Why don't you like plastic?

[nogoodnamesleft]

I see a lot of post concerning peoples dislike of polymer firemarms. More so, I see it phrased as 'I'd NEVER own a plastic gun' ....

I'm a noob so someone fill me in, What's wrong with polymer firearms?

Thanks in advance, I always learn a lot here.

NgNl

 

[fat tom]

Nothing WRONG with them,I suppose. A lot of us here are older and remember the days of pride in workmanship which has been lost in today's consumer-oriented,gotta-have-it-now,biggest,newest,most bells and whistles mentality. I find that ownership of a gun which has actually felt the touch of human hands,and not something which has been formulated and squished into a mold,is more appreciated by me,and many others of my generation I suspect. For the most part,it's a generation gap thing. Those who don't remember the days of "Made with Pride in America" can't be expected to understand. Reading about it is no substitute for having lived throught it. Call me an out-of-touch reprobate if you will,but I'll still pursue guns made from steel and wood rather than soul-less regurgitations of some machine.
f.t.

 

[CrossRifles2008]

Well its hard to knock Polymer for durability reasons.... It doesn't rust. I have only heard of two instances where it failed where steel wouldn't. One was someones dog used his Glock for a chew toy. Don't know about you, but I wouldn't leave any firearm lying around for my dog to get to. Another was miss shaping from extreme heat by leaving one in the glove box on a hot summer day. Had to have been a extreme climate. The reason I don't like them is they have no cosmetic beauty, and even though I am only 27 I am old school. Main reason why I love revolvers. That being said I do own one XD40, a friend needed cash and was offering to good of a deal to pass up.

 

[Flat]

Nothing wrong with them but I don't prefer them either. I had a glock 23 which I just traded for a 5906 and I am VERY happy now. I just like heavy steel guns.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't see anything wrong with them. I've got three or four right now, and have owned others.

I prefer guns that happen to be made of steel though.

 

[Dan Christopher]

For me, they were an acquired taste. Many years ago shortly after I bought a Delta Elite, I got bit by the 10mm bug and wanted another. But the only 10mms available locally were G20s. I eventually took the plunge and bought one.

They definitely are not pretty, and Glocks take a little getting used to at first...but my experience with them was quite positive. Mine fuctioned flawlessly with any ammo I ever fed it. They are very durable guns and do not require excessive cleaning or maintenance.

I like mine, but realize they are not everyone's cup o' tea

 

[USAF385]

Oh these "modern" plastic handguns aren't for me! I only own REAL traditional guns...

That's why I carry ancient Chinese fire lances.







In case you didn't catch it, I was being sarcastic. I own five plastic guns. My favorite carry gun is my G27. It's decently small and light, reliable, ridiculously accurate and very comfortable in my hand. I'm not going to pass on that and only carry my 3" model 60 because it's "more traditional". I'd also be missing out on my LCP if I were plasticphobe. That little gun comes in handy very often.

Anyway, it comes down to using the right tool for the job. For me, my plastic guns are the right tool for concealed carry 85% of the time, so I use them. My 681 and 629 are the proper tools for bumming around the woods, so I use them then.

I'll agree that I like the looks of steel guns more than plastic... and it's fine for that to be a deciding factor when buying some of my guns.... but not all of my guns. I love old school American made revolvers, but not every gun I buy has to be one.

But.. to each his own as they say. If you want to limit yourself, that just leaves more for me to choose from.

 

[Camster]

A plastic gun is merely a tool.I'm a collector, target shooter,no need for a utilitarian gun for police work,etc.
My pleasure is from having guns that give me a warm and fuzzy feeling,and only polished blued steel and nice wood do that for me.

 

[chuck-ia]

Fat tom pretty much summed it up for me. I love wiping down and polishing my guns, muzzleloader and modern. Just don't seem right polishing a piece of plastic. I think they are the in thing though, just go to a gun show and look around. I may own one some day, but it will just be a tool. chuck

 

[Guevera]

A plastic gun is merely a tool.I'm a collector, target shooter,no need for a utilitarian gun for police work,etc.
My pleasure is from having guns that give me a warm and fuzzy feeling,and only polished blued steel and nice wood do that for me.

This is kind of the way I feel, too, and relish in handling my great grandfather's Colt SAA, the history behind it, the worn blueing from a hundred years's of my family members handling the revolver and shooting it. I also have a custom Browning High Power, a symphony in steel and wood.

On the other hand, I recognize the utility of a "plastic" gun and have had Walthers and Glocks in the past. Despite the confusion of the world in which we live, I still put great value in something manufactured in this country, which is why my latest purchase was a M&P in 9mm.

It doesn't have to be either / or. Enjoy both worlds, practice a lot.

 

[sniper47]

I own three polymer frame guns, all S&W99's in 9, 40 and 45ACP. They are great guns and I CC the .40. I've had other polymer frame guns before, but have since sold them. I find these ones I have now are the best fit for me.

