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01-08-2020, 04:27 PM
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What do you think of the Standard Manufacturing S333 Thunderstruck?
So this unique and potentially innovative firearm has been out in the wild for awhile now, and despite being a product of the usually expensive Standard Manufacturing company, it's actually priced affordably, so I can see some folks actually buying them. The question is, does anyone here actually own one? I ask because although I've seen this firearm discussed several times before, I've yet to see anyone who actually owns one posting about it.
In fact, the most interest I've ever seen in this gun was; "If they make one in .327 Magnum, then I'll be interested." But Standard Manufacturing's product page says otherwise...
WARNING: The following is the official product description from the S333 Thunderstruck webpage, complete with some sarcastic critical commentary added for comedic effect as well as fair use of copyrighted material. Reader Discretion is advised. (Sorry, but I had to throw this in because some guy on another forum got all offended and chewed me out over it because apparently he couldn't tell that it was done in jest.)
S333 Thunderstruck™ - Standard Mfg. Co. LLC
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ATTENTION: S333 Thunderstruck™ orders will take 3 weeks to ship due to overwhelming demand!
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Either this is a complete lie or just about everyone who's interested in these is too ashamed to admit it.
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The S333 Thunderstruck™ sets the standard for the ultimate in personal protection by simultaneously firing two rounds of .22 Win Mag with each pull of the trigger. With four pulls of the trigger, eight rounds are fired in only three seconds.
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I've heard my fair share of bold claims by firearms manufacturers, but this one really takes the cake... I mean, this is the first time I've ever heard anyone claim that a double-tap with a .22WMR "sets the standard for ultimate personal protection" not to mention the first time I've ever heard the .22WMR referred to as ".22 Win Mag".
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By combining standard ammunition and birdshot, each pull of the trigger will deliver an incredible combination of firepower and very light recoil.
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Oops, spoke too soon... If nothing else, you guys have certainly set a new standard for absurdly bold claims in modern-day firearms marketing. Because I haven't seen firearms marketing this silly since early 1900s firearms advertisements.
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The S333 Thunderstruck™ is incredibly reliable because it functions as a Double Action Revolver. These Revolvers are far more superior to any other automatic pistol which are rendered useless when they jam or misfire. Additionally, the two shots per pull, with four pulls of the trigger, makes the S333 Thunderstruck™ the most redundant and reliable personal protection firearm when your life is on the line.
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Rolling out that old yarn now, are we? I'm fairly certain that most firearms instructors would disagree with this statement, but then again, they aren't trying to sell a gimmicky 2-shot revolver chambered in a cartridge which is about as powerful as .38 Special +P out of a Rifle and falls short of .380 ACP out of a pistol.
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The S333 Thunderstruck™ also features an articulated safety integral into the trigger and requires a deliberate and full pull of the trigger before the transfer bar will clear from the firing pins and hammers. The resulting S333 Thunderstruck™ is the safest personal protection firearm available.
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So basically, it's your average double action trigger, only excessively heavier and requires 2 fingers to pull? Sorry guys, but if Smith & Wesson couldn't convince folks that the SIGMA Series heavy DA trigger was a safety feature, then you most certainly won't convince anyone that the monstrous trigger pull on this is either.
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Our patented design of the S333 Thunderstruck™ is the most compact and concealable firearm imaginable of its type. The small size allows it to be carried in your pocket or purse and can be easily retrieved when needed.
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Well yeah, but then again, it's technically "the only firearm of it's type" period, so that isn't saying much.
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The ergonomic design of the S333 Thunderstruck™ features a comfortable polymer grip, intuitive controls, and no clumsy safety. This makes the S333 Volleyfire™ the ideal choice in personal protection when your life depends on it.
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I would argue that the ridiculously heavy DA trigger you were just pushing as a safety feature qualities as a "clumsy safety". Perhaps even the clumsiest safety ever devised, or at least the clumsiest attempt at pushing an inherently heavy double action trigger as a safety. Also, is it called the "Thunderstruck" or the "Volleyfire"? Because not only have you referred to it as both in the same paragraph, but you trademarked both names as well.
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Joking aside, this is an interesting design, and I'm no stranger to experimenting with new/innovative designs, especially ones which I anticipate have the potential for mass market appeal. I myself own a Taurus Judge Magnum, which is another unusual revolver design which also fires multiple projectiles at once, albeit by means of chambering .410 shotshells.
