These days, handguns are made with frames of either steel (or an alloy of some sort, usually aluminum) or polymer. Does it really make a difference which we choose? And is one better than the other? Let’s take a look at some of the finer points of handgun frames and see what’s what.
The Olden Days
If my aged and feeble memory serves me correctly, Heckler & Koch pioneered the polymer frame for handguns when they introduced the VP70 in 1970. It was light years ahead of the game, in that it had a polymer frame and it held 18 rounds. Both features, in those days, were pretty revolutionary. It weighed 28.9 ounces.
Moving Right Along
Enter the Glock 17, stage left, in 1988. I can remember when it hit the shores of America like it was yesterday. “A plastic pistol?!?” The wailing and gnashing of teeth, coupled with the profanities, are likely still echoing around in space (Or hovering above Lake Michigan next to the Old Man’s profanities from A Christmas Story). Many people in the shooting community were aghast at the mere thought of a pistol made from plastic. It would never last! It would explode or fall apart on the range! Surely, it would never work! Beyond that, who in the world would actually buy one???
The media ran wild-eyed stories about how these new-fangled Glock pistols would surely be smuggled aboard airplanes and be used in mass hijackings. I mean, come on, the entire pistol was made from plastic! Well…except for the barrel. And the receiver. And various other parts throughout the frame. Time showed us that such stories were absolute hogwash (as are most of the stories that the media launches).
Yes, it’s fair to say that the Glock 17 ran into some opposition upon entering the country. Stiff opposition.
Fast forward to the present day. Over half of the law enforcement agencies in our country issue or approve Glock pistols for use. And their numbers in civilian arsenals are not small, either. It’s the rare shooter who doesn’t own at least one.
The Tradition
Up to that point, it was a steel handgun world. Well, to be fair, a metal handgun world, since there were frames made from aluminum alloy, which was lighter than steel.
Most people hate change (myself included). If it ain’t broke, don’t you dare try to fix it! Folks who carried a steel framed 1911 or Browning Hi-Power weren’t very likely to throw down their John Moses Browning-designed handguns in favor of one of the new, plastic wonder pistols.
Polymer
A few shooters, however, crossed the aisle and tasted the Forbidden Fruit. And verily, the nectar was sweet! And they spake of the sweet nectar, and it was good.
What was so good about it?
First, the weight of polymer-framed pistols is lighter. A Glock 17 weighs 24.87 ounces. A steel framed 1911, by comparison, can weigh in the neighborhood of 35-40 ounces, depending on various factors. Polymer pistols simply weigh less, especially these days with the smaller pistols on the market. Consider that the Glock 43 weighs just 16.23 ounces, which is a far cry from 40 ounces. Carrying a small, light pistol is just a lot more comfortable than carrying a heavy one.
Polymer-framed pistols also absorb recoil differently than their more rigidly-framed brethren. If you ever watch a polymer pistol firing in super slow motion, it shows how the frame flexes during recoil. I really didn’t notice this until I saw it in action. Now, when I fire metal-framed and polymer-framed handguns, I can feel somewhat of a difference in how they recoil. The polymer seems to have a sort of extended recoil. It’s not huge, but it’s there.
Cost is another aspect; polymer is less costly than steel. So polymer-framed guns can be manufactured less expensively than their steel counterparts.
Reliability is another factor. It can’t rust. Unlike carbon steel, Polymer will never rust. And as for the metal parts, Glock uses a process to coat the metal parts of their handguns called ferritic nitrocarburizing. It drastically reduces corrosion, which leads to added reliability. There is little debate that Glock pistols are among the most reliable on the planet.
Steel Or Alloy
Pistols made from steel are the heaviest, with alloys coming in second. Toting around a heavy boat anchor can be…well, not a lot of fun.
Steel rusts. Even stainless steel can rust, though not as quickly as carbon steel. Handguns made from steel normally have grips that are attached by screws. When we carry the gun next to our skin on a sweltering hot day, these screws can become saturated with sweat, causing rust. Plus, the sweat can often work its way underneath the grip panels, causing additional mayhem.
On the flip side, though, steel handguns have historically enjoyed a long life and are durable. Examples of steel handguns made in the 1800s still going strong are out there. And, because they are heavier, steel handguns tend to absorb recoil well. The heavier the pistol, usually, the less recoil affects the platform when it is fired.
Although Sig has gone decidedly polymer these days, they had a number of hits covering decades past that utilized alloy frames. Included among these are the Sig P226, P228, P229, P239, and others. These models still have fans out there who still carry these pistols.
Trends
Handguns were manufactured of steel until the introduction of polymer. After that, most makers went to polymer because of its attributes and popularity. Now, we are seeing a trend of manufacturers swinging back toward metal.
In 2019, Walther diverged from polymer with the steel-framed PPQ Q5 Match, followed by Q4 SF in 2020. This year, Smith & Wesson introduced the CSX model with an aluminum alloy frame.
Uses
Your preferences for use might dictate which works best for you. If your mission is competition and target shooting only, then you might gravitate toward steel-framed pistols. This is not to say that they are not effective for defensive carry! For defensive carry, many people go with polymer-framed pistols because of their light weight and reliability.
There is no way I’m going to carry a steel-framed 1911 for a few reasons. First, because they are just way heavier than I want to carry. Secondly, in my experience, they have not proven as reliable as the Glock and other polymer-framed pistols. I’ve had a few 1911s and there were reliability issues with each one. Without exaggeration, I could not find one that is 100% reliable.
I know there will be comments from people to the effect of, “My 1911 has been 100% reliable for the past 43 years!!!” Okay, fair enough. I’m glad you got a good one. On the other hand, some of the folks who make these claims also have a grand total of a half box of ammo through said pistol; they simply don’t shoot it at the range very often, and so it has stellar reliability because it never gets used!
Sorry, I’m not a 1911 guy. If it works for you, I’m genuinely happy that you found a platform that you enjoy. It’s just not for me. I know people who despise Glocks. Not because they don’t work, but just because they hate the grip angle, the feel, or whatever. Fair enough. I’ll not force you to carry one.
Personally, though, my pistols are tools that I use for self-defense carry. Occasionally I also shoot competition (with my carry guns). For such use, I often trust Glock or Smith & Wesson. They are not pretty to look at (although I do find their functionality to be beautiful). My handguns don’t sit around to be admired.
Well?
Time has shown us, beyond any doubt, that the polymer frames of handguns have held up and excelled! They’re excellent tools that require slightly less maintenance, in general. If you prefer steel or alloy handguns, that’s okay, too. They’re not ineffective or outdated and still work just fine. Some folks prefer the appearance of a classic 1911 or other older designs.
Finally, none of us need any more excuses to go one way or the other aside from, “Because that’s what I like.” The user will weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both metal and polymer frames and make a choice.
