Are "off brands" like Jiminez and Cobra SAFE?

[jcwit]

You get what you pay for.

And there also are times where you get more than what you pay for. Called value. Then again there are also times where you get much less. Called Rip-Off.

 

[bluez4u]

I guess I would rather have one, than not..........

 

[sarduy]

if you want a cheap gun get a hipoint, they are the best pistol for the money at $150 range.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Another vote for the Hi-point!

 

[Shadow 7D]

think about it, for just a little more, you can get something that actually works

 

[Billy M. Rhodes]

Jimenez failure

Just came back from the range where my friend shot his Jimenez .380 for the second time. The gun came apart while shooting, a small part #38555 that isn't named on the schematic broke. The slide came of, as did the recoil spring.
This part surrounds the firing pin and would seem to engage a stud on the receiver. The base of the part simply sheared off. Luckily the slide and other parts went forward and slightly left so there was no injury.
He called Jimenez and he can ship the gun to them, at his expense, for repair or replacement. He was using Federal 95gr.
I wouldn't shoot it again even after repair.

 

[frankenstein406]

I think the hi point torture tests, prove its an impressive gun for the money. Took a lot to blow it up. The whole barrel full of gun powder lol!

 

[NML87]

I picked up a Cobra .380 on consignment for about 100 bucks at a local indoor range, speaking from a used owner standpoint I would rather use it as a paper weight or to throw at an assailant then try to fire it.

Being that it was used I had no idea of how many rounds put through it before I had gotten it but I gave it a proper clean and lube job and picked up a box of WWB and Tula from Wally-World and headed to the range. I first tried the WWB and fired it, the first two rounds went off smoothly, after trying to fire a third it did not fully cock itself, so I ejected the round and tried again, it fired and the casing got caught in the extractor so I pulled it out and fired the last round, again the casing caught in the extractor. I then loaded the Tula ammunition and it failed to fire every shot. I tried again with WWB then again with the Tula and out of the 100rds I purchased only about 15 fed properly and fired.

Needless to say I will not be purchasing another Cobra product. As far as cheap products go I haven't heard much about Jiminez, and as Far as High point Ive read mixed reviews of their handguns here but would like to get my hands on one for my own opinion and Ive read quiet a few positive reviews of their rifles.

 

[makarovnik]

I've owner them all. Here is what I can tell you:

Hi-Point - Accurate and reliable if fed FMJ and magazines are tuned. Top heavy and slippery grips.

Jimenez/Bryco/Jennings - These guns are just as good as the Hi-Points except rough and stiff trigger affects accuracy. Some models have bad slide bite. Use FMJ that is not too long in OAL.

Cobra/Davis/Lorcin - Nice finish. Mine was always reliable but the slide cracked after about 200 rounds.

Phoenix Arms - Had a HP22 that was reliable and accurate through about 300 rounds then it started acting up and couldn't be fixed. I prefer the little Raven .25 even though it has less capacity. Mine is EXTREMELY accurate for a tiny pistol and has never jammed in over 500 rounds.

Poo on the other brands I didn't mention.

 

[pockets]

Well, Raven, Jennings, Bryco, Davis, Phoenix, and Sundance are all out of business. To be replaced by Jimenez now.

Not entirely accurate.
Jimenez produces most of the old Bruce Lee Jennings designs (former Jennings/Calwestco/Bryco models).
Phoenix Arms is still very much in business producing the HP22 and HP25. George Jennings' Raven MP-25 was also reproduced by Phoenix until recently.
Davis and Lorcin designs are currently made by Cobra Arms.
Cobra CA32 is Davis P32, CA380 is Davis P380, and the Cobra Derringers are the old Davis designs also.
Cobra FS32 is Lorcin L.32, FS380 is Lorcin L.380 .
No one has reproduced the Sundance models though. A shame really, Sundance had reliable designs.

What I find comical about these Jennings/etc threads is; most responders fail to realize, or comprehend, or admit that there are many people out here who already have lots of "good guns", but may collect, shoot, and tinker with ZAMAK treasures for the fun of it. Different streaks for different freaks.
.

 

[WardenWolf]

If I want a good "cheap" gun, I'll buy a surplus Soviet pistol. They're reliable, they're accurate, and they've got good features that rival modern commercial pistols. I've never heard of one going off when dropped either, and they all pass California's drop-safe tests. I carry a Polish P-64 and I've carried a Bulgarian Makarov in the past. Both are better than their closest commercial rival, the Bersa .380, by leaps and bounds. I paid a whopping $160 for my P-64, $180 after the spring kits, and it's better than its closest commercial equivalent at $100 less. Even a guy who owned a Bersa was impressed by it.

Fact is, military and police trade-ins are the best bet for inexpensive guns. You're getting tried and true designs versus questionable manufacture from an unknown brand.

 

[MikeNice]

My brother in law has a Jiminez .380 that he daily carries. I would not trust that thing to save my life. It always fails to extract the third round and at least one more after that. It bites your hand unless you grip it low. With big hands that means holding it with one-and-a-half fingers. That pretty much kills accuracy.

Plus it will not properly feed any hollow point. If you want to use hollow point be prepared to rack the slide every time.

I owned a Davis-P32 that someone gave me as a gift. If Cobra is selling the design as the CA-32, avoid it. My Davis P-32 would often hang up on the empty brass instead of fully ejecting it. It was also horribly inaccurate. At 10 feet it would shoot 6" or larger groups.

I believe Davis is the only one of the "ring of fire" companies to get sued because the gun did actually come apart. If I remember correctly the slide fractured and flew apart causing injury.

Hi-Point is larger than most guns of similar caliber. However, that is because they are straight blowback designs. They need the extra weight to hold the gun together. They are accurate and will handle nearly anything you throw at them. The major complaint from owner's is that it takes three hands to disassemble and reassemble one for cleaning.

