Steel Frame or Polymer Frame???

Gunny · March 28, 2009, 09:05 PM

I'm looking at getting a Baby Eagle 40 and was preferring the steel frame but I have never handled one in a polymer frame so I thought I would refer to you guys... my database of gun knowledge!

What all do you guys know of the steel frame versus the polymer frame in the baby eagle and why do you prefer that one?

jgcoastie · March 28, 2009, 09:17 PM

I don't know much about MR Inc. products, but as a general rule for semi-autos, I prefer polymer to steel. It's lighter and just as durable through the useful life of the gun. Yeah, some steel frame guns have been in people's family for almost a century, but I don't foresee the frame on my Glocks wearing out any time soon either...

cguedr · March 28, 2009, 09:24 PM

I've read a bunch of post from guys who love the steel frame. However, I have one in 9mm with a polymer frame and I can tell you that even with that, it's not a light pistol, not overly heavy, just not light. I will say this, I believe the steel frame pistols are a little thinner. Saw one at a gun show and noticed that the frame was flush with the slide, while the frame on mine (polymer) was just a tad wider, for what it's worth.

Gunny · March 28, 2009, 09:28 PM

Interesting. Yeah I own a Kimber with a stainless steel frame and a berreta with an aluminum frame and a few glocks and other guns with polymer frames. I just wasn't sure what people thought of them on the baby eagles. I kind of like the look of the Steel Frame ones but if there are some advantages or disadvantages of two I would like to hear them!

craneop35 · April 7, 2009, 10:44 PM

I have the Baby Eagle .40 polymer and after 200 rounds the clips have gottin a little slop in them and if i dont hold them up tight it jams every other round and I am trying to get ahold of MS but they are not responding.

Ben · April 8, 2009, 12:07 AM

Lately, I've been having a hard time forming any real attachment to polymer-framed guns. All the guns I seem to want are metal.

There's no explaining it. Companies make a polymer-framed gun but still expect us to pay the same amount (or more) for it under the guise that since it's lighter and more trendy that we should pay for that perk. I'm just not feeling it. I think I've bought my last polymer.

Ben

chris in va · April 8, 2009, 12:13 AM

I don't care for polymer either, just too top heavy. The only one I have left is my P11. CZ, Sig, S&W, Kahr...all metal.

_W_ · April 8, 2009, 02:57 AM

I have no problems with polymer framed pistols, but I hear that there is a noticeable difference in performance/reliability between the steel and polymer Baby Eagles (the steel BE's are better than the polymer ones).

I have a all steel Compact Baby Eagle. Its heavy but I'd say its probably the best feeling gun I've ever held.

BanditSRT8 · April 8, 2009, 03:12 AM

I never got into the whole Baby Eagle thing. I figured if I wanted a CZ, I'd buy a CZ. If I wanted a higher grade clone, I'd buy an EAA Witness Match, or Sphinx (which I have), but never was interested in the Baby.

UNTIL I saw the brand new polymer Baby Eagle 2's.

WOW. I put one in my hand, and that contoured grip really won me over. I don't know how anyone would even consider the steel frame after fondling one of these new pups... it's like night and day.

imthegrumpyone · April 8, 2009, 03:59 AM

MR is a fine gun maker you wont be disappointed, the only one of Baby Eagles I have is steel, but I have two I carry that are poly's and are great. You should have no trouble one.

Homerboy · April 8, 2009, 05:23 AM

I hate polymer guns. I've owned a few Glocks, a taurus, and a Beretta PX4. They just don't have the same feel of quality to me and I am now only a metal gun guy. I also prefer TDA, hammer fired guns, so most polymers are out for me anyway. They feel too top heavy to me, as well

SVRider · April 8, 2009, 10:13 AM

I'm a big fan of plastic frames. Yeah, I said it.. plastic.

In my collection, 5 out of 7 handguns have plastic frames. All 4 of my long guns have plastic stocks. Ergonomically, I think the manufacturers are able to mold shapes with plastic that aren't cost effective to try and do with metal or wood. Plus, whenever I hold a steel framed gun, I find the transition from metal to the wood/plastic/rubber grip panels to be uncomfortable. That should be your ultimate decision maker though, how comfortable it is to hold onto the gun.

