Polymer Question

[Annihilator]

Delete

[akr]

This isn't your old-fashioned plastic. These are made from space-age polymers. These are supposed to be strong as steel or stronger. I would think that would be the last thing to worry about.

[DanTheEldest]

I think polymer frames will be fine from the longevity point of view. Most of the plastics I've had brittleness/breakage issues with were automotive-related, and had been subjected to years of intense under-hood heat and sun exposure before finally giving up the ghost. With normal use and care, I think most modern polymer handguns will live long enough to pass on to your kids.

[44 Deerslayer]

Will it last like a World War I 1911 auto or a 1870's Colt Single Action? Probably not, but I'm sure it will last as long as you do...

[DoctorDawg]

I guess only time will tell, but I wouldn't worry bout it none.

I've looked and looked for info regarding exactly what kind of plastic is used (I refuse to call it 'polymer'; while the term is technically correct, hey, it's just frickin' plastic), but no luck. The term 'space age' also makes me a mite nervous (wasn't that the 1960s?...remember Tang?).

There's plastics, and then there's plastics. Some are compounded cheap and crappy, others expensive and good. Hopefully ours is the good stuff (and I suspect it is). The plastics you see breaking down are often those exposed to sunlight long-term...the UV light in sunlight breaks the polymer molecules. High-quality plastics incorporate UV inhibitors to slow this reaction way down (for the technically inclined, these are free radical scavengers).

Personally, I suspect your polymer frame will outlive the barrel and the action.

[tec]

Glocks have been around for what? 20 years. Have there been any reports of their plastic frames breaking down?

[farmer]

The half-life for these polymer pistols is rediculously high. I don't recall the number, but if I remember right, your looking at a half-life of 100,000 years. If your talking about a gun just sitting on a shelf, a polymer gun will out live a steel pistol by many human lives! This is no concern! Shoot and be merry!

[Novadesigns]

Originally Posted by 44 Deerslayer

Will it last like a World War I 1911 auto or a 1870's Colt Single Action? Probably not, but I'm sure it will last as long as you do...

Oh I think they will alright. All metal weapons are not impervious. Without proper care, they will corrode, pit, and even seize up. So in the same light, a well cared-for polymer gun should last as long, or longer than an all metal one.

[hexus]

Most poly guns are made from different types of Nylon, if I recall correctly. Nylon is seriously durable and long lasting. Nylon 6? I think they're mostly Nylon 6, but don't quote me on that.

[overboost]

Originally Posted by DanTheEldest

I think polymer frames will be fine from the longevity point of view. Most of the plastics I've had brittleness/breakage issues with were automotive-related, and had been subjected to years of intense under-hood heat and sun exposure before finally giving up the ghost. With normal use and care, I think most modern polymer handguns will live long enough to pass on to your kids.

Not necessarily true, normal plastics yes but polymer no. Why??

Saturn first made cars in 1990 that featured what? Dent resistant polymer body panels, I still see them alive and running around to this day and they dont look like they've given up the ghost. and I'm sure that they've seen quite a bit of sun expsure, a lot more then a gun that's for sure.

Although they may not be the exact same compound it shows what kind of effect polymer has.