[ErnieNWillis]

There are steel frame pistols can match Glock reliability, and as far as accuracy Glock has nothing over CZ out of the box.

Never said Glock was the end all. I like a variety of pistols. I merely stated the Glocks are fine, durable, accurate, combat ready without mods. My post was more directed at those who hate glocks because their not 1911's. LOL

 

[farronwolf]

Why were they created. Why not. We have many different types of autos, washing machines, furniture, and everything else under the sun.

Many of them use different materials to do the same job. Why should guns be any different. Are polymer guns lighter, yep, are they less costly to manufacture, yep, resist rust, yep. Shoot better, well that is probably more dependent on the person holding the gun than what it is made out of.

When new materials come along, it isn't long before folks try to use them in different products. Guns just happen to be someplace where polymers stuck and the market accepted them. As seen in the designs however, steel still has its place when it comes to firearms as well, and it will be a long time before it is gone from the gun all together.

 

[BikerRN]

I was wondering if anyone knew why polymer pistols were created. I am guessing it was to cut down on the weight of an all-steel frame.

They were created because Gaston Glock had too many plastic Soda Pop bottles in the back of his truck, and being environmentally "aware" he was looking for a way to recycle them. :bier:

Biker

 

[RETSUPT99]

They were created because Gaston Glock had too many plastic Soda Pop bottles in the back of his truck, and being environmentally "aware" he was looking for a way to recycle them. :bier:

Biker

Did a heck of a job, didn't he?:banana:

 

[QKShooter]

Actually with Glock I think it was more weight reduction than anything else. Because they never decided to cut down on the time/labor and investment cast their slides.

The reason I say that is though Glock frames are molded lightning fast Glock sure does not skimp on the man/machine hours required to fully machine their slides.

I'm not a Glock expert (for sure) but, I remember reading that it takes a super long time to go from "Start To Finish" on the Glock slides & barrels.

 

[ripley16]

Polymers came about to save weight.

Heckler Koch primarily produces arms for the military and law enforcement agencies and the military in particular is very, very weight conscious. Anything to effectively reduce the weight troops have to carry is a good and valuable change. I imagine Polymer use in pistols is just the natural evolution started by the AR15 family of rifles use of plastic. HK developed a polymer that could withstand the forces involved and produced the VP70. It wasn't very popular at that time, but began the trend.

Glocks came about shortly thereafter and were hailed for their high capacilty and low weight. Police forces took to them in droves because they were easy to carry, safe and well made.

Polymer is the future of arms IMHO.

 

[Chiller2]

I remember when Glocks came about and if IRC they were first developed for the Austrian Military and then slowly spred out.There was a lot of paranoia at first that because they were "plastic" that they could not be detected by metal detectors and thus was the ultimate weapon for plane hijackers.It lead to some states to ban sales of them for a while.It probably was more than decade before they became widely accepted and trusted.

 

[Rock and Glock]

IIRC Glock's first product was the steel and polymer entrenching tool, thus Glock built expertise and critical mass in metal/polymer science, and thereafter expanded to the pistols. That's only the Glock answer.......

 

[atctimmy]

Actually with Glock I think it was more weight reduction than anything else. Because they never decided to cut down on the time/labor and investment cast their slides.

The reason I say that is though Glock frames are molded lightning fast Glock sure does not skimp on the man/machine hours required to fully machine their slides.

I'm not a Glock expert (for sure) but, I remember reading that it takes a super long time to go from "Start To Finish" on the Glock slides & barrels.

I'd guess that since Glock no longer had to machine frames they had twice the machinists available to make more slides. Polymer frames equals more production with the same labor cost. :hand10:

 

[Rugergirl]

IMNSHO each to his own, polymer pistols are perfect for some people, but not for others.
Me, personally I'll take a steel frame revolver over a plastic bottom feeder anyday. :image035:
I carry what I'm comfortable with and what I shoot well. Sure my 686 Plus is hefty at 36.8 oz empty and only carries 7 rounds, but with 6 more in a speed strip, I think I'll have all the stopping power I need.

 

[heylin]

For those of you that want Polymer frame and 1911 you can have both. Checkout the BUL Transmark range of 1911 style pistols. Some nice carry models there too.

BUL LTD. - BUL M-5 Line

The Israelis sure know how to make nice guns.

 

[packin45]

I was wondering if anyone knew why polymer pistols were created.

Probably to give 1911 guys something to complain about :image035:

 

[OD*]

Cost and weight, primarily. The HK VP-70Z was the first poly pistol, IIRC, developed sometime in the late 1960s, produced from 1970- the mid 80s.

Here's a H&K VP70M.

 

[bigdogtx]

Because there was a need, and someone filled it. The American way, or was it the Austrian way. I don't know or care, just glad some one did. :image035:

 

[bigdogtx]

For those of you that want Polymer frame and 1911 you can have both. Checkout the BUL Transmark range of 1911 style pistols. Some nice carry models there too.

BUL LTD. - BUL M-5 Line

The Israelis sure know how to make nice guns.

Have you used these? Range report? Thanks

 

[packin45]

For those of you that want Polymer frame and 1911 you can have both. Checkout the BUL Transmark range of 1911 style pistols. Some nice carry models there too.

BUL LTD. - BUL M-5 Line

The Israelis sure know how to make nice guns.

I actually like the full-size Government model, although it's still pretty heavy, even with the polymer frame. Looks like one can be had for around $750 NIB, and they have a 13+1 capacity.

 

[rachilders]

They don't rust, they can tolerate a lot of substances that metals can't, they allow for infinite shapes and sizes to be made much more cheaply...

That pretty much says it all. OTOH, even though a own several polymer guns, I still prefer all metal on most of my guns. :yup:

 

[heylin]

Have you used these? Range report? Thanks

I almost got one but the dealer\importer here in NZ shut shop. Before buying (or attempting to buy) I read a ton a reviews and also looked up everything I could find about the company.

In short, the guns cost very little when you compare them to more expensive 1911 but the features they offer as standard are up there on more expensive pistol

- tuned trigger
- bull barrels
- ramped
- tuned extractors
- flared mag wells
etc etc

Most of their employees are involved in IPSC or shooting and use BUL pistols, their IPSC edition M5s are trigger tuned and test fired in their custom shop.

The reviews I read were all positive. I think a true measure of a company is one were its owners and employees trust and use their own products in day to day and competition.

 

[thebigdl86]

Cause of weight.

 

[OD*]

Of course tacticool is tacticool - and it also has nothing to do with effectiveness or efficiency.

As far as I know all the commonly desired design features wrapped within the currently popular modern handguns predate World War II. Only the polymer doesn't. When ray guns supplant metallic cartridge arms then we'll have seen a real break through in firearms. Until then polymer is just another way put firearms into the hands of the shooter.

Amen.