Jennings/Bryco?

TexasGlock23 · #1

Anyone know any first hand kowledge of the Bryco division .380. I just got one today from my mom. She bought it new back in '95. It hasn't been shot in 6-9 years, but I thought I could clean it up and let my sis use it for practice at the range after I test it. Please only post first hand knowledge and not hear say. It has all the original peices, box, papers etc. I know that it is now called Jimenez! Any collectors?
Thanks in advance

Jared

TexasGlock23 · #2

Anyone?

txinvestigator · #3

TexasGlock23 wrote:Anyone?

I have seen plenty. They seem to be prone to FTF's and FTE's.

In the business they are considered junk. Good for plinking, but never for defense,

flintknapper · #4

txinvestigator wrote:
TexasGlock23 wrote:Anyone?
I have seen plenty. They seem to be prone to FTF's and FTE's.

In the business they are considered junk. Good for plinking, but never for defense,

My sentiments as well.

Sorry.

Lonegun1894 · #5

No experiance with the .380. Had a .22 that i gave away and it was a good gun. Well, within reason. It would only shoot the cheap bulk ammo well, and jammed with everything else. Cheap crap always shot to point of aim and never jammed though. I did trust it as a backup and it did it's job, but i'm not posting details on that one. PM me if you really wanna know, but lets leave it as it was overseas and stayed there with a friend who had more need for it than i did.

Greybeard · #6

+1 on what tx and flint said.

Had a lady in recent CHL class that tried to use similar (Davis .32). Malfs caused her to flunk first go-round of proficiency. I loaned her one of my 9s for the re-test and suggested that, if she fished, the Davis would make an excellent trotline weight.

I keep an old Jennings (and RG) around as examples of what NOT to risk one's life on - if there is any other viable alternative.

dws1117 · #7

I am not fond of them. A friend of mine likes all of those inexpensive pistols. I believe that you get what you pay for. Of course there are exceptions.

Lonegun1894 · #8

Graybeard,
I had an RG once. I totally agree with you as to their quality, or lack of. And it did make an excellent fishing weight. Especially when it got hung up and not recovered. That thing was a danger to anyone who was around it--even when i kept it unloaded.

Greybeard · #9

"Of course there are exceptions."

True. John Hinkley's RG evidently went bang every time. Unfortunately, that day, anyway.

And my father-in-law's got one that he's quite proud of. He lives on a lake and keeps it loaded with shot loads for dinging squirrels on bird feeders. I hope that's all they ever need it for.

My RG goes bang a good 60% of the time - and spews lead off to the sides with each shot. With firing pin stuck forward, the Jenning is usually good for a slam fire, so both are now "retired". Guess that make me a "collector", huh?

dws1117 · #10

The exceptions I was thinking of are the guns in the $300-$450 range. Guns including but not limited to Taurus, Springfield, CZ, and Kel-tec among others. Granted they're not as inexpensive as Bryco/Jennings type guns.

TexasGlock23 · #11

Nothing wrong with a CZ or Springfield! Great guns

dws1117 · #12

That was my point. There are so many good guns at reasonable cost that unless I was completely strapped I see no reason to consider the Bryco/Jennings type guns.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not bashing those guns. For some it is all they can afford and one of those is better than not having a gun. Heck, some, like my friend, really like them and he could afford just about anything.

bauerdj · #13

I recently picked up a RG 23 very cheap just to plink and fool around with. I was very suprised to find that it went bang each and every time asked and it shoots into 2" at 15 Yds. That said it's fine for plinking and such but definately NOT something I would trust to carry as a defense gun. I would also be less comfortable with larger calibers from a saftey standpoint if something does go wrong.

Dave B.

Plink · #14

Jennings, Bryco, Raven, etc., are made of soft, heavy metal that I don't think is steel. I've had to repair bent firing pins from dry firing and several other failures for friends who bought them. They're ok for plinking, but I wouldn't want to trust my life to one.

MoJo · #15

My buddy who sells lots of the aforementioned guns says they should all come with a box of fish hooks!