Just make sure there is no hole in the frame under where the stop/guide for the recoil spring sits under the barrel.



When I got the gun I first thought it was dirt, it was only after digging at following shooting about 150 rounds through did I figure out what the real issue was. I ordered from AIM and took a real beating on sending it back even though they were great about it; $50 return shipping on a $260 gun, ouch! Kind of soured me on them despite being a decent shooter so I just bought a CZ75B to replace it rather than try to deal with another; I had failures to extract I strongly suspect were related to this issue but was not about to find out while I could still return it. Looking at it with a smith best guess was an issue with the heat treating on that lot (a 1973 example) or perhaps when the barrel was replaced (did not have an S/N which suggests replacement) the edge wasn't fit well and on recoil it was somehow catching there and beat a hole in it. If you see how it fits together you'll get an idea of where I'm talking about. Notably the plastic grips didn't fit correctly either, the screw holes were off center. Frame and slide matched but I think I got a Monday gun, or it had been through some abuse prior to being sold off as surplus.

It's a lot of gun for the money, especially around $200. Light weight, fits the hand well, easy enough to shoot. I think I was getting about 2.5-3" groups out of it at 25 yards with cheap plinking ammo which isn't too bad for a surplus gun and my weak pistol skills. It was what I'd call broken in, not a loose rattle trap but real easy to operate, the only true weakness is the lack of a decocker on the safety since there is no firing pin block, not that I had any plans to carry it. Just don't dry fire it, I was warned they are known to break firing pins. Wood grips I had on it looked nice (and I still have them - shoot me a PM if you're interested).



Did you find it at the Oaks show? I was thinking of going but just had too much to do this weekend...