I bought my Combat Master as a shooter. The gun was new-in-pouch when I bought it two years ago, but I didn't feel much guilt when I started shooting it. The gun ran OK as new, but to get it to the necessary level of reliability (I intended to make it my carry piece), I had to do quite a bit of tweaking. After replacing most of the springs, the extractor, installing a taller rear sight, and polishing the internals, the gun runs quite well. I went 800 rounds, in 50-100 round sessions, without a malfunction of any kind. The gun has now had a few hiccups in the last 200 rounds, but I think it was, again, a spring problem. The recoil springs are only about 3" long when new, and the ones in the gun were 1/2" shorter than a new set, after fewer than 500 rounds. What is everyone else's experience with reliability and durability? The only part on my gun that shows any wear is the recoil spring guide rod. It is getting chewed-up where the link passes, and where the springs seat. Since it is just about the only part that is not readily available, it concerns me; what to do if/when that part fails?