From: grl@drutx.ATT.COM (Randy Lyman)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Info on .380 autos
Date: 29 Jul 92 16:42:09 GMT
Organization: AT&T, Denver, CO


Joe,						July 29, 1992
 
Saw your questions in rec.guns; my mailer cannot find your machine,
so I'm posting this instead.  You {googs@gilligan.rtp.dg.com 
(Joe Gugliemino) said:
 
# I've been thinking about buying a pistol for concealed carry/home
# defense and am leaning towards a .380 . . .
	[stuff deleted]
# Gun Tests recently did a .380 evaluation, but only covered a few models.
# There seems to be a lot more out there, and I'd like to hear people talk
# about their .380 experience, especially with, but not limited to, any of
# the following models: Baretta 84F, Sig P230, Taurus PT58, Walther PPK or
# PPK/S, Colt Gov't/Mustang, Makarov, and AMT.
 
I have posted to rec.guns on several occasions relating my horror
story about trying to get Taurus to fix a defective .380 auto they
designed and built.  Here's the text of my most recent post on
that subject:
 
# RE:  Taurus PT-58S .380 auto:  Report on its functioning
# 	after second return to Taurus for repair
#  
# Thought some of you would be interested to know that my PT-58S
# Taurus autoloader now fires when I pull the trigger.  Those who
# have been following this thread know of my pains to try to get
# this pistol to function.  For those who missed this interesting
# discussion, a brief history:
#  
# 1.  Gun jammed about every fifth round (JHP) when new.
# 	Local gunsmith polishes feed ramp; jam rate goes down
# 	to once every second magazine (or so).
#  
# 2.  Sent gun to Taurus for repair.  After ten weeks, I write
# 	them; I mention my postings about their product to
# 	this computer network, and ask how much longer they 
# 	intend to keep the gun before they work on it.  One 
# 	week later, the gun returns (total repair interval:  
# 	over eleven weeks).  Gun does not jam, but now will not
# 	fire CCI Blazer ammo (the stuff that gave me my best
# 	accuracy to date).  About every fifth cartridge will
# 	not go "bang" when I pull the trigger.
#  
# 3.  Called Taurus.  They said they'd "expedite" the repair of
# 	this new fault, since I'll be returning the gun a
# 	second time.  I UPS the gun back to them a second time.
# 	Months pass...  I write to them after 9 weeks, and ask
# 	where my gun is (with a little note about my postings to 
# 	rec.guns on this network about their product). A week 
# 	after they get my letter, the gun is returned; parts
# 	have been replaced (they claim).
#  
# 4.  Gun fires all kinds of ammo now, without any jams.  (I tried
# 	factory ammo labeled UMC, Remington, Winchester, American
# 	Eagle, CCI Blazer, Hornady, and some hand loads).  CCI
# 	Blazer is still the most accurate with this pistol, BTW.
# 	Unfortunately, the slide doesn't always stay back after 
# 	the last shot (fails to lock about every fourth magazine).
#  
# Since the gun now fires and doesn't jam, I'm going to put up with
# the new slide problem for the time being.  As you might imagine
# from what I've reported above, I'm not in a hurry to send this
# unreliable pistol back to Taurus a third time, only to have them
# sit on the repair for two or three months.
#  
# I know others have reported favorable experiences with Taurus
# and their "lifetime warranty," but for me this .380 auto is
# probably the LAST product of theirs I'll ever buy.
#  
# Randy Lyman		grl@drutx.att.com		"I'm the NMLRA!"
 
Since that post (back in April of this year) I've written to Taurus
once again.  I explained my dissatisfaction with their "warranty
repair process" and my great displeasure with this unreliable pistol
of theirs I purchased.
 
They called me soon after receiving that letter, and after 
discussion they agreed to send me a new magazine (hoping this
would fix the problem related to the slide staying back after
the last round is fired).
 
Fed Ex brought me a new magazine the next day (!) that I took with
me to Utah this summer while away at school.  Testing disclosed 
that the new magazine reduced the incidence of slide lock-back
failures, but did not eliminate the problem.
 
I have read other poster's complaints about various Walther auto-
loaders, but I have yet to experience any problem with my wife's
Walther PPK/S (after about 1500 rounds, both factory and hand-
loads).  The Walther is much more concealable with its single-
column magazine, and based on my informal testing, it is more
accurate than the Taurus.
 
Hope this helps!
 
Randy Lyman		grl@drutx.att.com		"I'm the NMLRA!"
 
	 "Stop the War on Civil Rights:  VOTE LIBERTARIAN!"