Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepherder
Dave, I seem to recall from a previous thread that the 'bigger' calibers had steel frames... 
Regardless, I don't think I would be confident shooting a Zamak framed anything...  |
Aah, I shoot mine all the time. I'm trying to get a .32 or .380 to be dependable enough to take to an IDPA match or two in the "backup gun" category. We shall see. The one I want to take is a .32, but it behaves as if the mag spring is too strong. The mag springs are a bear, as Eugen will find out, and you
really need a loading tool to fill them up and still have skin left on your fingers. If the one that came with it is absent, grind out the "lip" of an otherwise defunct Luger tool and hang on tight! (The lip will fit under the follower button, but wedges itself there and the whole deal binds. It needs a straight-sided hole.)
The KGP series, as mentioned, has only a Zamak frame and trigger--the latter is impossible to "straw," and I must make a steel copy for my "Ermarican Eagle" project. This is in contrast to the earlier, full-size models, which only contain steel barrel liner (Zamak cast around it), breech block, and small parts. My pal Holger, the author, says that not even prototypes--of which he has one or more--were steel.
The KGP pistols probably did sell for what Tom recalls, particularly the Beeman branded ones that had some different features specified, but they started out in '68 costing around $89.95. The mostly-zinc, earlier models debuted at $49.95 in the early mid 60s.
On any of them, there is no movement of the upper because they are blow-back action. Hence, no wear from friction on the interface with the grip frame, whether steel-on-Zamak or both parts Zamak. The locking bolt transfers the forces of ignition to the frame in a beefy area, so no worries about breaking anything that way. The early ones have Zamak toggle joint components which are indeed very susceptible to being broken by too-powerful hyper velocity rounds, which hammer the action against itself just like a P.08 when shooting +P ammo! The only other way to harm them is to drop one, as they will shatter off the trigger guard, or the cast front sight leaf of the earlies.