But to be accurate (more important than being fair), those steel rails are molded in place in the polymer. They provide the sliding surface, but the polymer still absorbs the full load of the slide slamming back and forth.
High impact is actually where polymers are more resilient than metal.
Their elongation may be better (haven't looked at that in years). Yet they have much lower yield strengths. And the latter is what keeps things held together.High impact is actually where polymers are more resilient than metal.
Not talking about shooting it well. Talking about the quality and workmanship of the gun being such that the gun is extremely reliable. And no, there is not a direct correlation between price and reliability, but there is some correlation.I wouldn't carry it if I couldn't shoot it well, so best is subjective.
In most cases I can shoot my plastics as well as a comparable metal frame.
I want to preface this by saying, all my semi handguns are plastic, I shoot glocks and m&p’s and every plastic gun I have ever shot did so just fine HOWEVER, if there was an all steel gun out there that could provide me with all of the same amenities that my glocks/ m&p’s do, I would carry that. I prefer the overall feel of steel guns as well as the weight. I dont care about pistol weight honestly.
I would like to know what everyone else thinks though.
Their elongation may be better (haven't looked at that in years). Yet they have much lower yield strengths. And the latter is what keeps things held together.
.....
Bubble gum is more "resilient" (and resilient is not an engineering property used in design) than steel. Want to use a gun with a bubble gum frame? Nah, didn't think so.
I don't recall saying that polymer is a high failure risk. I just said that I am uncomfortable with polymer gun frames based on past (granted, long past) experience with composites. Quality control and nondestructive testing are much more difficult with composites. And that is plain fact from someone who has been involved in such. Much more trust has to be placed in the process.
I carry my most expensive metal frame and my plastics. I buy them because they're reliable, accurate and ergonomic. If they weren't reliable, I wouldn't own them, with the exception of sentimental value, and if that's the case it wouldn't be a carry pistol. My point is it's nice that it's cheaper, just a convenient bonus, not a requirement. An added convenient plus for metal frames is I find the perceived recoil to be more pleasant, since they're typically heavier.Not talking about shooting it well. Talking about the quality and workmanship of the gun being such that the gun is extremely reliable. And no, there is not a direct correlation between price and reliability, but there is some correlation.
Simply put, I would not buy a cheap gun for the reason of not worrying about it being confiscated if I had to use it. Nor will I think twice about carrying the most expensive pistols I own.
Polymer is the future of everything.
Look around and you will see it.
The funny thing about that though is you hear a lot of complaining about pistols with polymer frames and not so much about rifles or carbines with them.