Would you trust a plastic pistol?

[7idl]

:roll:

[AlphaAuriga]

I think you are talking about the first generation M-16s.

They've come along way since the Vietnam war.

It wasn't "pride" that kept us "using" improving the M-16. If you know anything about how our government procures "systems" for the military, you'd understand why we've stuck with it.

Nothing against the AK, its served its intended purpose which follows or followed typical Russian cold-war doctrine, which was to produce massive quantities of an item as relatively inexpensive as possible, with the thought of it being "disposable" and replaceable....

[roman gnome]

All I know is it`s great to have choices!

I couldn`t choose between my AK or my AR,

they are two very different weapons,and each one is a kick in the shorts to shoot.


And I have faith in American soldiers to win any battle they are fighting,

with any weapon system, due to the fact they are trained to actually use their sights and they hit what they are shooting at.

[Delphi]

agreed

[adam223]

I just have to chime in and say that I would definately trust a polymer pistol and I do so daily. I carry an XD and I love it. It has plenty of "head bashing" capabilty too.

This is an interesting "torture" test of an XD
http://springfield-armory.primediaou...SPstory11.html

It reminds me of those guys on TV that try to sell you a set of kitchen knives based on their ability to cut sheetrock and steel pipe. Still...... pretty cool to see them abusing a pistol so much. All of this stuff is pretty rediculous but the 20,000 rounds they put through it impresses me.

[DanaT]

I dunno i just dont trust plastic.... Even if it's "special" plastic like polymer.... cant tell me that it will stand up to heat and physical abuse like a 1911 type pistol.

Since this comment is always made, let me educate people on this.

This is taken directly from "Princilples of Ploymer Engineering" by McCrum, Buckley,and Bucknall.

"Plastics and rubbers are sub-groups of the same class of materials - organic high polymers - differing only in detail in their molecular structure"

Let me give you some examples of these "weak"polymers: Kevlar, nylon, polypropylene.

Here is why plastics are generally chosen (again fromteh same book):
"combine lightness and corrosion resistance witha good balance of stiffness and toughness maintained over a wide temperature range. They are easily, precisely and rapidly fabricated at modest temperature."

So here it is: "polymer" isn't a "special plastic" in the same manner that "metal" isn't a special "titanium".

Now that we are onto titanium...ok... I will stop. I like titanium too much...

-Dana

[MPfiveengineer]

I'm pretty sure my HK USP45F will leave a nice size dent in someone's skull if used in that manner.

I trusted my USP also until I came across this picture of a Tactical. The guy was firing factory +P ammo (which HK says is ok) and came across an unusually hot one.

[7idl]

I still stand behind my comment as quoted.


any "official" determination of the failure pictured ?

[MPfiveengineer]

I still stand behind my comment as quoted.


any "official" determination of the failure pictured ?

HK offered to fix the pistol for $175, the ammo manufacture Extreme Shock has offered to cover that cost.

Both one of them would not accept responsibility and HK has not asked for the failed parts to be shipped back for failure analysis.

[7idl]

I'd like to see the slide and magazines ...heck.. all of it up close and in detail.