My RM380 has become my favorite EDC pistol, and the one I most enjoy shooting as well. My only real complaint isn't functional or operational...it's cosmetic. I got mine lightly used, and the finish has always been marginal...easily nicked up, and shows more wear than my other pistols.

So I was really excited to hear about the Executive version...love the SS slide/internals, and the new wooden grips look sharp.

But the more I thought about it, the less I relished the idea of replacing my trusty RM380. After several hundred flawless rounds and all the Galloway spring upgrades, it has a buttery trigger.

So I got to thinking, and went over to the Remington website...yup, wooden grips for sale! The Executive version is sold out (no surprise), but I was able to pick up the Redwood version from a secondary distributor at almost half-price. They are much darker in person than pictured, which I like.

Next, I took a recommendation from the Kel Tec guys and found someone who does Hard Chrome finishing to firearms...awesome stuff, with great durability and excellent friction-reducing properties. I thought this may end up helping with some of the wear issues I'm seeing on the interior of my Remington (minor stuff...you can find similar mentions of it elsewhere on this forum).

So my RM380 shipped out today, and should be back in a month. I'll report back when it has returned and I have a chance to inspect it and run it through the paces.

Looking forward to your report and pics!

Just out of curiosity what does something like that cost?

I'd love to see it when you're done.

The hard chrome would be on the slide only right? I don't think you can do much for the Aluminum frame besides Cerakote or anodizing. Are there other options for coating Aluminum available?

Xtratoy wrote:The hard chrome would be on the slide only right? I don't think you can do much for the Aluminum frame besides Cerakote or anodizing. Are there other options for coating Aluminum available?

The Hard Chrome is for the barrel, frame, slide, screws, and all other external/internal parts except the springs. They even do the magazines at no extra charge.

THe aluminum frame requires an additional process to allow the Hard Chrome to adhere, so it added a bit to the total price. But this guy has been doing this to aluminum frames for something like 3 decades, and the track record is really good. He has customer photos of guns that he did over 25 years ago and they look brand new.

Total price was around $200 shipped back to me, which isn't cheap...but I think it will not only upgrade this pistol cosmetically, but also make my favorite pistol virtually timeless. If there were a single other micro pistol that I was interested in, I probably wouldn't even consider it, but I've bought/shot/sold just about every other .380 out there, and my Remington remains with me and remains flawless in performance.

Thanks for the information. I am watching this to see the end results.

I just got word that my baby has been completely disassembled and stripped, and is now ready for the Hard Chrome application.

Looks like things are moving along on pace.

Updates to follow.....

Awesome !!!