Why not polymer slides

[TMan]

So if my memory serves me correctly (that will be a first), none of my "plastic" guns have plastic slides. The slides are always metal.

So if polymer is really so great why aren't the slides made out of polymer? Naturally the barrel would be metal, but it seems like the slide could be made out of polymer. The frame has metal inserts that mate with the metal slide, but couldn't you have the major part of the slide be polymer with metal inserts to mate with the metal if necessary. I mean, why couldn't you have polymer mate with polymer.

(Incidentally, I have 3 broken polymer shingles on my roof that need to be repaired.)

["DoubleAction"]

The polymer is only has good as the steel that supports the fire arm. That is the reasoning behind the steel reinforce Glocks.

[MLB]

I suppose it could be done. A stiffer recoil spring would be in order to make up for the loss of mass in the slide, and steel inserts could be placed as you noted to address the wear at the rails. Some strides toward this idea have been made with the barrel shrouds on revolvers.

Why stop there though?! I don't see it as impossible to make a composite barrel. As shown on "Mythbusters", you can make a cannon out of leather or even duct tape. A carbon fiber or ceramic barrel would be thick, but doable I think. After working out a few details, the elusive transparent Glock of Hollywood lore should be possible.

It would just be ridiculously expensive and inferior to steel. ;D

[Callahan]

Apr 20, 2010 10:24:00 GMT -5 MLB said:

It would just be ridiculously expensive and inferior to steel. ;D

But highly desirable to Allah's Little Helpers...