HighDesertWolf Full Member



Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cherry, AZ Posts: 1,486

93sr20det Originally Posted by All I can say is WWJBD?



What Would John Browning Do?



Not make a plastic gun!



They may be fine now but what about in 20-30 or 50 years? will they last as long as a metal? Also i don't like how light they are... If I am shooting a handgun I want to feel it in my hand. Whenever you have a metal gun in your hand you know it's time to get serious, but with a plastic it feels like play time. What about overheating and melting? I have never seen an instance of it or read about it but I am sure it is possible. What about 1,000's of round capability? Are they as reliable after 50,000 rounds as they were new?



Now two advantages I do see is weight and rust resistance.... Especially for those who must carry their gun for long periods of time or in wet/salty/humid climates.

Depending on the exact polymer formula the melting points are between 559 and 900 degrees. IMO thats not to bad considering aluminum alloy depending on the formula the melting point is between 440 and 1200 degrees. then you have carbon steel which has a melting point of 2800 degree. but to be honest none of that matters because even as little as 300 to 400 degrees can warp and even change molecular structures of the steel components of a firearm enough to render the gun unsafe and useless.



Polymers over time would likely outlast the steel components of the guns since polymer is pretty much immune to elements in the air that steel and aluminum are prone to corrosion/erosion from like salts and moisture. which this also doesn't matter because the steel components on polymer frame guns are vulnerable to the same conditions as all metal guns.



as for wear and tear on polymer frame guns it would be about the same as an all metal gun. The polymer portions are mainly the grip and the outer portions of the frame. I have yet to see a polymer framed gun that doesn't have some form of a metal frame within the polymer that keeps all the moving parts and has metal rails which the slide contacts.



as for the weight concerns that sounds like a personal problem. Depending on the exact polymer formula the melting points are between 559 and 900 degrees. IMO thats not to bad considering aluminum alloy depending on the formula the melting point is between 440 and 1200 degrees. then you have carbon steel which has a melting point of 2800 degree. but to be honest none of that matters because even as little as 300 to 400 degrees can warp and even change molecular structures of the steel components of a firearm enough to render the gun unsafe and useless.Polymers over time would likely outlast the steel components of the guns since polymer is pretty much immune to elements in the air that steel and aluminum are prone to corrosion/erosion from like salts and moisture. which this also doesn't matter because the steel components on polymer frame guns are vulnerable to the same conditions as all metal guns.as for wear and tear on polymer frame guns it would be about the same as an all metal gun. The polymer portions are mainly the grip and the outer portions of the frame. I have yet to see a polymer framed gun that doesn't have some form of a metal frame within the polymer that keeps all the moving parts and has metal rails which the slide contacts.as for the weight concerns that sounds like a personal problem.