Thread: Steel vs. Alloy vs. Polymer

What frame material do you prefer for a CARRY piece and why?
Not talking target or safe queens here.

Polymer until the kids aren't a "leaky" risk... Schofield's ghost would rise and throttle me in my sleep if I let his work become fouled in such a way.

Poly for the weight

Oh and as some state,polymer has no soul or warmth,which makes it easier on you if you bump it during every day carry

Love a good chunk of American steel on the hip!

Blued steel for me: mostly for looks but depending on the weapon I like the added weight.

Polymer because of the weight and you don't care if it gets scratched or worn. The polymer guns tend to be higher capacity as well. Having said that, the gun I am most likely to carry is a Colt 380 pocketlite with an alloy frame and low capacity because it is so small and light, so you can take it with you regardless of what you are wearing, and I don't have a similar size polymer pistol.

I'll leave the tuperware at home...

My favorite carry gun is my Springfield EMP .40, with a steel frame. It just feels right in my hands. But there's nothing wrong with alloy or polymer.

ill take the Polymer every time glocks and kahrs they work great and are lite weight i carry g23, kahr pm40 and kahr p380

I had a Kahr PM40 that was a fine weapon, polymer or not. Best DA trigger around, thin, lightweight, disappeared in a tuckable Crossbreed holster, totally reliable, .40 S&W stopping power. Tupperware? I think not.

Polymer for weight reasons. I generally prefer pocket carry, so lighter is better. Wood and steel might be prettier, but I'm not looking to make a fashion statement. Kahr CM9 over my SW640 for concealed carry most of the time.

Carry a light weapon, but when push comes to shove, I want the best and most reliable. I do not worry about my 1911. Round after round just makes it sweet to shoot! Trust steel, worry about all the rest.

4.25 " 1911 with scandium frame . Light and powerful . Fits close to the body .

I picked polymer because it's light weight and it came in 10mm.

I dont even consider the material.

It is either a quality gun or it is not........
It either fits my hand or it doesnt.......
It either carries well or doesnt........

There is a whole list of things that it has to be that materials does not even figure into my mind.

I typed up a nice reply and the computer/forum ate it!
In a nutshell, with rare exceptions I carry a steel framed Commander sized 1911. (Dan Wesson CBOB) I use a quality leather belt and have a few very good holsters so I can change the style of carry depending on what I'm wearing or where I'm going. I'm not a big guy and with quality belt/holsters I can carry it all day, every day. Just spent two full days (pre-dawn to sunset) packing it in a High Noon belt slider.
The rare exception is a Taurus TCP (polymer frame) in my jacket pocket. And actually, I wish I had my S&W 649 back. I'd drop the Taurus like a hot potato!

As long as it goes bang to prevent me from dying, it doesn't matter to me.

Nothing beats the balance and handling of an all steel firearm.

For the pure sexiness of it - Steel or Stainless Steel.
For the pure utility view - Same as above
For the beauty - Same as above