That'll Do · April 8, 2009, 10:21 AM

I'm torn between steel and polymer.

I own a CZ 75BD and a S&W M&P40–I shoot equally well with both guns, but there's just something satisfying about the feel of a metal gun.

I rented a SA 1911 and a Glock 23 at the range yesterday, and again, I shot well with both, but I was drawn towards the metal gun...so who knows. It's personal preference, I guess.

craneop35 · April 11, 2009, 09:49 AM

Have you had any problems with the Baby Eagle 2. I just sent mine back to MR yesterday. After 200 rounds me clips got just a little slack in them to where if I dident hold them up in the gun it jamed every other round and the guy at MR said it sounds like the clip release is worn.

JohnPaul · April 11, 2009, 10:01 AM

but for target shooting... I much prefer metal. BTW I really love my MR baby eagle. It is fast becoming our fav. gun at the range.

arcus98dac · August 27, 2011, 09:48 PM

I use to have a polymer framed 9mm. Sure it was fine besides the trigger pull, but i did feel it would break if it got ran over by a truck, or even smack someone in the head. Lets face it, all it is is a hard plastic. People say it helps recoil and it does, but so does the heaviness of steel. The advantage is light weight, the disadvantage is durability. I love my arcus 98 dac and will prob. never get a polymer pistol again.

Will Beararms · August 27, 2011, 10:21 PM

Polymer all the way. Light, recoil absorbing and maintenance free essentially.

NJgunowner · August 27, 2011, 10:22 PM

I had a poly one, it was my first pistol. I had the same problem in that the mag release wore quickly and I had to hold the magazine so it wouldn't jam.

BlueTrain · August 28, 2011, 05:58 AM

The pistol I have with me right now has a plastic frame and it isn't the first one I've owned, either. The one I traded in on it had an aluminum frame. My only other automatic (at the moment) also has an aluminum frame. However, I am beyond shooting as an activity and anyway, it wasn't the material of the frame that was the deciding factor but other things instead.

sailskidrive · August 28, 2011, 07:32 AM

I have an older Baby Eagle in .40. Since there is a lot of chatter on here I assume that Magnum Research is importing them again? I know they lost the import contract a few years ago and Charles Daly picked it up, but CD went out of business last year.

It is a very heavy handgun in steel, a while ago I read some where that the IDF adopted the Jericho in steel so that it could be used as a non lethal melee weapon. Although I'm not sure getting hit over the head with over two pounds of steel would tickle. Any way based on MRs website it looks like polygonal rifling is now an option, you may want to make sure the pistol your buying has it.

One word of advice, BUY THE FACTORY MAGAZINES. I have four ProMag mags that wont feed past round four with out hanging up. You also need to keep the gun pretty clean or the insidenofnthe magwell rusts fairly easily.

**Shane Tuttle** · August 28, 2011, 07:45 AM

As this thread is over two years old, dug up by yet another new member, and the OP hasn't even visited here in God knows when, this one's closed.

March 28, 2009, 09:05 PM	#1
Gunny Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: Clear Lake, Texas Posts: 90	Steel Frame or Polymer Frame??? I'm looking at getting a Baby Eagle 40 and was preferring the steel frame but I have never handled one in a polymer frame so I thought I would refer to you guys... my database of gun knowledge! What all do you guys know of the steel frame versus the polymer frame in the baby eagle and why do you prefer that one?

March 28, 2009, 09:17 PM	#2
jgcoastie Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Kodiak, Alaska Posts: 2,118	I don't know much about MR Inc. products, but as a general rule for semi-autos, I prefer polymer to steel. It's lighter and just as durable through the useful life of the gun. Yeah, some steel frame guns have been in people's family for almost a century, but I don't foresee the frame on my Glocks wearing out any time soon either... __________________ "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights.

