Who else has noticed that there's a few new pistols with metal frames?
SIG makes an aluminum frame for the P320.
S&W makes the M&P 9 with an aluminum frame and the all new CSX.
FN's High-Power is aluminum.
Is this a trend?
Especially since the aluminum framed versions compare favorably with their plastic polymer counterparts in mass.
The Future™ is an exciting place to be.
You are a guest here when you comment. This is my soapbox, not yours. Be polite. Inappropriate comments will be deleted without mention. Amnesty period is expired.
Do not go off on a tangent, stay with the topic of the post. If I can't tell what your point is in the first couple of sentences I'm flushing it.
If you're trying to comment anonymously: You can't. Log into your Google account.
If you can't comprehend this, don't comment; because I'm going to moderate and mock you for wasting your time.
The weight difference between aluminum and plastic frames amongst comparable pistols most often is around +/- 2 ounces. For that small difference, I'll take metal. Metal frames are less likely to jam when limpwristed, don't flex during recoil so they tend to be more accurate, and they look 1000% better.
ReplyDeleteThe real weight difference is with striker vs hammer. Hammer guns have more parts and are heavier. But I like hammers and metal frames (preferably steel but aluminum is fine). Don't get me wrong, as a bullet launching device, plastic striker guns are perfectly okay. But when I'm shooting a pistols, I'm doing it with some goddarn class. -JKing
I wonder if its a pendulum swinging thing, if the maker are concerned about legal limits coming on plastic frames, or if they want to sell to places where polymer isn't a good idea for whatever reasons.
ReplyDeleteI should look and see if there have been recent improvements in AL metallurgy that make these new designs more feasible...
For a very small gun, I can see polymer being better for weight - but for anything of size the weight difference won't matter as JKing mentions above.
I usually carry a polymer framed .380 and sometimes I forget I'm carrying it; in contrast I have a compact metal frame 22 that fits the same pocket holster but it noticeably heavier and if I put it in my pocket I don't forget its there.
The S&W CSX is the exact same size as the Sheild Plus and they're nearly identical in weight. One is aluminum, single action and hammer fired; the other plastic and striker fired.
DeleteYou get an extra round with the extended mag on the Sheild Plus.
I haven't fired a CSX yet, but I wanna. The local range that rents guns is selling them too fast to add one to the rental fleet.