However, I do not own a S333 Thunderstruck, and I'm curious to hear what other folks think of it, especially those who own or at least have fired one themselves.
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01-08-2020, 04:36 PM
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I've seen discussions of this on other forums.
Nobody seems to like it and the same three points always come up:
1. Its ugly.
2. "What the Hell?"
3. "Why?"
Just another gimmick gun. I have no interest.
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01-08-2020, 04:38 PM
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Some things are made to sell, not to use.
Image courtesy of NRA Museums.
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Last edited by dusty3030; 01-08-2020 at 04:40 PM.
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01-08-2020, 05:22 PM
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Question What do you think of the Standard Manufacturing S333 Thunderstruck?
Not much, other that it’s UGLY!
Now I’ve got that danged AC/DC song stuck in my head!
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01-08-2020, 05:35 PM
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So - It has a heavy trigger pull that requires 2 fingers to pull, and a spindly trigger that looks like it will break off at any moment. Inspires great confidence...
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01-08-2020, 07:02 PM
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....not to mention the first time I've ever heard the .22WMR referred to as ".22 Win Mag"....
'.22 Win Mag'..That's a very commonly used name for the caliber be it correct or not.
Several ammo mfg'rs label it that way.
I've forever had collectors and those interested in the Winchester 61 pump rifles calling those 61's chambered in that caliber a 'Win Mag'.
Winchester developed the cartridge and they first chambered it in the 61.
(But Marlin actually beat them to it by chambering their Levermatic in the cartridge the year earlier.)
So much for history and slang use of language
Remington Ammo 22 Winchester Mag Rimfire (WMR) 40 Grain Pointed Soft
Federal 22 Win Mag Ammunition Champion F737 40 Grain Full Metal Jacket 50 Rounds
As far as the S333 is concerned,,not for me. Neither are the double bbl pump guns, mini TSMG and most other stuff they make. But they sell a lot of that stuff.
I saw one of the S333 prototypes (right word?) at a shotgun shoot in PA 2 or 3 yrs ago. It was in 25acp at the time. Tony Galazan wanted to make it in 22Magnum but they were having some issues getting the RF's to reliably fire back then.
His Standard Mfg is an off shoot of Connecticut Mfg Co (AH Fox, Win 21,ect.) Same factory and employees. Keeps the machines and people busy with modern cnc type stuff. Makes some nice SAA's though.
If it doesn't sell,,it'll disappear and something else will take it's place.
Not doing bad for a guy that never finished the 10th grade.
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01-08-2020, 09:01 PM
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I had no idea there was something like that on the market. They were wise not to waste advertising dollars on me.
It looks like a two-part epoxy dispenser!
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01-08-2020, 09:18 PM
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So ugly it's almost cute. When it was first announced the price point was somewhere in the $200-300 range. I thought, what the hey, why not? and told my LGS to let me know when they became available.
When they called and said they were listing at $439 or so, they lost the "cute" factor as far as I was concerned......
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01-08-2020, 11:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirty Harry Callahan
(Sorry, but I had to throw this in because some guy on another forum got all offended and chewed me out over it because apparently he couldn't tell that it was done in jest.)
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He apologized.
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01-08-2020, 11:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glenwolde
He apologized.
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I'm aware, I've seen it and I even understood where he was coming from once he explained it to me. He owns a Thunderstruck, so obviously he didn't care for my criticism. I'm not going to edit the OP here though because I don't want anyone else to misunderstand and take offense.
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01-09-2020, 02:08 AM
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Looks exactly as useful and desirable as the U.S. Fire Arms "ZiP .22". USFA ZiP .22 | Gun Wiki | Fandom
What is up with makers of quality SAA clones also wanting to make plastic novelty guns?
Last edited by Tom K; 01-09-2020 at 02:10 AM.
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01-09-2020, 10:38 AM
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01-09-2020, 12:50 PM
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It sure is ugly. Looks like a corkscrew I have in the kitchen.
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01-09-2020, 04:05 PM
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I think it's a weird little thing that will have a production life about as long as the ZIP 22. It might hang around a little longer if MSRP was something like $149.00, with a street price lower than that....
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01-09-2020, 09:54 PM
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I will pass, but have had people ask me about buying one for self defense.
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