Polymer Frames---How Long Will They Last

[Rastus]

I've noticed (just woke up?) that there are fewer and fewer pistols with all metal frames.  I know the polymer pistols hold up well to use...but does anyone know how they "age"....will they deteriorate over time?

Especially with the politics at hand...I'm wondering if these polymer frames will have utility when they are 50 to 100 years old? 

Thanks,
Ken

[DDMac]

Excellent question! As much as I have and will have tied up in them, I'd like to know also.
Mac.

[USSA-1]

Well, I cant' speak to how well they will hold up 50 or 100 years from now, but I do have a lot of experience in the competition arena and we beat on our stuff pretty hard.

Most of my experience is with Glocks, STI, and SV, polymer guns.  80,000 rds. (in a 3 year period) is not uncommon and I know a couple of guys that are well over 100,000 rds. on their setup.  The guns do loosen up and barrels do wear out, but overall, the polymer frames seem to be holding up very well.

IMHO, the polymer tends to act a bit like a shock absorber.  The guns flex a little when fired and I think that contributes to their apparent long life.  The flexing takes some of the edge off the recoil that is transferred to the frame.

Erik

[ericire12]

Well, I cant' speak to how well they will hold up 50 or 100 years from now, but I do have a lot of experience in the competition arena and we beat on our stuff pretty hard.

Most of my experience is with Glocks, STI, and SV, polymer guns.  80,000 rds. (in a 3 year period) is not uncommon and I know a couple of guys that are well over 100,000 rds. on their setup.  The guns do loosen up and barrels do wear out, but overall, the polymer frames seem to be holding up very well.

IMHO, the polymer tends to act a bit like a shock absorber.  The guns flex a little when fired and I think that contributes to their apparent long life.  The flexing takes some of the edge off the recoil that is transferred to the frame.

Erik

Thats great info! Question: 1.  About how many rounds do you estimate you are able to get out of Glock barrels before they wear out? 2. What is most commonly the first parts to fail?

[USSA-1]

ericire12,
             Well, that's going to depend on two things.  One, what is the purpose of the firearm and two, what is acceptable accuracy for that firearms stated purpose?

The quick answer is that you will most likely never wear out a Glock barrel.  I know guys that have well over 50,000 rds on Glock barrels  and they still shoot 4" at 25 yards.

It really doesn't matter whether it's a rifle or a pistol.  What matters is what is acceptable accuracy to you.  In Benchrest competition, if a rifle barrel opens up 1/4", it's a loser in the benchrest game, but the barrel still will be a sub-MOA barrel and would continue to serve quite well as a precision rifle for many more rounds.  If that same rifle opened up to a 2 MOA rifle, it might not be good for Benchrest or as a sniper rifle, but it may be just fine for hunting moose and elk for another 1,000 rounds.  This applies to pistols and rifles in the same way.  My competiton pistol standard is 2.5" at 25 yards.  Once a barrel goes over that, I'll replace it, but that same standard is still quite acceptable for a self defense pistol where my personal standard is 4" at 25 yards.

So you see, it really depends on what the purpose of the barrel is, and what is acceptable accuracy to you.

What parts are likely to fail?  I'll assume your talking about a Glock.  If so, I would stock up on "wear" parts.  Glocks are very durable, but I would get an extra set of springs (Recoil, Striker, and Extractor), a spare extractor, and a spare cross pin for the trigger group or the barrel block.  That would be about it for a Glock.

Erik

[Sponsor]

[mnshooter]

Another Glock breakable is the takedown latch leaf spring.   I've seen four of them broken; two were mine.  The latch can then also get lost quite easily with nothing to hold it in, so a spare would be nice.  I've seen three of the standard striker springs break, but never one of the "New Yawk" green, either old or new style.  Otherwise, they are the enerizer bunny of autoloaders.
I teach carry permit classes, and offer an assortment of pistols for tryouts, including a Glock 19, 17, 21 23, 27, 30, and 35.
The XD was the most popular, but now the M&P with the small backstrap is becoming the most liked.  I think the Glock polymer frames have proven to last longer than any of us will ever know.

[mnshooter]

That's enerGizer bunny.  I'm out of coffee.

[ericire12]

I plan on being buried with my Glocks, so I guess we'll see how long it takes for them to decompose!

[DDMac]

Take your time. We'll wait.
Mac.

[ericire12]

Take your time. We'll wait.
Mac.

said the man pictured sitting on the porta-potty!