Technically speaking, steel is an alloy..
All true, ya got me.
I was referring to aluminum alloy 1911-pattern pistol frames.
Technically speaking, steel is an alloy..
All true, ya got me.
I was referring to aluminum alloy 1911-pattern pistol frames.
Well, composite does not mean "plastic based"...concrete is a composite.
For aluminum vs steel alloys, Al is subject to fatigue failure and will have a much shorter lifespan than even mild steel. Everytime you shoot an Al Alloy framed pistol, it's a little bit weaker than the last time you shot it, whereas a steel alloy frame will weaken to a point, then level off.
I am not sure how polymer/composite frames compare.
Polymer frames have done ok so far, as Glock and a few other mfg's can attest.
The 2 poly frame guns I have - HK USP .45 and M&P .45 have had no issues whatsoever with the frames.
Although I haven't had one blow up in my hand, so that'd be a real test. I'd imagine Zytel would probably crack/shatter, but I haven't seen that happen with one yet, so I can only speculate.
Thanks, I wasn't trying to "get" anyone, just trying to clarify since I have a polymer based frame on one of my handguns.
..he tried shoving a 454 cassull in it because he thinks he's the shiznit.
Indeed, same here. I am a fan of polymer framed handguns, generally speaking. While I'm not a metalurgist or materials scientist, I do have an engineering and physics background, and from what I know and understand, particulars related to the granular structure of even a high-grade aluminum alloy makes it less than ideal for applications that involve shock. While the deflagration of gunpowder is a (relatively) low-energy event with minimal brisance, the strain and stress of repeated shock into a thin plate of aluminum alloy will, over time, create fatigue and fracturing. For that matter, long-duration vibration inputs or repeated low-level shock and strain will do the same, such as in aircraft structures.
On the other hand, polymers can be tailored to create highly homogeneous materials, with an extremely fine structure and greater tolerance to the repeated strain of shock events, even tuned to be most tolerant to a specific range of shock frequency inputs. I am particularly impressed by the "polymer over steel" design used in Benelli shotguns.
Obviously aluminum and other metals have advantages over polymers, as any material choice is a tradeoff. I would think the major disadvantage of polymers is that when they fail, they do not fail gracefully, and tend to shatter.
Page?
Mine is the 9th Edition and it is covered on 5-9, but just look up Fatigue in the index if they changed the order around in yours.
he was right: