I' really don't care much for plastic, but that's my humble opinion. To me there is nothing like a finely crafted metal piece crafted from steel and wood.

I can't vote. I have both and like them for different reasons. On Monday I shot both side by side, a Beretta 92 and a P2000. I was drilling with Mrs. Highlander doing double and triple taps w/out sights at 10yds. I found that the 92 held a tighter group with a bit less effort once I got it to shoot consistantly (see Beretta thread), but the reality is the difference was not enough to really talk about. We threw 200 rnds between the 2 of us and had a total of 4 misses. Just for fun I ran the target out to 20yds and used the sights on the 92 for 6rnds and kept it all within 4". The 92 was a rental, P2000 new (just under 200rnds).

Someone mentioned temperature. I have a Beretta 950 Jetfire in .25acp. At the range it needs cool-down time by the start of the 3rd mag, or about 20rnds. I attribute this to the aluminum frame expanding due to the heat of successive rounds. I started out running all 9 and the only cool down was reloading the mag and barrel, pick it up and go again. Can't do it. Not designed for it either. No matter, I love that lil thing. I call it my "mob gun". I've been shooting a WWII 1911 also, a 1943-45 Remington Rand. If asked, I have to use an analogy. Metal? The 1911 is like my 41 Packard. I love it. The Beretta is like my older Bronco. I love it. Plastic? The P2000 is like my Hummer. I love it. Dammit all, I love too much stuff!!

Times change. In my youth, I was all about the Muscle Cars of the 60's. They were sexy, fast and had character. Would I love to be able to sill own one? Absolutely! However, those cars weighed 4000-5000 pounds, got maybe 6-10MPG and would last 100K miles if you were lucky. The cars of today are much better built, lighter, more fuel efficient and will last twice as long.
Guns are not that much different. We can all appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of a well-made, all steel 1911, but in my opinion, an ugly Glock (no offense Glock lovers) is a positive evolution.
Back in the 60's the standard LEO issue was a six-shooter revolver. Today an LEO is armed with a polymer semi auto with from 14-17 rounds of more powerful ammo and a couple of back-up mags.
I own more than a few revolvers and I do intend to add some 1911 style pistols to my collection. Having said that, I will always choose a polymer for EDC.

I think there's something to that, but I wouldn't generalize. The Glock is a fine firearm, but some of the newer plastic guns are simply cheaper, and not necessarily better. Actually, I'd say most.

Originally Posted by MLB

I think there's something to that, but I wouldn't generalize. The Glock is a fine firearm, but some of the newer plastic guns are simply cheaper, and not necessarily better. Actually, I'd say most.

I won't argue with that. I picked up a SCCY semi auto a few months ago that IMO is a POS.

My point is that although I love the craftsmanship and quality built in to some of the classic all-steel sidearms, I feel that major strides have been made in improving the capabilities, reliability and durability of today's polymer firearms.

Just like the auto industry, electronics, building materials, etc. The firearms industry is evolving.

I prefer the feel of steel/alloy pistols much better than plastic. So steel gets my vote.

I voted metal, but I like both. I've gone full circle in the last 40 years from all metal to nearly all plastic back to nearly all metal. Grew up with 1911's, and just can't get along without a safe full. Still have a few plastic guns, but they are vastly outnumbered by metal these days.

Originally Posted by Baldy

There is nothing that can compare to a fine crafted gun made out of steel and wood. The true craftmans the gunsmith is a dieing breed as we have more parts replacers than anything. It's kind of like comparing a Rolex to a Time-X. There is nothing wrong with plastic and I have one, but please make mine steel and wood.

Ditto. The Walther PPK/S for example, or my Beretta 84's, would be completely different if molded out of polymer. They have the right "feel" for a compact pistol, and enough heft to help with recoiul and let you know they are there.

Make mine steel.

Here is my read on plastic vs metal:

If, as s child, the pieces of your bicycle that broke first were plastic, then you will want a all metal gun.

But, if you were of a later era when plastics had improved and engineered plastics on your bicycle outlasted the metal ones, then you will want a plastic gun.

It all boils down to one word: bicycles.

