Tupperware Guns - Experiences

[TMan]

Well it is 4:36 pm in China, and even though I'm back in the USA, I'm wide awake and watching the Olympics.

I got to thinking about the polymer guns that I own and never shoot. Why?

One day I was at my dealers and she was on the phone. I went behind the counter and started looking at all the guns she had in inventory. (She trusts me.)

She had several of the H&K models and I took them out and held them in my hands. They weren't comfortable. I had really thought I would buy a USP, but the way the gun fit my hand... I suddenly realized that I would never shoot it. Another safe queen...

If you buy a conventional gun and it doesn't feel right in your hand, there is the possibility of changing the grips and making it fit right. With polymer - you are kind of screwed. There is the possibility of putting on a slide-on grip, but the chance of it fixing the fit problem is slim.

I see this as a tremendous disadvantage to buying the new polymer pistols that everyone and their brother are introducing.

The best use I've found of polymer is roofing shingles. They are holding up well so far with some heavy wind storms:

www.tamko.com/ArticleDisplayPage/tabid/56/ControlType/articleDisplay/itemid/2460/Default.aspx

For handguns: give me something I can make modifications to.

Your experiences/opinions?

[5ontarget]

TMan, don't you already have a H&K USP elite? I remember seeing a review written by you in our range review section.
handgunforum.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=RangeResultsOpinions&action=display&n=1&thread=1738

I have a couple plastic guns, I have an Springfield XD, Kel-Tec 3AT, and the Walther P22. As you know the P22 has the replaceable backstraps to change the grip. I like that idea. I think the new S&W MP has some different inserts for it as well.

There are other grip mods available, I'll post some later, I actually have get to work for a while.

[MLB]

I agree with TMan on the difficulty in customizing a polymer framed handgun. I think that the manufacturers have seen this as an issue as well. (Except for the new Wilson, which looks less comfortable than a Glock, but I should hold one before running my lips.)

To expand upon 5OT's post, I believe Walther was the first to address the issue with the interchangable backstraps with the P99. They are now available on several polymer framed handguns from S&W, H&K, and Beretta I think. I remember some promotional material from Walther specifically marketing the design of the grip in cooperation with some famous Olympic shooter (although apparently not famous enough for me to remember ;D ) The result is notable in my opinion though, the P99 feels remarkably comfortable in my hands (the P22 was a bit small for me though.)

It seems to me that until recently, most semi-auto grips were designed around the requirements of the cartridge and magazine. I think future handgun grips will place more emphasis on the shooter's hand, and that polymer frames will make this more economical to do.

[TMan]

5ontarget, you are right, I do have the H&K Elite, which is chambered in 9mm. The ones I was looking at when at the dealers were chambered in 45 ACP. Originally I had problems with it spitting brass directly back toward me, and a gunsmith at a range in Dallas ground off part of the ejector. His feeling was that the long slide on the Elite was causing the problem.

Some of my Tupperware that doesn't get shot much:

Baby Eagle (I ordered one and ended up with the plastic one).
SP-21
XD-9 (I do like this gun a lot, but seldom shoot it)
Glock 34 (Got a great deal on this NIB - $450. Spent several hundred more on it - still hate it. Going to order a new Ghost 3.5 Rocket Connector. Maybe I'll like it better then).
P22
Mosquito
Beretta xx (Can't think of the model number)

You are right about the models that allow you to change the back-stop. I think this is the manufacturers recognizing that one size doesn't fit all. The P22 does fit my hand much better than the others do. However, both the P22 and Mosquito are plinkers: my targets look like they have been shot by a shotgun - embarrassing. I'll address part of this in another thread.

[TA]

I have one polymer framed pistol, an XD40. One of the reasons I bought it was because it fit my hand so well. I absolutley hate the grip on a Glock. It feels like a 2x4 to me.

[5ontarget]

well, I'm back on a more familiar machine, with a partial catalog of firearm favorite bookmarks. I can't find the ones I was looking for. But here is a company out of Ohio that does some nice custom work on plastic, er polymer. www.bowietacticalconcepts.com/btcpictures.html Stippling to increase the grip, and a metal insert for front strap checkering. I'm not sure I like the stippling, a similar and much less permanent method of improving grip is with skate tape. (adhesive sandpaper, also available as grip tape pre cut for your gun for several times the cost of skate tape) Also available are grip reductions, and beaver tail addition/extensions, trigger guard reshaping, magwell cutouts.


I also have made a super slim, "baby hogue" slip on for my Kel-tec from a bike tube. I'm still working on it though, I haven't decided if I want the full slip on, or to leave some of the "checkering" exposed. Another rainy day project...

[TMan]

Yesterday, while at my dealers, I again picked up a H&K USP. It actually feels too big in my hand. My palm is big, but my fingers aren't all that long.

What she noticed after I sat it down was the marks that the stippling on the front grip left on my hand. What can I say: never did an honest days work.

I do think that the idea of having a replaceable backstrap is the only way to go with Tupperware. I will never again by a polymer gun unless I've been able to hold it in my hand.

[ron]

I've had several Glocks that I purchased as a semi-beginner with handguns. After all, Glocks were what to have. As I learned the difference in feel of handguns, and became more discrimenating, a gun had to feel good in my hand before I would consider purchasing.
The XD40 felt so good to me, and I shot it so well, that it became the King of the heap. A Kimber Custom I 1911 that I sold was a fine gun, but it never felt comfortable to me. I sold all my Glocks at one time or another.
It doesn't bother me if a gun is polmer or not, just as long as it feels good and I can shoot it accurately. That said, I will eventually have another 1911 because...well...because. Because that is what I learned on and they are a masterpiece of design.

Ron

[MLB]

A result of TMan's link to the "MI6" site on the PPK/s, I found a reference to the polymer P99. This includes the reference to the almost famous enough to remember Olympic grip designer dude.

www.mi6.co.uk/sections/dad/p99.php3