Will a S&W M&P last for 50 years?

[Llando88]

Got this idea to ask this question based on seeing discussion about 'plastic' guns vs. all steel models.

Do you think a polymer M&P pistol (Shield, Compact, Full Sized, 5", etc,) would last long enough to hand down to your grandchildren?

I picked 50 years for the title, but insert whatever is a meaningful time period.

I fired a Luger P.08 once that was made in 1944. My M&P was made in 2013.

I understand early Glock 17s are coming up on 15-30-25 (?) years. They are plastic like the M&P. Would the M&P expect similar lifetimes?

Will it be working reliably in 2066?

Why or why not?

If not, what would break first or more often?

Is there some expectation of 'routine' preventative maintenance of certain parts at 20,000, 40,000, 60,000 rounds?

Curious for your thoughts on this topic.

 

[OKFC05]

Is there some expectation of 'routine' preventative maintenance of certain parts at 20,000, 40,000, 60,000 rounds?

I've already seen the plastic fantastic guns that have gone through that much shooting and more. I saw one that went through 60,000 in one year, and broke a spring in the last match of the year: only failure. Springs and extractors seem to lead the list of common failures in competition guns, unless you count sights.

Considering that many shooters never shoot 1000 rounds through any gun, an M&P could easily last a lifetime.

I keep some spare parts and springs, and change some springs at year's end teardown of the competition gun, but have only had one spring fail in a match. Frankly, I've had (and seen) more failures in the "good ole solid metal revolver" than the M&P 9 Pros.

 

[Saudade]

Maintain it, keep it clean, don't abuse it. It should.

But then that applies to just about everything else.

I have 2 Winchester rifles that are over 50 years old (had since new). One has some minor pitting, the other looks pretty new. They mostly sat in the safe for the last 30 years.

I have 3 M&Ps. I don't consider any to be "heirlooms".

 

[Bkreutz]

I'm one of the guys that shoots 60K a year through mine. I've replaced a trigger spring and a striker assembly. I doubt that the polymer pistols will last like a metal one though. Plastic starts drying out immediately after it's made (outgassing). eventually it turns very brittle. I don't know how long the particular polymer formula used by S&W will last but I don't think that any of them will be in a museum 400 years from now. (if there are any museums). Look at the plastics on a 40 year old car to see how it stands up to the elements. Mine still looks good at 60+ (and it functions perfectly) but it's only 14 months old.

 

[Aircrewman]

I don't see why it wouldn't. As has been pointed out, care of the product will assure its longevity as is the case for anynother implement. We routinely see old products still in use (and working very well in their intended tasks) nowadays, think cars, trucks, machines of all kinds etc. I am reminded of an article that Inread many, many years ago about holster makers and their machines. The best stitching machines were well over a hundred years old AND were considered the best as nothing new had been developed that could stitch leather as well as the old saddle-stitching machines.

I think the same will hold true forth M&P guns, if taken care of and properly used. Why should they not hold up. If you leave one out in the sun, then, yes, ultraviolet light will take it's toll as it may not do versus metal. Yet, if the polymer is left out in a salt atmosphere for an extended period, it will not corrode but that metal just might!

I think it is all relative. Care taken is the prime factor. We see old firearms still in use after a century (think Government Model .45s, Colt SAA, Winchester rifles, military bo,t rifles etc., etc. Abuse anything and it will not see a consecutive sunrise, take care of something and ones great, great, great grandchildren will be able to use it! I think that due to the simplicity of the design and the "space-age" nature of the parts (sounds funny to use the "space-age" metaphor doesn't it) the gun may not wear out. Changing out parts that wear out with usage is something that needs to be done with use for any machine or tool. Being done, though, assures that the individual part or machine will function for many years. I think that the M&P will survive 50 years easily. I certainly hope so, as I am going to pass my M&P on to one of my grandchildren!!

 

[rwsmith]

Keep it away........

Keep them away from sunlight and exposure, salt, moisture, chemicals, holster or wrapping materials that are made with something corrosive or incompatible, etc and both of them should last at least 1000 years. Plus.

When they were selling mounting board and photograph holding slips years ago, they were made with chemicals that attacked what they were supposed to protect. Bad news.

 

[Cal44]

I read a sci-fi book set 1200 years in the future where the main character sneaks a 1911 pistol into a meeting. In those days, all hand weapons had energy sources and electronics and that were easy to scan for -- but no one worried about just a lump of metal.

She pulls out her 1911 and shoots all the bad guys and rescues the hostages.

 

[Dino1]

I guess we will know in 20 or 30 years from now. Nostradamus may have the answer, but he passed many decades ago and left us no clue.
Plastics weep solvents over the years, and that breaks them down. But how much degradation is going to be a problem is not yet known. Time will tell. Just keep shooting it till it breaks, then send it in for a warranty repair. I really have no more to say about a lifetime warranty repair at no cost to the end user.

 

[MichiganScott]

I hope to live long enough to find out if it will disintegrate in my great grandchildren's hands in 50 years.

