Strike One Pistol

[Panzerschwein]

Hello friends! I am pretty new hear but so far I've had a great time. I'm currently searching for a carry gun, specifically a car carry gun that will probably reside between the center console and driver's seat of my car. Well I've been interested in all the "polymer wonder" modern semi-automatic pistols for years now, but I've run across some info on a specific model that I find very interesting. It's a Russian military/police gun called the "Strizh", which is also imported by Arsenal Firearms as the "Strike One" pistol.



http://www.arsenalfirearms.com/products/strike-pistol-system

I haven't heard much info on this gun, but it looks very neat. One thing that really draws me to this design is that the bore axis sits very low in the hand, lower than pretty much any other modern semi-auto out there. Supposedly this decreases muzzle flip and aids in shot-to-shot recovery. I found a short video from Shot Show 2014 regarding the gun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBvtD-09Oi4

The thing is though, there is surprisingly little information on this pistol on the web. It's been out for a couple years now, but I haven't been able to gather thoughts or feedback from any reviews. I think this design has merit but before I would ever think about purchasing one for as serious a purpose as self-defense, I thought I'd throw this thread out there to try and get some some reactions. Has anyone out there heard much about these pistols? What are your thoughts on the design, etc. etc. ?

Thanks!

 

[GLOOB]

I didn't realize anyone was importing those. If they have hit the states, they must be rarer than Keltec's last few offerings.

From one of the promotional videos, it looks like the trigger pull is pretty long. That may be something to watch out for.

 

[Ash]

The HS-2000 was only marginally known and accepted (making it a pretty cheap pistol) for a few years until Springfield took over importation and re-introduced it onto the market as the XD - then importation exploded.

Advertising is most important with this - a big name is what gets you into circulation. The South African Truvelo (who's shortened 45 caliber, the .45 ATP, is what Glock copied to get the .45GAP by the way) was brought in first by Heritage as the "Stealth" and then by Wilson Combat as the "ADP" or some such name, but it never caught on as a design. Had Ruger brought it in, who knows what would have happened.

This pistol has two things against it. One is the crappy name. Like EAA's stupid name for Tanfoglio pistols (Witness), Strike One doesn't remind me of combat, but the first of three bad swings in baseball. The second one is that Arsenal is really just an AK importer. Sure, they've brought other pistols in, but their name isn't in handguns (like Smith and Wesson selling shotguns). That's two strikes against the Strike One. The name can be overcome (I own a Witness despite the stupid name) as can the importer (EAA isn't so stellar). But like the HS-2000, it will remain a boutique pistol without a big following (and so not so much press).

Let Kimber import it and things could change. If Glock brought it in, it would magically become the greatest pistol ever.

 

[rbernie]

What are your thoughts on the design, etc. etc. ?

I learned my lesson a long time ago - the coolest newest bestest smartest neatest designiest pistol on the face of the earth isn't of much value when it's broken or you can't get replacement magazines or sights for it. Until it has a solid sustainment infrastructure behind it - I don't consider it, don't look at it, and don't encourage others to spend their money on it.

 

[Sam1911]

I'm very curious to put hands on one. (Maybe this weekend at the PA Outdoors Show???) But there really aren't any in shooters' hands here in the 'States just yet, from what I've seen.

There are some interesting design "hits," plus some potential "misses," and I'll need to play with it a bit to decide if I'd sink money into it to try out for the gun games.

Unfortunately, the first buzz seems to be about the street price over in Europe being the equivalent of about $4,000 USD. Obviously they won't sell many here at a price like that, but I imagine the price will be worked out over the next 5 years or so as they actually start bringing some in to sell.

 

[GIJOEL]

From what I heard the strike one was released late 2013 so to say its been around a while is a stretch. According to the Tac TV episode I saw about the gun its made in Italy by tanfolgio for arsenal or Russia. It uses a very different locking system and could be a very innovative pistol... if it works.

 

[JustinJ]

Something about the finish or lines of that gun just looks off to me. Might just be the picture but it doesn't scream quality.

If you want low bore axis check out the Steyr line of pistols.

 

[tarosean]

street price over in Europe being the equivalent of about $4,000

Anyone remember the clown form the late 80's early 90's (?)


HOMEY DON'T THINK SO...

 

[Mike J]

It looks interesting but I would tend to agree with rbernie. When I buy a gun I want to know I can find magazines, holsters, etc. I don't know anything about Arsenal but I also want to konw the manufacturer has a good reputation for customer service. My own take would be wait a year. Of course I tend to think it is a bad idea to buy the first year model of a new design of anything.

