-=> Quoting Guy Putnam to T Owen on 24 Jul 96  04:29 <=-
 Re: COME AND TAKE ONE 
 TO> Have you cycled many rounds through it? If so, how is the frame
 TO> holding up? I heard that the alloy frames wear quickly. 
 GP> Just several boxes so far, but I fixed up the pistol range at my ranch
 GP> & I will be shooting it pretty often for now on.  When they say alloy
 GP> frames wear more quickly, I think that's in reference to holding match
 GP> accuracy.  If you wanted to spend $600 to have your pistol all fixed
 GP> up, you probably wouldn't want to do it with a aluminum frame.  If you
 GP> are going to carry it all day every day, you need a lightweight frame,
 GP> as far as I'm concerned. 
 GP> I have a .45 lightweight Commander that I've put at least over 500 rds
 GP> through with no problems.  
I have several other alloy-frame guns (like a Beretta Centurion, for one) 
which I've put several hundred rounds through. It still looks good. The 
frame is holding up fine. There is more wear to the blueing on the barrel 
than anywhere else.
And of course, 9mm is going to wear a lot quicker than a .380. I suspect 
it'll be a long time before you see much on your Mustang.
 
 TO> I prefer
 TO> a bit more weight than the pocketlite though; it just feels more
 TO> substantial. 
 GP> Well, I do too . . . if I'm carrying it around in the car.  That's
 GP> what I always said about the Thompson SMG . . . its an excellent
 GP> sub-gun if you have a car to carry it around in.   The alloy frame
 GP> guns kick more and are a little harder to shoot accurately, but all you
 GP> have to do is just practice more.  When the pistol is lightweight, it
 GP> spends more time on your person, & less time at home.  I see that as
 GP> the main objective. 
I have no trouble with the .380 Government Model in my front pocket in an 
Uncle Mike's pocket holster (as I said before). 
 GP> I'm going to get a Glock 27 & a Null upside-down shoulder holster for
 GP> this coming winter.  The Glock will probably be a little too fat for
 GP> front pants pocket carry . . . but maybe not!  I still have a Galco
 GP> shoulder rig for the lightweight Commander, but its just so big.  I
 GP> have a Galco rig for my Glock 23 also, but its too late . . . I already
 GP> _know_ that I am going to _have_ to have a M27! 
I had a Glock 27. I decided I couldn't conceal it, so I traded it for 
another .380. I also had problems with "limp wrist" jams - the Glocks 
tend to be very picky about how tight you hold them. I was getting 
better, but it still wouldn't fit in my pocket.
 GP> Anyway, back to the summertime . . . . . I feel pretty naked carrying
 GP> .380, but I'm using Golden Saber & hoping for the best!  I think I'm
 GP> going to have Null make me another holster for the left pocket, for
 GP> spare magazines.  It would hold them up, right below pocket level for a
 GP> fast mag draw.  This would provide more firepower than carrying a
 GP> single mag loose in the bottom of my pocket, as I do now.  (BTW, the
 GP> wife's purse is always good for a spare mag or two!)
The .380 isn't that bad.  It's no .40, but it's also no .22.
The only "high performance" .380 they had locally was Winchester SXT, but 
I'm sure anything of the sort will be roughly equivalent.
Of course, ideally you never need the gun - which is most of the time. If 
you do need it, ideally you don't need to pull the trigger. When all else 
fails, a .380 isn't optimum but it should still do the job.
Steve
... I have never advocated war except as a means for peace - U. S. Grant
--- GEcho 1.00
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