I work in the plastics molding industry. the pistols made with polymer frames are generally as well built as those made of steel. Polymer pistols are usually glass fibre reinforced and are made of highly chemical resistant compounds for certain. I have an XD-45 and it's been thru it's paces with nothing but good to be said about it.
One advantage of a well designed polymer framed pistol is thet the frame has flex designed into it so it will absorb some fo the reciol and return back to the original shape immediately after the cycle is completed. Glock and Springfield have designed the pistols accuracy with this fexion in mind. The fibers in these pistol are oriented in a specific direction thru the molding process. That way the strength of the fibre reinforcement is exactly where it's needed so it can take repeated cycling without splitting or disintegrating in your hands. If you read threads about polymer pistol failures you'll fing most of them fail in the barrels, chambers and slides cracking or snapping cleanly off. It's pretty much uncommon to read or hear about frame failure, unless the shooter is using overloaded or "HOT" ammunition on a regular basis. Hot ammo causes pre-mature wear on steel and aluminum framed pistols as well, so why would a person expect any less out of a polymer frame pistol.
Glock, Springfield, H&K Ruger and S&W have excellent track records with their pistols.
I'll have no hesitation buying a polymer pistol over a similar metal framed pistol. I don't anticipate shooting 10,000+ rounds thru most of my pistols, so it's really not an issue.
Well that's my $.02 for the day.
~gearchecker~
, the plastic guns will evaporate under the intense heat. The metal framed guns will survive, although they might turn molten, but survive never-the-less. They just might not quite be in a gun form any more. But look on the bright side, there will be nobody left to shoot them anyway. Life is good!!!!
