What other pistols from other brands have frames rails made of polymer or plastic like the Ruger P95 and P97 ? I have these guns and they amaze me at how many rounds have been through them yet they show no wear at all on the rails even though a steel slide cycles on them. Any idea if there are any other pistols that have this ? The Springfield XD / HS Product pistol has a front metal rail and a plastic rear but I can't find any other pistol that are all polymer on their rails.
Pistols that have polymer/ plastic slide rails
- Thread starter tercel89
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JTQ
Member
The Ruger's are the only ones that come to my mind.
Mizar
Member
CZ 100 comes to mind, but there aren't many of such design, that is for sure.
Correct.
The P85/P89/P90/P93/P94 pistols had aluminum frames and the aluminum rails were integral to the frame.
P95/P97 pistols had plastic frames and the plastic rails were integral to the frame. It remains a pretty unusual design choice, but it doesn't seem to have compromised the durability or longevity of the pistols.
JTQ
Member
The Ruger P345 also had polymer frame rails
SwampWolf
Member
Plastic frame rails might be just fine, and the fact that Ruger has used them makes me think the material is appropriate for the task-but I would never feel comfortable with the idea. Plastic running next to metal at high speeds over a long period of time? Color me suspicious.
hutch51
Member
Have a P85 since the early- or mid-80s. Frame is aluminum.
Needs a trip to Ruger for the extractor (factory-fitted).
I might be wrong but I thought it was made by Dupont and called Isoplast
lee n. field
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CZ-100. Which was a crap pistol, but the rails were never, best I can tell, a problem.
Yes, I think you are right. I have an old article about the P95DC. If I manage to find the magazine, I'll check if they mention exactly the material. Pretty sure it is not the usual polymer.
Edit/update: the frame were made with Dow Chemical Isoplast which is a polyurethane resin.
Last edited:
LiveLife
Member
I believe Ruger used Zytel which is high strength, abrasion and impact resistant thermoplastic polyamide, a hard type of nylon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zytel
My P95 was normally lubed with gun oil on the zytel rails and even after tens of thousands of rounds, I didn't notice any wear on the slide rails and accuracy was maintained. P95 was built like a tank and shot well ... so well that when my coworker wanted it for his retirement present ... I relunctantly gifted to him but was glad it was going to a good home to be enjoyed A LOT (His only pistol).
BTW, as to P95's shorter barrel length, I read that Ruger engineers kept shorting the barrel length until they saw drop in accuracy and was surprised how short they got ... Which is the final production length of the pistol.
I think DuPont Zytel is used on recent Ruger pistols.I believe Ruger used Zytel which is high strength, abrasion and impact resistant thermoplastic polyamide, a hard type of nylon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zytel
My P95 was normally lubed with gun oil on the zytel rails and even after tens of thousands of rounds, I didn't notice any wear on the slide rails and accuracy was maintained. P95 was built like a tank and shot well ... so well that when my coworker wanted it for his retirement present ... I relunctantly gifted to him but was glad it was going to a good home to be enjoyed A LOT (His only pistol).
BTW, as to P95's shorter barrel length, I read that Ruger engineers kept shorting the barrel length until they saw drop in accuracy and was surprised how short they got ... Which is the final production length of the pistol.
I was a fan of the P95 and remember reading that a form of the same Dow Isoplast that Ruger used for the frame was also used to make some heavy bumpers and large industrial gear wheels. Apparently it is very tough stuff and holds up to a slide quite well. Plus, the Ruger rails, though short, were rather beefy. I rather miss my KP95 and a KP97.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
My PM45 is that way, metal up front just plastic in the rear. It’s an older gun so they may be different now. I have thousands of rounds through it and the rails appear to be fine.
someguy2800
Member
the polymer kahrs on first glance look like they are only plastic in the front, but there are actually two stainless rails embedded in the front of the frame that ride on the front of the slide as well.
Believe it or not there are certain types of long chain polymers that are actually more wear resistant than steels and will wear away at the steel rather than the steel wearing away at the plastic. A common example would be the silicone rubber lip seals on crankshafts or gearboxes. They are pliable rubber but they will wear a groove in the steel shaft over time. I’ve also seen where a silicone hose is left to vibrate against a metal part and the hose will actually rub a hole through the metal.
halfmoonclip
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Ever see an AUG trigger pack? It is entirely poly, save for the springs. It pounds on a steel firing pin, and has a great reputation for durability. An Aussie training film (it is their service rifle, along with Austria and the Republic of Ireland) shows the troops cleaning it with creek water.
They also advise against using petroleum lubricants; instead, they suggest powdered graphite.
The whole plastic thing makes me crazy, but I guess it's the new way of the world....and for the Austrians, has been the case since 1977.
Moon
They also advise against using petroleum lubricants; instead, they suggest powdered graphite.
The whole plastic thing makes me crazy, but I guess it's the new way of the world....and for the Austrians, has been the case since 1977.
Moon
sparkyv
Member
I verified this. I thought the front rail block was polymer. Nope, it's ferromagnetic.
Learned something new today.
Learned something new today.
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