April 8, 2009, 03:12 AM	#9
BanditSRT8 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Posts: 1,135	I never got into the whole Baby Eagle thing. I figured if I wanted a CZ, I'd buy a CZ. If I wanted a higher grade clone, I'd buy an EAA Witness Match, or Sphinx (which I have), but never was interested in the Baby. UNTIL I saw the brand new polymer Baby Eagle 2's. WOW. I put one in my hand, and that contoured grip really won me over. I don't know how anyone would even consider the steel frame after fondling one of these new pups... it's like night and day. __________________ XD9 SC 2 tone \| Glock 19 "Cogan Custom" \| HK45 \| HK P7M8 \| HK P30 \| Kimber Eclipse Pro II \| Springfield EMP \| Glock 19 TALO Limited Edition \| S&W 1911 Doug Koenig Edition Bi-Tone \| EAA Witness Elite "MATCH" \| XD40 Service V10 ported "Custom" \| Ruger LCP \| S&W M&P15 w/EOTech \| GSG-5 L \| FN FS2000 w/EOTech

April 8, 2009, 03:59 AM	#10
imthegrumpyone Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2007 Location: spring tx Posts: 1,037	MR is a fine gun maker you wont be disappointed, the only one of Baby Eagles I have is steel, but I have two I carry that are poly's and are great. You should have no trouble one. __________________ chambered and unlocked

April 8, 2009, 10:13 AM	#12
SVRider Member Join Date: December 5, 2002 Posts: 93	I'm a big fan of plastic frames. Yeah, I said it.. plastic. In my collection, 5 out of 7 handguns have plastic frames. All 4 of my long guns have plastic stocks. Ergonomically, I think the manufacturers are able to mold shapes with plastic that aren't cost effective to try and do with metal or wood. Plus, whenever I hold a steel framed gun, I find the transition from metal to the wood/plastic/rubber grip panels to be uncomfortable. That should be your ultimate decision maker though, how comfortable it is to hold onto the gun. __________________ -- B.

March 28, 2009, 09:24 PM	#3
cguedr Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 144	I've read a bunch of post from guys who love the steel frame. However, I have one in 9mm with a polymer frame and I can tell you that even with that, it's not a light pistol, not overly heavy, just not light. I will say this, I believe the steel frame pistols are a little thinner. Saw one at a gun show and noticed that the frame was flush with the slide, while the frame on mine (polymer) was just a tad wider, for what it's worth.

March 28, 2009, 09:28 PM	#4
Gunny Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: Clear Lake, Texas Posts: 90	Interesting. Yeah I own a Kimber with a stainless steel frame and a berreta with an aluminum frame and a few glocks and other guns with polymer frames. I just wasn't sure what people thought of them on the baby eagles. I kind of like the look of the Steel Frame ones but if there are some advantages or disadvantages of two I would like to hear them!

April 7, 2009, 10:44 PM	#5
craneop35 Junior Member Join Date: April 7, 2009 Posts: 2	I have the Baby Eagle .40 polymer and after 200 rounds the clips have gottin a little slop in them and if i dont hold them up tight it jams every other round and I am trying to get ahold of MS but they are not responding.

April 8, 2009, 12:07 AM	#6
Ben Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,633	Lately, I've been having a hard time forming any real attachment to polymer-framed guns. All the guns I seem to want are metal. There's no explaining it. Companies make a polymer-framed gun but still expect us to pay the same amount (or more) for it under the guise that since it's lighter and more trendy that we should pay for that perk. I'm just not feeling it. I think I've bought my last polymer. Ben

April 8, 2009, 12:13 AM	#7
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I don't care for polymer either, just too top heavy. The only one I have left is my P11. CZ, Sig, S&W, Kahr...all metal.

April 8, 2009, 02:57 AM	#8
_W_ Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2007 Posts: 249	I have no problems with polymer framed pistols, but I hear that there is a noticeable difference in performance/reliability between the steel and polymer Baby Eagles (the steel BE's are better than the polymer ones). I have a all steel Compact Baby Eagle. Its heavy but I'd say its probably the best feeling gun I've ever held.