 

[Panzerschwein]

It could that I just want something a little diff-urnt but as others have said, I think rushing out and buying this when it first comes to market would be a mistake.

I also don't like the name either. Let's face, the US is going to be the biggest civillian purchasers of this gun. In the US, "First strike" sound like a bad thing! Poor name choice. But certainly not a deal killer.

 

[potmetal]

There's an ad on Gunbroker now for a guy who's taking $500 deposits on these. He hopes to have some in sometime early this year. Any idea what the actual shop price will be on them?

 

[TennJed]

I am a fan of the looks (but not the big rollmark)

 

[ifit]

interesting design, no feed ramp equals fast cycling/follow up shots

 

[silicosys4]

A polymer pistol for $4k? Dang.
A very expensive gun with new design that is foreign built and in the infancy of its distribution would not be my first choice for a gun that is going to be in your center console and might have to save your life someday.

If you are interested in the low bore axis, as mentioned already, look at the steyr m9 or m40. Very high quality guns for the price, robustly built, innovative, and you can get parts and magazines.

 

[ifit]

whoa......wah...4gs, not so sure bout that. just have to wait for exact pricing fot u.s market

 

[shadow9]

I'm pretty sure this is what's used by GRU/Spetznaz - saw a video recently that showed what looked like a G34 with a threaded muzzle in the hands of an operator - and made me wonder why a western Glock is being used by the upper echelon of Russian SF...

Also, I have a feeling this is going to be +P+ capable...it has some striking resemblance to another little Russian beast - the GSh-18.

From one of the promotional videos, it looks like the trigger pull is pretty long. That may be something to watch out for.

I doubt that'll be an issue with the 1000rpm claim for semi-auto...and this video does a pretty good job of backing that claim up... Fast forward to 1:35 for the shooting portion.

Let's hope the public doesn't do the usual ostrich-head to this - I'd love to see it catch on. Also, if Arsenal is releasing it, I can assume it'll be selling low priced.

 

[Quiet]

I'm pretty sure this is what's used by GRU/Spetznaz - saw a video recently that showed what looked like a G34 with a threaded muzzle in the hands of an operator - and made me wonder why a western Glock is being used by the upper echelon of Russian SF...

Some Russian special forces units have adopted the 9x19mm Glock 34. Which is why they are being "made" in Russia.

 

[Tcruse]

I would not want to be an early user. We recently had a another gun that was a "better Glock than Glock" known as a Caracal. Even with NATO certification, they have all been re-called for slide breakage. So someday, the Caracal might come back but still not good to be an early user. If you like the design you might want to check out the Steyr handguns, they have been around for many years and have a very loyal following. Otherwise, just get a Glock G17 Gen 4 or S&W M&P or Ruger SR series.

 

[Jim Watson]

The $4000 price being kicked around is for the limited production aluminum framed variant. The standard plastic model is projected for $800. Still a lot, but you have to pay the Russian designer, the Italian builder, and the American importer. Not "stovepiped" like Glock.

 

[FAS1]

Where's the single stack 9mm subcompact version? That's the one we want! I would buy one of them!

 

[bannockburn]

I wonder if the name was supposed to be "First Strike" and something got lost in the translation. At any rate still wouldn't get one at the $800 price either. Maybe consider one at half the price and only after it has been on the market for awhile.

 

[C0untZer0]

The price is Strike Two ?

 

[wally]

I learned my lesson a long time ago - the coolest newest bestest smartest neatest designiest pistol on the face of the earth isn't of much value when it's broken or you can't get replacement magazines or sights for it. Until it has a solid sustainment infrastructure behind it - I don't consider it, don't look at it, and don't encourage others to spend their money on it.

If I see something new and unusual at a price that seems in any way reasonable I'll buy it for the collection. Still kicking myself for skipping that $200 "pump" AK and the $600 Mateba semi-auto revolver. Never seen another of either, but I wanted that CZ40B and Kimber Ultra Carry more at the time and funds were tighter back then.

Somethings like the Chiappa Rhino I avoid because of past experience with the company behind them.

 

[JWH321]

Unfortunately, there are too many other guns whose manufacturers have real customer service departments and parts availability for me to give this much consideration. I can just imagine the nightmare of having to return it for service.

Interesting looking piece though.

 

[TanklessPro]

The only thing I have heard is the trigger is very long and the reset is actually the same length. One of the podcasts I subscribe to said that at shot show they had to shake the pistol to get the trigger to reset. They also said the price point will be around $800.
I can get a whole lot in that price point and the strike one won't be it.