 for the next 30 days and with a little luck I'll turn 78 in early April.

I became a grandpa today, still i'm only 50.

I hope Grandbaby grows up one day and has this conversation with you.
Congrats.....

51 here and I like good old American made guns the best.Not that I would rule out some of the Euro. guns.
Plastic has its place to be sure.Stainless and Alloy are great in Fla. for carry.
I just like guns that are well made and can be shot.
BANG....NICE.

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Dum vivo cano

52 here. My one and only plastic gun is my everyday Ruger LCP. It's small enough to be with me all the time. Otherwise I like wood and metal. I appreciate a good revolver but would never want the Ruger LCR. Asthetics means a lot to me and I think the LCR is ugly. My personal all time favorite would be the the 1911 as indicated by my recent purchase of a Les Baer P II.

Dan

I'll chime in, 62 here. Prior to my move to Florida, I had 43 handguns, unk rifles, and 8 shotguns. Bought a "big" safe for both children and had them pick. I kind of feel I still own them. :-)

My last purchase to restock was a old S&W 29 and a 36. Yes 2 Colt revolvers too.

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JIM
NRA Pistol Instr

Still in my 20's for 34 more days.

I am 29, but seem to collect the classics instead of the black plastic guns (in fact I only own 1 plastic gun). Among my favorites are my Mod 28 No Dash and my Mod 39 No Dash. I also have a real nice Mod C rifle in .234 Win.

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J.D. Roy

Turning 65 later this year and I could not say it any better than NFrameFred. Glad to be retired and have time to shoot my collection of wood & steel revolvers. My only "plastic" gun is a Glock 23 that was retired with me in 1997. Fun to shoot but not something I would buy.

32 here. Yes I believe age tends to direct a person on materials used in a pistol/rifle. Different strokes for different folks.

44 until April. I love Glock and Sig. I have owned the M&P, Kel Tec so Plastic doesn't bother me at all. But I also love S&W J Frames and if I could only own one hand gun it would be my 442. Weight, capacity and concealability are very important to me and that is where the plastic guns earn favor with me.

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I drank what? - Socrates

First, this thread should of had a poll.

I'm 46 and have always felt I was dealing with an older group here, and from the responces so far, that seems to be true.

I only have stainless handguns and blue rifles.

Leon

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686, 4006, 5906

Over 50 here is as close as I'll tell...all are SS or blued except for 2 KelTec's I have for everyday use around the farm so if they get beat up I don't care about it.

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Don't tread on me

I wish it did and would have made one if I knew how or even suspect Lee would allow it. I am seeing some people here with years behind them but I am also seeing a few younger shooters. I think the avg age her would be about 55.

But the thread confirms what I thought from my personal observations. The youth is the market for the plastic guns and the older set are the ones buying the real guns.

Now I am thinking that anti gun Hollywood is the reason for the popularity of the newer, high capacity plastic guns. The youth watches more movies than the elder generation.

I recall how Dirty Harry made sales of the .44 mag soar. When was the last movie made that showed a gun other than black plastic?