Polymer handguns is there much of a differance?

[JDM92103]

First off I am not trying to start a “this vs that polymer” thread here. I have some questions that never seem to get answered in the “this vs that” gun threads. I own most of the brands I have questions about and love all of them though the M&P is starting to be the only one I shoot.

The companies in question are H&K, Sig, S&W, Glock, Springfield and Walther.

1.) Is there a difference in the polymer used in each of these handguns or are they relatively the same?

2.) In terms of materials used for internal parts are they all pretty much equal. I know with 1911’s it is always cast vs forged or MIM vs non-mim. I have never see any of this brought up with polymer handguns for the most part.

3.) Are the barrels made out of the same type of steel? I assume they aren’t just never seen a “chart” that goes over it.

I was sitting down today after I went to the range and cleaning my handguns. I just got a new P30 and have noticed the polymer doesn’t seem as rigid as the Glock. Every time I do a search on any handgun I always get the “vs” thread which always seems to be a personal preference for the most part.

[javentre]

@JDM92103

I have never see any of this brought up with polymer handguns for the most part.

There’s plenty of MIM in plastic guns, one example is the MIM striker on the M&P. The 3rd gen strikers finally seem to have it right and don’t break with a modest amount of dry fire.

@JDM92103

3.) Are the barrels made out of the same type of steel? I assume they aren’t just never seen a “chart” that goes over it.

Plenty of folks complain about the metal in Glock OEM barrels, many have referred to them as pot metal.

[skyugo]

@javentre

There’s plenty of MIM in plastic guns, one example is the MIM striker on the M&P. The 3rd gen strikers finally seem to have it right and don’t break with a modest amount of dry fire.

Plenty of folks complain about the metal in Glock OEM barrels, many have referred to them as pot metal.

what’s the issue with OEM glock barrels?
gotta be some really good pot metal to last 200k rounds. :o

[opmike]

I was just about to ask the same. There are a LOT of Glocks out there in customer hands, and of all the problems that I’ve heard of, issues with the material used in the barrel isn’t something I’ve seen mentioned.

[javentre]

I don’t pay much attention to it, but I usually hear it in reference to KBs, and how poor metallurgy makes the failures much worse.

[QuietShootr]

@javentre

There’s plenty of MIM in plastic guns, one example is the MIM striker on the M&P. The 3rd gen strikers finally seem to have it right and don’t break with a modest amount of dry fire.

Plenty of folks complain about the metal in Glock OEM barrels, many have referred to them as pot metal.

Is there a serial number cutoff for the non-mim firing pin in the M&P?

[javentre]

I don’t know if the current strikers are MIM or not, but you can generally identify them easily by color, they are silver and not coated black.

[skyugo]

@javentre

I don’t pay much attention to it, but I usually hear it in reference to KBs, and how poor metallurgy makes the failures much worse.

the glock kabooms i’ve seen attributed to the gun rather than ammo (mostly 40’s) seem to blow out through the feed ramp area and trash the frame, the barrels don’t look bad.

[javentre]

@skyugo

the glock kabooms i’ve seen attributed to the gun rather than ammo (mostly 40’s) seem to blow out through the feed ramp area and trash the frame, the barrels don’t look bad.

There are a lot of pics that look like this:

[Alpha_Sierra]

This obsession with the exact metallurgy of all those gun parts is freaking ridiculous.

Most people don’t have the technical know-how, education, or experience to make an educated decision on this anyway.

[Alpha_Sierra]

@QuietShootr

Is there a serial number cutoff for the non-mim firing pin in the M&P?

Who said S&W stopped using MIM?

[javentre]

@Alpha_Sierra

Most people don’t have the technical know-how, education, or experience to make an educated decision on this anyway.

I wholeheartedly agree, and freely admit that I fall in to this category.

[Alpha_Sierra]

I am a degreed engineer. I have worked as a manufacturing engineer and engineering manager in a variety of assembly and manufacturing companies for the last 15 years.

I don’t get my panties in a bunch over the differences between 4140 and 4150 steel (the differences are utterly irrelevant in semi auto rifles). I marvel at all the hammer-forging fanboys and their ignorant rantings about how hammer forged barrels are “better” (they are not, or Krieger would use the process). I really don’t GAF about the exact formulation of Glock’s polymer vs S&W’s, vs HK. Nor do I GAF if there are MIM parts in my handguns (I’ve shot and dry fired the ever loving shit out of S&W wheelguns full of MIM and they still run like a swiss clock).

In short, I buy high quality firearms, shoot the crap out of them, and fix them if they break. I don’t sweat stupid shit like what steel alloy they used on my barrel.

[corbon]

Glocks are great guns, but it seems the HK’s are more rigid and sturdier. Maybe I’m just imagining it.

[Alpha_Sierra]

@corbon

Glocks are great guns, but it seems the HK’s are more rigid and sturdier. Maybe I’m just imagining it.

Thanks for proving my point.

[G34Shooter]

@Alpha_Sierra

I am a degreed engineer. I have worked as a manufacturing engineer and engineering manager in a variety of assembly and manufacturing companies for the last 15 years.

I don’t get my panties in a bunch over the differences between 4140 and 4150 steel (the differences are utterly irrelevant in semi auto rifles). I marvel at all the hammer-forging fanboys and their ignorant rantings about how hammer forged barrels are “better” (they are not, or Krieger would use the process). I really don’t GAF about the exact formulation of Glock’s polymer vs S&W’s, vs HK. Nor do I GAF if there are MIM parts in my handguns (I’ve shot and dry fired the ever loving shit out of S&W wheelguns full of MIM and they still run like a swiss clock).

In short, I buy high quality firearms, shoot the crap out of them, and fix them if they break. I don’t sweat stupid shit like what steel alloy they used on my barrel.

If the MIM strikers in the M&P’s were not a problem then S&W would not be on their 3rd or 4th redesign of it with the most current one made out of SS.

[QuietShootr]

@Alpha_Sierra

I am a degreed engineer. I have worked as a manufacturing engineer and engineering manager in a variety of assembly and manufacturing companies for the last 15 years.

I don’t get my panties in a bunch over the differences between 4140 and 4150 steel (the differences are utterly irrelevant in semi auto rifles). I marvel at all the hammer-forging fanboys and their ignorant rantings about how hammer forged barrels are “better” (they are not, or Krieger would use the process). I really don’t GAF about the exact formulation of Glock’s polymer vs S&W’s, vs HK. Nor do I GAF if there are MIM parts in my handguns (I’ve shot and dry fired the ever loving shit out of S&W wheelguns full of MIM and they still run like a swiss clock).

In short, I buy high quality firearms, shoot the crap out of them, and fix them if they break. I don’t sweat stupid shit like what steel alloy they used on my barrel.

Nevermind. Gosh, you’re right! I think I’m going to toss my Colt barrels for unlined DPMS 4140 barrels, and take out all the forged tool steel parts in my 1911s and replace them with MIM. What a waste of money all that shit was!

[G34Shooter]

@QuietShootr

Nevermind. Gosh, you’re right! I think I’m going to toss my Colt barrels for unlined DPMS 4140 barrels, and take out all the forged tool steel parts in my 1911s and replace them with MIM. What a waste of money all that shit was!

Yeah, what the hell were you thinking???

[javentre]

Nevermind.

[Alpha_Sierra]

@QuietShootr

What a waste of money all that shit was!

Most of it likely was