 

[BigBill]

I will never own a plastic gun. I hear that alot. With that said i remember the very first days of the glocks being in sold and when they were fired all your rounds in the mag were on the ground when the bottom of the mag fell off. I believe they weren't glued correctly. I still have nightmares and flash backs when i think about that and i never owned one. I'm scared for life. Just kidding but think about it your in a bad situation with more than one bad guy and your rounds are on the ground.......

Now with that said maybe someday when i get old enough as to where i can't hold up a S&W N frame or a ruger redhawk and i'm down to the 1911 as my last gun i may have to go to a plastic gun someday..........never say never...... Bill

BTW; How does the lighter plastic frame handle the recoil of lets say the 10mm round? I think a lighter gun is ok but it won't cut down on the recoil I would think it increases te recoil with the heavier rounds. I'm kind of on the fence when i think about this but i do want a pistol in 10mm someday soon. The ballastics of the 357SIG catches my eye too. When we can get close to or at magnum ballastics in a pistol you can count me in but i'm not sure about the plastic.

Being a young logger and new at felling trees I had an accident once and had a chainsaw with the space age plastic covers get damaged. The plastic flexed and returned back to its orginal condition while all the maganesium cracked. The plastic did take a pounding more than once as the tree pounded on it. That tree knew it had that saw at its mercy. Thats another post when nature fights back. Thanks to NASA we have all these space age tested plastics.

 

[ditrina]

Two words..
No Soul....................

 

[Leatherman-Cowboy]

There is nothing like the weight-sound and feel of a firearm made from steel.It's rock solid,and communicates strenght and workmanship.All my guns are metal-wood-period.The need for easy to maintain weapons takes away the joy of shooting and cleaning the guns.
Just my opinion.
Thank you,
Henry

 

[dkees]

I agree with most of the previous posters, it's a state of mind. I can remember when anything "plastic" was considered cheap. I realize these guns are not "plastic", but they are not forged steel and walnut which I think will always remain the gold standard for firearms, I could be wrong.

I have an MP .45 that I have never fired. When I lay it next to my old Ithaca 1911 it seems I always leave the house with the Ithaca.

 

[18DAI]

I don't have anything really against plastic/polymer guns per se.

I own a few HK USP's and owned a Sig 2022. Fine pistols.

But I won't ever buy an ugly, striker fired gun, with a droopy dust cover and lousy trigger. Regards 18DAI.

 

[xopher88x]

We are a plastic society. So much of the plastic around us is expendable. That is how I feel about my plastic guns too. They're expendable. They're the ones I bring on the boat or carry when I know I'm going to sweat all day. They're the ones that I don't have to baby. They have no soul for sure, and that's how I treat them.

 

[stantheman86]

My Glock 17 is a great tool, I am starting to use it more as a dedicated "car gun" to keep in one of those car safes under my back seat.It runs like a top, the mags don't dent or rust, and I have 17+1 of firepower on demand, along with 2 more 17 round mags. Say what you will about 9mm, but 52 rounds of 9mm +P is nothing to sneeze at when it's coming in your direction at close range.......... I don't have to worry about it rusting, and worst case scenario if someone goes through the effort of breaking into my car, and then sawing off the thick cable that locks my car safe to the seat track, then I am not out a gun that I can't replace tomorrow.

Like was said above, poly guns are the ones you throw in the tackle box, keep in the car, use as carry guns.......by now all the "name brands" are proven, and the poly guns like the M&P, Glock and Ruger are durable, reliable and virtually maintenance free.

If I get a nick or scratch on my Glock, whatever..I could drop that thing on concrete and probably not care....if I get a gouge in the blue or dent the grips on my minty Model 29 I'm probably gonna lose some sleep over it.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

As has been stated, plastic guns are tools and if something happens to one you don't lose any sleep over it. My other issues with most plastic guns are that they are thick and blocky, which makes them harder to conceal than a nice, thin 1911 or Hi Power, and the slide stops are usually so far back that my thumbs hit them and lock the slide back while I still have ammo in the mag. I shoot with a straight thumbs grip because I am used to riding a thumb safety on my autos, and it just doesn't work that well for me with most plastic guns.
That being said, I find that the XD9/XD9SC does work for me, and the light weight is a wonderful thing when my back is bothering me.

 

[clockworkjon]

Disclaimer: I am a newb. However, I just recently went through the research and decision making process myself. I had it narrowed down to a Beretta 92fs or a CZ85 Combat. I wanted metal, I liked the feel and heft of metal, and I think Glocks are ugly as hell. I just felt better about a metal frame. Then for the hell of it I decided to rent an M&P 9 a while ago, and at 3:45PM CST tomorrow my WI mandatory 48-hour waiting period expires and I pick up my M&P 9 Carry & Range kit. Would I get a Beretta some day? Absolutely. Do I really want a 1911 next? Yes. For now though I just liked the M&P better. To each his own.

My point is I think it comes down to the indvidual gun. However, Glocks are still ugly.