April 8, 2009, 05:23 AM	#11
Homerboy Junior member Join Date: June 16, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,320	I hate polymer guns. I've owned a few Glocks, a taurus, and a Beretta PX4. They just don't have the same feel of quality to me and I am now only a metal gun guy. I also prefer TDA, hammer fired guns, so most polymers are out for me anyway. They feel too top heavy to me, as well

April 8, 2009, 10:21 AM	#13
That'll Do Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 546	I'm torn between steel and polymer. I own a CZ 75BD and a S&W M&P40–I shoot equally well with both guns, but there's just something satisfying about the feel of a metal gun. I rented a SA 1911 and a Glock 23 at the range yesterday, and again, I shot well with both, but I was drawn towards the metal gun...so who knows. It's personal preference, I guess.

April 11, 2009, 09:49 AM	#14
craneop35 Junior Member Join Date: April 7, 2009 Posts: 2	Baby Eagle 2 Have you had any problems with the Baby Eagle 2. I just sent mine back to MR yesterday. After 200 rounds me clips got just a little slack in them to where if I dident hold them up in the gun it jamed every other round and the guy at MR said it sounds like the clip release is worn.

April 11, 2009, 10:01 AM	#15
JohnPaul Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2008 Location: UTAH Posts: 218	daily carry, I have plastic but for target shooting... I much prefer metal. BTW I really love my MR baby eagle. It is fast becoming our fav. gun at the range. __________________ Infidel ? - Who, me??

August 27, 2011, 09:48 PM	#16
arcus98dac Junior Member Join Date: August 27, 2011 Posts: 13	go with steel!!!! I use to have a polymer framed 9mm. Sure it was fine besides the trigger pull, but i did feel it would break if it got ran over by a truck, or even smack someone in the head. Lets face it, all it is is a hard plastic. People say it helps recoil and it does, but so does the heaviness of steel. The advantage is light weight, the disadvantage is durability. I love my arcus 98 dac and will prob. never get a polymer pistol again.

August 27, 2011, 10:21 PM	#17
Will Beararms Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,834	Polymer all the way. Light, recoil absorbing and maintenance free essentially. __________________ "Without a rifle you are nothing, worthless, you are waiting for death, any minute, any second." -- Aron Bielski

August 27, 2011, 10:22 PM	#18
NJgunowner Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 1,254	I had a poly one, it was my first pistol. I had the same problem in that the mag release wore quickly and I had to hold the magazine so it wouldn't jam.

August 28, 2011, 05:58 AM	#19
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,141	The pistol I have with me right now has a plastic frame and it isn't the first one I've owned, either. The one I traded in on it had an aluminum frame. My only other automatic (at the moment) also has an aluminum frame. However, I am beyond shooting as an activity and anyway, it wasn't the material of the frame that was the deciding factor but other things instead. __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.

August 28, 2011, 07:32 AM	#20
sailskidrive Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2008 Posts: 726	Baby Eagle I have an older Baby Eagle in .40. Since there is a lot of chatter on here I assume that Magnum Research is importing them again? I know they lost the import contract a few years ago and Charles Daly picked it up, but CD went out of business last year. It is a very heavy handgun in steel, a while ago I read some where that the IDF adopted the Jericho in steel so that it could be used as a non lethal melee weapon. Although I'm not sure getting hit over the head with over two pounds of steel would tickle. Any way based on MRs website it looks like polygonal rifling is now an option, you may want to make sure the pistol your buying has it. One word of advice, BUY THE FACTORY MAGAZINES. I have four ProMag mags that wont feed past round four with out hanging up. You also need to keep the gun pretty clean or the insidenofnthe magwell rusts fairly easily. __________________ SailSkiDrive Hk USP 45 Expert, USP 40, USP 9, SIG P226, S&W M&P9, Hk 4, Makarov, Desert Eagle 40, Beretta FS92 Centurion, Kimber TLEII 1911A1, Glock 22, SIG P225, 1943 Rem Rand 1911A1, S&W mod 64, Walther PPQ, SIG P229, Browning BDA 45 (SIG P220), Hk45, SIG P230

August 28, 2011, 07:45 AM	#21
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 9,443	As this thread is over two years old, dug up by yet another new member, and the OP hasn't even visited here in God knows when, this one's closed. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting