Polymer vs Metal frame

[MJWEB]

+1. For me the question is, am I going to carry it? Otherwise, I prefer a quality steel pistol for HD,
range, target, idpa, uspsa, etc. Plus, I like a smooooooth SA or DA/SA over a stryker-fire....
but that's strictly personal preference. A quality steel gun has heft... It's a piece of engineering and art,
one that you can enjoy taking the time to appreciate. Polymer doesn't give me the same feeling. It's a tool.

For me, a carry pistol would be concealed, so in addition to the above reasons (e.g., lighter, easier to maintain...),
a polymer striker-fire has no external hammer and trigger pull weight is consistent.

+2 > I concur

[Rgarbarino]

The simple answer is both! Nothing wrong with variety.

[tbc]

For practical purposes, polymer.

For range toy, metal.

[farmerjoe]

The ex hated the USP9 but loved the 6906. Weight was her issue. She preferred the little bit of extra to eat up the recoil.

[floyd7]

+2 > I concur

Nikki#2 Perfectly said. I agree.

[Tank 57]

One unknown is will a polymer frame last as long as a metal one? I don't mean round count.

Will it eventually disintegrate? In 100 years? I own metal framed guns that are almost that old.

Lots of vintage items made from plastic fall apart from age.

[Allhailflintlocks]

Metal framed guns will hold their value better than polymer ones.

[ianS]

One unknown is will a polymer frame last as long as a metal one? I don't mean round count.

Will it eventually disintegrate? In 100 years? I own metal framed guns that are almost that old.

Lots of vintage items made from plastic fall apart from age.

There are plastic made for making cheap household items and high tech polymers for industrial use. Just like there are metals of varying quality in terms of strength and durability there are plastics and polymers that are stronger and more stable chemically speaking whether exposed to the elements or simply age. Of course there are no advanced polymers that has remained "stable" for a hundred or hundreds of years but theoretically they should. This according to people who work with these materials in other threads addressing this issue so take it for what it's worth.

[Beelzy]

When a polymer gun runs out of ammo, it makes a lousy cranial impact device.

Yep, that's all I got. Lol!

[jyo]

For 12+ years, I carried a full-size Browning Hi Power every day as part of my work---gently worked over, 100% reliable---but it tipped the scale at 32 ounces plus 13 rds of 115 +P JHPs---a rather heavy load, but there simply was not the choices we have today. These days, when I carry, it's usually my HK P2000 or P2000sk (both 9mm)---a great deal lighter---also 100% reliable.
When I look to the lightest pistol (in 9mm) I own, it's my Kahr CW-9---thinner, lighter, but only 7 rds---it's so light, I forget it's there after a couple of minutes…
I still regularly shoot my classic steel pistols, but I carry a poly-pistol...

[WartHog]

The thread linked below contains all one needs to know about polymer vs metal...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=992176

Sent via my Lumia 640 & mTalk

[Jess B. Guy]

Steel guns have a soul. Polymers don't.

[ianS]

Steel guns have a soul. Polymers don't.

That's why it's called The Dark Side

[peter95]

some polymer guns do have external hammer

nice collection btw

+1. For me the question is, am I going to carry it? Otherwise, I prefer a quality steel pistol for HD,
range, target, idpa, uspsa, etc. Plus, I like a smooooooth SA or DA/SA over a stryker-fire....
but that's strictly personal preference. A quality steel gun has heft... It's a piece of engineering and art,
one that you can enjoy taking the time to appreciate. Polymer doesn't give me the same feeling. It's a tool.

For me, a carry pistol would be concealed, so in addition to the above reasons (e.g., lighter, easier to maintain...),
a polymer striker-fire has no external hammer and trigger pull weight is consistent.

[CandG]

One unknown is will a polymer frame last as long as a metal one? I don't mean round count.

Will it eventually disintegrate? In 100 years? I own metal framed guns that are almost that old.

Lots of vintage items made from plastic fall apart from age.

A fair point, but I think in general, buyers of polymer guns generally don't care. Polymer guns to most people are a tool for daily use, not an heirloom.