I don't like plastic pistols

[usabaker]

For you old guys that are set in your ways, I understand.

It has nothing to do with being 'set in ... ways' It is a matter of preference and having something that will stand the test of time, gain value and therefore provide an income when or if needed, and something that can be handed down from generation to generation. I'm sorry, but your plastic gun is good for now and that's about it. I still have the Remington Model 12 first rifle my grandfather gave me when I was a kid. He bought it new sometime in the 20's as a kid, my father used it for target and small game when he was a kid, I got it when I was 9 and was out shooting it every week until I joined the military at 17, it sat pretty much idle, being used only so often until I had my kids, it's gone through 5 kids now and is still running strong and still a tack drive near 97 years later. That rifle that my grandfather bought could not have paid more than $25.00 for it back then and it will fetch well over $400.00 now.

I wonder what a plastic mass-produce .22 rifle or pistol will look like, perform in 90 years, and be valued at? It's a shame we live in a throw-away society that's all but void of quality and craftsmanship.

Oh.. and I have handled and fired plenty of polymer handguns I may not have access to as many as you or as often but as a range office I am always offered the opportunity to try the latest "do dad" when at the range, and as I said have no use for them as I am no longer active duty military or in law enforcement.

[Singer B]

What year was that? What Gen. Glock was that? You do know that several changes have been made to Glocks over the years, and the trigger system has gone through four or more changes since the first came out.

It was quite a few years ago so hopefully they have fixed the problems. I have never liked glocks so I couldn't tell you what generation it was. Personally, I wouldn't carry a sidearm for personal protection manufactured by a company that covers up the problem and doesn't place the safety of its customers over their profit margin. The fact that they have "generations" and made more than a couple of changes indicates there were some problems. It's not a bad pistol, its just not one I would recommend as a work gun that your life, and your partners' lives, depends upon.

[Ovidio]

I'd like that revolver...the one up left...with original wooden grips...
Very nice piece!

[Daan Kemp]

Most firearms have add-ons and -ins in its lifetime; some more, some less - eg 1911, M16. Singling out one manufacturer might reveal bias?

[Eaglelord17]

It has nothing to do with being 'set in ... ways' It is a matter of preference and having something that will stand the test of time, gain value and therefore provide an income when or if needed, and something that can be handed down from generation to generation. I'm sorry, but your plastic gun is good for now and that's about it. I still have the Remington Model 12 first rifle my grandfather gave me when I was a kid. He bought it new sometime in the 20's as a kid, my father used it for target and small game when he was a kid, I got it when I was 9 and was out shooting it every week until I joined the military at 17, it sat pretty much idle, being used only so often until I had my kids, it's gone through 5 kids now and is still running strong and still a tack drive near 97 years later. That rifle that my grandfather bought could not have paid more than $25.00 for it back then and it will fetch well over $400.00 now.

I wonder what a plastic mass-produce .22 rifle or pistol will look like, perform in 90 years, and be valued at? It's a shame we live in a throw-away society that's all but void of quality and craftsmanship.

Oh.. and I have handled and fired plenty of polymer handguns I may not have access to as many as you or as often but as a range office I am always offered the opportunity to try the latest "do dad" when at the range, and as I said have no use for them as I am no longer active duty military or in law enforcement.

Why do you think they won't stand the test of time? Polymer doesn't really degrade. The main components are steel (and better quality steel than any of the older firearms). So far I haven't seen anything in there which indicates they won't be around in 100 years. I have revolvers with plastic grips from the 1900s, and they are still fine despite the fact the quality of those plastics are much lower than modern ones. In terms of value steel framed pistols may or may not go up in value as time progresses, it all depends on what peoples preferences are. Sporterized rifles that were worth more than military rifles are now worth significantly less thanks to the interests of the buyers changing. Supply and demand.

That rifle your grandfather bought in roughly 1923 isn't worth as much as he paid based on inflation today. that 25$ then is worth about 647$ today.

[browningautorifle]

I'd like that revolver...the one up left...with original wooden grips...
Very nice piece!

Do you mean my little Model 34 S&W Ovidio? .22 cal "J" frame kit gun.

[pocketshaver]

Why do you think they won't stand the test of time? Polymer doesn't really degrade. The main components are steel (and better quality steel than any of the older firearms). So far I haven't seen anything in there which indicates they won't be around in 100 years. I have revolvers with plastic grips from the 1900s, and they are still fine despite the fact the quality of those plastics are much lower than modern ones. In terms of value steel framed pistols may or may not go up in value as time progresses, it all depends on what peoples preferences are. Sporterized rifles that were worth more than military rifles are now worth significantly less thanks to the interests of the buyers changing. Supply and demand.


That rifle your grandfather bought in roughly 1923 isn't worth as much as he paid based on inflation today. that 25$ then is worth about 647$ today.

those bakelight grips are not a structural component. that's why they have stood the test of time. EVERYONE knows that the old bakelight telephones from the 1940s could be used to crush a persons skull flat, and would still be usable to call for a meat wagon.

if they can make an injection molded polymer barrel that works, THEN you can toot the polymer horn.

[Daan Kemp]

I recollect the Remington Nylon 66 in .22. Successfully made for 30 years IIRC, about 1 500 000 made. Didn't seem to bother shooters or be an issue until Glock arrived.

[Ovidio]

Just lovely...

[rcathey]

I recollect the Remington Nylon 66 in .22. Successfully made for 30 years IIRC, about 1 500 000 made. Didn't seem to bother shooters or be an issue until Glock arrived.

I didn’t have a horse in the race until now.

I’ll catch myself up though haha. I don’t have near as much time to shoot as I would like. Most folks here probably shoot more in a month than I do in a year.

I also don’t like plastic pistols.

However, my distaste is purely aesthetic. They just don’t visually appeal to me.

My day job is in the plastics industry so I will have to slightly correct an earlier poster that said plastics don’t degrade (or something similar). They DEFINITELY do. In fact, they most often get harder and more brittle with age.
Most polymer pistols are some name-branded Nylon. Nylon is TOUGH stuff. No doubt about it. It won’t be as prone to getting brittle with age as say PVC. But it definitely will.

And no plastic really likes exposure to UV. Nylon also dislikes water above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

In short, Nylon is a fine material but it does have a finite lifespan. Will it be an heirloom in 100 years? Probably not...but probably because it’s ugly, not because it’s worn out

Anyway, the Nylon 66. My dad and I squirrel hunted with 22s throughout my youth (throw them in a crockpot with Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup and just let ‘em cook. Falls off the bone! Rabbit is good this way too.). Before I came along dad did a lot of shooting with a 22. Shooting match heads and dimes and stuff like that. He told me he once had a Nylon 66 that he HATED. It would flex in your hands and mess with the accuracy. So there’s at least one good ol’ boy from Kentucky that didn’t care for the Nylon 66.

And that’s a long post! Haha