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Jennings
ksuosu
Member Posts: 25 ✭✭
Believe it not but the 5Lb. hammer worked better than the 3Lb. hammer.
But it did come apart.
But it did come apart.
Comments
I wouldn't trust any of their centerfires.
Jennings, Raven, and other of those pot metal guns are made to fire, I'd guess, maybe about 100 rounds total in their lifetime. The quality control could be a lot better, but the fact of the matter is that 90-95% of any gun purchased for self defense rarely have as many as 25 rounds ever put through them by their purchasers. Therefore, these inexpensive guns do fill a niche.
I don't like these guns criticized in derogatory terms that make them look like they are an accident waiting to happen, or simply a weapon used by thugs, gangs, etc. That kind of talk only ads fuel to the anti-gun fire. Let's call them what they are: These guns are an inexpensive way for people of limited means to obtain a weapon to defend themselves.
These guns are the basis, along with the small, inexpensive revolvers made from the last quarter of the 19th century up to now, for the term, "Saturday Night Special". The term comes from the liberal elitist view that the lower end of the earning scale in this country are criminally-minded morons who get paid on Friday and blow their pay checks on wine, women, gambling and the like all weekend and in the process buy a gun for a very small sum, using it to rob, murder or injure someone. The flawed elitist thinking is that if these cheap guns weren't available, the unwashed masses would give up their unsavory lifestyle and become fine, upstanding drones for the liberal vision of a socialist America.
My wife can shoot the Phoenix 25 auto and keep a tin can rolling for 4 out of six shots. I can't hit the barn floor with it. I have run hundreds of rounds through it, a lot of them reloads (I think it takes 0.8 grains of Bullseye, I had to make my own dipper)and it still performs flawlessly.
I have found both Jennings and Raven (and probably others), particularly in .22LR, to be extremely ammo sensitive. Some rounds wouldn't eject properly, some would fail to feed and so on. I found CCI Stingers to be the most all around reliable ammunition. Also, I found that they are magazine sensitive, I had one mag that wouldn't work in one gun but performed fantastic in another gun. and the first gun never had a hiccup with it's magazine. Go figure !!!
I never had one break on me although I have had malfunctions. Yes, they are pot metal not titanium or exotic steel but they are also usually chambered in low pressure rounds. Are there better alternatives out there ? Maybe, but if you can't afford them it becomes a moot issue. Some would say no gun at all is better than a Jennings but I would disagree, particularly since in the vast majority of incidents the mere appearance of a firearm ends the altercation. And, if all I had was 40 bucks to spend on a firearm, well, the Jennings, Phoenix, Davis, Bryco, Raven or such would certainly give me an option.
I think the Jimenez is the same gun as the Jennings which in turn was the same as the Bryco etc.,,
Dan R
There are other options. European imports are available for less than $100. or check out GB for a used piece. Also check out your local dealer for trade-ins, and pawn shops for something out of pawn.
The appearance of a Jennings won't scare off many experienced bad guys. It's almost like bringing a knife to a gun fight.
If only $40. is available to buy a gun I would suggest to keep a low profile and save some more money.
I don't mean to offend anyone - just giving my $.02.
I don't consider it bashing - I feel it's calling a spade a spade. These guns are of questionable design, worse quality control, and made of the same metal as my Lone Ranger cap gun back in the 40's!
There are other options. European imports are available for less than $100. or check out GB for a used piece. Also check out your local dealer for trade-ins, and pawn shops for something out of pawn.
The appearance of a Jennings won't scare off many experienced bad guys. It's almost like bringing a knife to a gun fight.
If only $40. is available to buy a gun I would suggest to keep a low profile and save some more money.
I don't mean to offend anyone - just giving my $.02.
IMO it would take a pretty cool headed, gun savvy bad guy to instantly recognise what MFG a gun being pointed at him is. And even the cheapies do work sometimes.
But I concur that some of them are far too unreliable to invest much faith in. Especially when you're intended use is SD. And that more reliable imports are available for not much more $. When I was looking for cheap handgun to carry in my semi while driving OTR. I considered a High Point which I consider a decent gun. Better than Jennings or Lorcin anyways. But I went w/a Makarov for (then) about $50. more.
Bottom line. If your gun malfunctions when you need it, you're a hurtin turkey.