Polymer and Arctic Cold

[Sunkist]

Does anyone know how polymer frames hold up in sub-zero operating temps? I live in northern Minnesota and we can see double digit below zero temps often. Some materials get "brittle" and/or lose tensile strength. How about my poly pistols?

[Grendel]

I carry a Glock year round exposed in a duty rig in Minnesota. I have no concerns.

[Orpanaut]

For what it's worth, the Danish dog sled patrols that operate in the Arctic wastes of Greenland carry Glock 10mm pistols.  The Norwegian army also uses Glocks. 

The polymer must get harder and more brittle in extreme cold but as long as you aren't dunking your pistol in liquid nitrogen it should be OK.

[Sunkist]

I suspected they would be fine but I'm a late arrival to polymer pistols and want to have confidence in any defensive pistol. I acquired a Walther PPQ .40 and a Ruger SR40c this past year. They shoot great and either one may be with me. It was always steel in the past.

[Togmaster]

Your guns will crack and fall apart in the cold. You better send them to me so I can keep them nice and warm. 

[0119]

Interesting that it is used with success in the great white north. Initially it's use in the heat of Florida exposed problems. Miami-Dade and FHP both had reliability problems with their Glocks. Constant temp changes between hours of standing out on hot asphalt with frequent short times in an max a/c car interior caused the tiny slide tabs to bind on the slide.

[Metal Wonder Nine Guy]

Interesting that it is used with success in the great white north. Initially it's use in the heat of Florida exposed problems. Miami-Dade and FHP both had reliability problems with their Glocks. Constant temp changes between hours of standing out on hot asphalt with frequent short times in an max a/c car interior caused the tiny slide tabs to bind on the slide.

So did the slide tabs lock the slide up?

Been curious about how well polymer pistols hold up in the cold, so this is an interesting read.

[0119]

The constant drastic change in temp. caused the polymer to expand and contract. That caused the tabs to bind against the slide.

[Raining_Brass]

The constant drastic change in temp. caused the polymer to expand and contract. That caused the tabs to bind against the slide.

Have a link? Sounds really hard to believe. For polymer to expand and contract to that extent would need to be WAY more of a temp change than any human would go through in a day lol.

[0119]

Nope. No link. It was data collected by me and a few fellow agency members. We took it upon ourselves to fight our admin from drinking the gluuck koolaid. We wanted to stick to our 226's. We got it from the mouths of fellow LEO from Metro Dade training division. This before I even had an interest in the internet to have a "link". You will not find links to negative data on agency gluucks. Each agencies admin is forced to sign a non disclosure clause to any purchase contract. That's the only way admin can be insured to get all the free swag, trips and cheap pricing on the next purchase cycle. A 5 year cycle gluuck recommends as they give their weapons a limited 5 year service life before replacement is suggested. So no "evidence" just my word........believe it or who cares.

[Grendel]

Nope. No link. It was data collected by me and a few fellow agency members. We took it upon ourselves to fight our admin from drinking the gluuck koolaid. We wanted to stick to our 226's. We got it from the mouths of fellow LEO from Metro Dade training division. This before I even had an interest in the internet to have a "link". You will not find links to negative data on agency gluucks. Each agencies admin is forced to sign a non disclosure clause to any purchase contract. That's the only way admin can be insured to get all the free swag, trips and cheap pricing on the next purchase cycle. A 5 year cycle gluuck recommends as they give their weapons a limited 5 year service life before replacement is suggested. So no "evidence" just my word........believe it or who cares.

Nonsense.

I was the purchasing agent for our Glock 17s and there was no 'non disclosure' anything. Nor was there any suggestion of a '5 year service cycle' in any paperwork from, or to, Glock.

All they require is a purchase order and an authorized signature.

[0119]

Whatever you say Lord admin

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

Nope. No link. It was data collected by me and a few fellow agency members. We took it upon ourselves to fight our admin from drinking the gluuck koolaid. We wanted to stick to our 226's. We got it from the mouths of fellow LEO from Metro Dade training division. This before I even had an interest in the internet to have a "link". You will not find links to negative data on agency gluucks. Each agencies admin is forced to sign a non disclosure clause to any purchase contract. That's the only way admin can be insured to get all the free swag, trips and cheap pricing on the next purchase cycle. A 5 year cycle gluuck recommends as they give their weapons a limited 5 year service life before replacement is suggested. So no "evidence" just my word........believe it or who cares.

All this hearsay could get you impeached!

[Raining_Brass]

Nope. No link. It was data collected by me and a few fellow agency members. We took it upon ourselves to fight our admin from drinking the gluuck koolaid. We wanted to stick to our 226's. We got it from the mouths of fellow LEO from Metro Dade training division. This before I even had an interest in the internet to have a "link". You will not find links to negative data on agency gluucks. Each agencies admin is forced to sign a non disclosure clause to any purchase contract. That's the only way admin can be insured to get all the free swag, trips and cheap pricing on the next purchase cycle. A 5 year cycle gluuck recommends as they give their weapons a limited 5 year service life before replacement is suggested. So no "evidence" just my word........believe it or who cares.

Sounds like a lot of bull IMO. lmao

[Grendel]

Whatever you say Lord admin

Word