 

[bfm]

I'm one of the guys that shoots 60K a year through mine. I've replaced a trigger spring and a striker assembly. I doubt that the polymer pistols will last like a metal one though. Plastic starts drying out immediately after it's made (outgassing). eventually it turns very brittle. I don't know how long the particular polymer formula used by S&W will last but I don't think that any of them will be in a museum 400 years from now. (if there are any museums). Look at the plastics on a 40 year old car to see how it stands up to the elements. Mine still looks good at 60+ (and it functions perfectly) but it's only 14 months old.

As also mentioned in another post, sunlight and other exposure will affect how long the plastic parts will last, but at some point 50-60-70? years on the plastic will probably not be up to the stress of shooting anymore. Not to make a Glock joke, but the Tupperware museum has this problem.

Museums Weep For Their Tupperware - NYTimes.com

 

[JLM]

If a plastic bag will last a thousand years in a landfill, as is claimed, I think the polymer guns will be fine. I consider every gun I buy to be my sons and grandchildrens eventually. I plan to leave them well outfitted.

 

[Bkreutz]

If a plastic bag will last a thousand years in a landfill, as is claimed, I think the polymer guns will be fine. I consider every gun I buy to be my sons and grandchildrens eventually. I plan to leave them well outfitted.

And your M&P would last 1000 years in a landfill , now if you actually carry it around in the open air and shoot it, probably much shorter.

 

[Rick_A]

There's quite a few Gen1 Glocks out there, showing little more than holster wear and smoothened grip textures. I imagine treated properly they'll make it nearly indefinitely.

There's a lot of older rifles floating around with bakelite and other early polymers. They tend to not look pretty but it's worth noting.

Anything that can last 50k or more rounds and still be serviceable is a pretty durable firearm.

 

[dswancutt]

The Remington Nylon 66 is now 50+ years old and uses the basically the same material. So with care, I would say yes.

 

[KnightsFan]

There's a lot of older rifles floating around with bakelite and other early polymers. They tend to not look pretty but it's worth noting.

Cameras, too. I have pre-war Argus sitting on my nightstand now, the bakelite is in mint condition, if not for the wear and tear on the chrome and stainless steel you'd not know it's over 70 years old.

One thing to remember is that polymer pistols aren't quite the same as a piece of tupperware or modern furniture. The NYTime's article linked above is about things built when plastics were still futuristic and experimental. The polymer in our firearms is anything but experimental. It's designed to last through thousands upon thousands of small explosions on top of it.

If we do our part and properly care for our weapons they'll outlast us I'm sure.

 

[kbm6893]

If cared for I have no doubt they will still be in good shape, but I don't care what anyone says, they will never have the "oh WOW!" Factor that a 50 year old revolver or semi auto pistol has. A friend of mine has no interest in revolvers; but when I take out my 40 year old s&w revolvers he grudgingly admits they are sweet. A Glock or M&P pistol will never duplicate that

Can anyone SERIOUSLY imagine handing down their cherished XD-9? So many guys get custom display cases for their classic guns. Who has done that for their Glock? It would be like handing down a plunger. "Here son. This has cleared many a toilet. It's yours now. Take care of it"

 

[WR Moore]

I do recall seeing pictures of a Glock stored in some vehicle container in Arizona or somewhere similar for a really extended time. It obviously was no longer usable.

On the other hand, that was a Glock

 

[MCM]

My Glock 22 is 21 yrs old. Still like new.

On the other hand, in 50 years I will be over 100.
Shooting a 70+ yr old gun. LOL LOL

 

[Smiffer]

If cared for I have no doubt they will still be in good shape, but I don't care what anyone says, they will never have the "oh WOW!" Factor that a 50 year old revolver or semi auto pistol has.

Agreed!! Much like a 2014 Honda Accord will never have the "WOW" factor of a 1969 Camaro Z28.

 

[TTSH]

I have 3 M&Ps. I don't consider any to be "heirlooms".

If cared for I have no doubt they will still be in good shape, but I don't care what anyone says, they will never have the "oh WOW!" Factor that a 50 year old revolver or semi auto pistol has. A friend of mine has no interest in revolvers; but when I take out my 40 year old s&w revolvers he grudgingly admits they are sweet. A Glock or M&P pistol will never duplicate that

Can anyone SERIOUSLY imagine handing down their cherished XD-9? So many guys get custom display cases for their classic guns. Who has done that for their Glock? It would be like handing down a plunger. "Here son. This has cleared many a toilet. It's yours now. Take care of it"

These two posts say it all for me. Even though I own some plastic S&W's and Glocks, I would be embarrassed to hand down a plastic gun to my children or grandchildren as an heirloom. T'ain't gonna happen.

Plastic guns have their place. They are cheap to build & buy (relatively speaking) and lightweight. If I were a cop, I'd probably carry a modern plastic gun. But I sure wouldn't be counting on it lasting and holding together for a lifetime like a metal gun. In my mind, they are barely one or two steps away from disposable like so many other plastic products today.

Time will tell if I am wrong, but when I look at used Gen 1 & 2 Glocks, I see tired, worn, scarred old plastic that appeals to me about as much as a set of worn out old tires.