Originally Posted by zebramochaman

Times change. In my youth, I was all about the Muscle Cars of the 60's. They were sexy, fast and had character. Would I love to be able to sill own one? Absolutely! However, those cars weighed 4000-5000 pounds, got maybe 6-10MPG and would last 100K miles if you were lucky. The cars of today are much better built, lighter, more fuel efficient and will last twice as long.
Guns are not that much different. We can all appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of a well-made, all steel 1911, but in my opinion, an ugly Glock (no offense Glock lovers) is a positive evolution.
Back in the 60's the standard LEO issue was a six-shooter revolver. Today an LEO is armed with a polymer semi auto with from 14-17 rounds of more powerful ammo and a couple of back-up mags.
I own more than a few revolvers and I do intend to add some 1911 style pistols to my collection. Having said that, I will always choose a polymer for EDC.

While I agree for the most part (I own a new-er car for the winter & it is nice...and I have shot a friend's glock and another's XD and they are nice as well)
...but...
I still prefer my guns like my '70 cutlass--metal--not to mention big, loud, powerful and american!

Originally Posted by Lnd Svyr

You need a "Both" option. I have both and like both and don't prefer one over the other--yet.

I concur...

Although I prefer polymer for concealed carry due to the weight factor.

Steel<hammer<safety..................

I CC a Ruger LC9. I like the weight and it has been 100% realible.

The metal and wood guns are dying out and its sad to see, they are made so well and will hold up for decades. Like the classic muscle cars that were made out
of actual metal, everyone will admire them and want one. Get them while we still can!!

Originally Posted by Baldy

There is nothing that can compare to a fine crafted gun made out of steel and wood. The true craftmans the gunsmith is a dieing breed as we have more parts replacers than anything. It's kind of like comparing a Rolex to a Time-X. There is nothing wrong with plastic and I have one, but please make mine steel and wood.

Polymer.....just a lot more weatherproof.

From the original poster -- "I have to say that I perfer Plastic guns over all metal ones. I think they are better looking, lighter and hold more ammo."

I notice our OP never said ---- "they shoot better".

My question -- does he (or she) know? Does the original poster even care?

My major criteria for a pistol is how it shoots FOR ME. It's not how Joe Sharpshooter shoots it, or what all the gun rags say (heck, some of them never met an advertiser - errr, gun they didn't like). I own and shoot both all metal and plastic pistols. I like both. At the same time, different pistols have different "triggers", so for me to be half way decent shooting different pistols I have to practice with them. Some I don't really enjoy shooting that much.

Doesn't mean they're not good guns, it's just that they're not for me. (I suspect most of us has heard, one time or another, "It's not YOU -- it's ME" - well this is a case where it's true)

Nothing like the smell of a hot gun barrel and powder. Cylinder clicking softly over the stops, meeting with infinite and timeless repetition. Aligning perfectly with the simplicity of inertia versus resistance joining mind and machine. The weight of a finely crafted and balanced weapon moving as an extension of your own arm. Craftmanship isn't cast from a resin. It's milled from the earths own struggle against itself . Ore mined from the depths and refined into a finely crafted weapon by men who are elementally tuned to the deadly beauty of the gun.

I own the poly Baby eagle, its a lot better feel in your hand than the steel one and looks better. But sometimes I just wish I had the metal one. I like how the markings are engraved on metal in the slide, I hate the markings on the frame. This eagle from magnum research is one of the best handguns I've ever shot and I've shot a lot. I might have gone HK but you pay to much and I'm not rich.

I like polymer guns myself. I had to go with the fantastic plastic.

I like everything.........I can`t imagine my S&W41 in anything but metal and I can`t imagine my HK USP in anything other than polymer...The writings on the wall....soon there will be no metal handguns....Rifles in the larger calibers are another story but soon they will find a way to make them out of Polymer also...

The resistance to Polymer has eroded...most now except it as being the new gun material and I`m betting guns will contain larger amounts of polymer in the future...could the all Polymer gun be closer than we think?.....I`ll bet at some point they will learn how to reduce the effects of recoil with Polymer also...Jim

Personally I really like the quality of the full metal frame guns. I like the practicality of the poly. I own a P229 and a P99. The metal P229 is a much smoother recoil than the poly P99. Another thing to take into consideration...

Metal. Real guns aren't microwave safe and made from recycled baby bottles!

I vote for both

I have both, but most are all metal. Nothing wrong with a plastic gun, but they won't appreciate in value, like a finely crafted metal one will.

Given a choice, I'll always go with metal rather than plastic.

BTW....one of my favorite carry guns is a Sig P250C in .40 cal. It's plastic.