 

[tercel89]

I used to think "off brands" were including CZ, well I got a CZ-75B and a CZ P-01 and they have out beaten my Glocks , my beretta's and , I hate to say it , but even my Cougars .

 

[Ohioan]

Tercel89... SHHHHH...

You are mistaken, CZs are horrid guns... You hear that everyone, they're HORRID do not buy a CZ.....


I love my CZ75b, I can out shoot myself with that gun!

 

[darkfreedom]

If you want a good reliable gun at an affordable price, get a Hi Point. they don't kaboom unless you're doing something really stupid with it, they have a lifetime no questions asked warranty, and they are as accurate as any other 3.5 inch barrel 9mm out there.

Yes they are a little "bulky" according to some, but that's because they use a fixed barrel blowback design.

Do a little research on them and I bet you'll want one too.

 

[psyshack]

I had a guy come to me today wanting me to look at his new jam-o-matic 9mm auto. He pulled it out and I started laughing. It was a " I want to kill > YOU " Jennings hunk of junk.

I saw the reason why it was jamming. There was a huge buck tooth burr on the feed ramp. There was a slight bulge in the barrel, a bit of frame stress and some checking type fine spider cracks in the slide.

I explained to the person. If it was left with me I would take a very large hammer to it. The Sat. Night Special of semi autos,,, is junk.

 

[TheOhioan]

The only reason I don't own one of the Cheap guns is because I can see nothing I would gain from having them... Other than another gun to eat up my ammo at the range

 

[fatcat4620]

What about Hell Cat. 380s?

 

[mr.scott]

A buddy of mine owns a gun store/range and has had a jennings someone brought in blow up on the range.
Ponged of those ring of fire guns has a faulty firing pin retainer and can cause the firing pin to launch out the back of the slide into the shooters face /eye. Then there is one that the slide is designed to come off the back of the frame. We've seen this happen when the catch mechanism failed when firing a round.

They are crap guns and while some will work they aren't worth anything. I truly believe they are made to be sold to thugs.

 

[harmon rabb]

I'd love to pick up a pistol for $150...
...but not if it goes *BANG* in my waistband, but not when pointed at a target!

Then you need to become acquainted with military surplus pistols, my friend. Chambered in 9x18, you can get a PA-63 for $150 these days from southern ohio gun. These are quality, reliable guns that are drop safe.

If you don't mind dropping down to a 32, there are a ton of choices in the $150 range. Once again, southern ohio gun has them all.

There's the cz-82 for under $200, which is in 9x18, and has one of the sweetest DA/SA triggers out there. $230 will get you a Makarov in 9x18, which is as about a reliable pistol as has ever been made.

In this day and age where we are awash with comm-block pistols for cheap, I have no idea why someone would buy something like a jiminez or hi-point. It's laughable. All the comm-block guns are reliable, durable, drop safe, and mil-tested.

 

[harmon rabb]

If I want a good "cheap" gun, I'll buy a surplus Soviet pistol. They're reliable, they're accurate, and they've got good features that rival modern commercial pistols. I've never heard of one going off when dropped either, and they all pass California's drop-safe tests. I carry a Polish P-64 and I've carried a Bulgarian Makarov in the past. Both are better than their closest commercial rival, the Bersa .380, by leaps and bounds. I paid a whopping $160 for my P-64, $180 after the spring kits, and it's better than its closest commercial equivalent at $100 less. Even a guy who owned a Bersa was impressed by it.

AMEN. And while I agree with you, I feel like making one point about the Bersa ... nothing you can ever do to a P-64 or PA-63 will make the DA trigger thereof be as nice as that of the Bersa. Although, if you care about the sort of thing, just go with a makarov or cz-82 for your carry gun, both of which have good DA triggers.

 

[jonmerritt]

Wow, all those junk guns...I have a little Jiminez .380, works flawlessly, has Never jamed. I have taken it apart many times to inspect it for cracks and damage. No cracks or excessive wear. Over 500 rounds through it to date. A Hi-point C9 only problem I had was an adjustment of the feed lips on a couple of mags. Other than that, flawless for over 700 rounds. Taurus 24/7 pro .45 flawless Rugers..flawless Taurus revolvers in .38 spcl, flawless. The list goes on. All you people buying these junk guns that keep failing makes no sense. I have many other brands and models, and some rather pricey ones that have needed broken parts replaced. I think the problem is, the more $$$$$ involved, the better paperweight it makes. If there that bad quit buying them and crying about it. Most of what I hears is that someone else had this or that and it was junk. Really? But you never owned one, or fired it for that matter, but it was junk that a guy you new had. Yeah right. This gets old.

 

[MikeNice]

Jon, I have shot the Jiminez I mentioned. The first six rounds had three jams. Plus I got two nice slide bites with blood. I shot six more and had two jams. Afther the third clip and three more jams, I gave up.

I have put rounds through it since then. It hasn't improved. Actually it has gotten worse. Now the magazine tends to stick. You have to "tap" the bottom of it agressively to reset it after the magazine is empty. Then you can press the release back and get the magazine out.

If you haven't had a problem with yours that is great for you. However, the Jiminez I shot was garbage. I wouldn't trust it with my life or my family's life.

Of course some people feel that way about Taurus. I've carried two Taurus revolvers and loved them both. So, your mileage may vary.

 

[AZ Five seveN]

...I don't even trust off brand shampoo! Can't say that I would trust an off brand firearm...

 

[makarovnik]

Basic design and not much to go wrong. QC is spotty so you may have to take one of these cheapies apart, clean it, de-burr it, smooth it out, lube it and put it back together.