I'm picking up a new 442 in the next day or two. I know that it is not a range gun so I've been looking for a cheap 22, since ammo is cheap, to use up range time when I go to shoot the 442. A store near me has a Jennings 22. I think this might be what i had 20 years ago that always jammed on me. I may have had a Jennings 25, I'm not sure. I ended up selling it because I couldn't rely on it to carry but how would it be for just playing at the range? It's $50 so definitely meets my "cheap" requirement.
Jennings 22 for a plinker
- Thread starter chele519
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I had a couple of them and they worked rather well for me... my college eyes at the time kept pop cans rollin n bouncin at some interesting ranges... We were giving 50.00 new for em then though 
I haven't had em out in years but they may be here somewhere...
I liked em back in the day for sure. They were fun n reliable for me n my friends but I hear otherwise from others.
I haven't had em out in years but they may be here somewhere...I liked em back in the day for sure. They were fun n reliable for me n my friends but I hear otherwise from others.
gunlovingirl
Member
I wouldn't buy it. If you want a .22 for cheap range shooting and don't want to pay for a decent used handgun, why not get a nice used .22 rifle instead? You can pick one up for less than $100, and in most case it'll probably be more reliable than the Jennings. Just my thoughts. Which may or may not be worth as much as that Jennings to you!
I, too, bought one new about 20 years ago. It jammed from the first. My dealer said when I returned it, "Some work, some don't. Those that work, people love." I haven't touched a Jennings since. I'd opt for something used that worked.
Different track: Anybody remember the .25 Ravens? They were cheap & worked. I almost wish I had kept one. Almost.
Different track: Anybody remember the .25 Ravens? They were cheap & worked. I almost wish I had kept one. Almost.
I've owned two Jennings-They both worked. Great firearms? No, but for an inexpensive plinker and tacklebox gun I consider them worth every penny.......but I also think that a cheap .22 revolver is a superior plinker.
jframefreak
Member
Jennings forum
That's probably a question for the Jennings forum.
That's probably a question for the Jennings forum.
Erich
Member
Right: bryco-jennings-jimenezarms.com :: Index
I've had two Jennings J-22s, and both worked great with Stingers and other hot ammo. Indifferently with weaker stuff. The J-25 I had worked fine (at one time I had quite the collection of inexpensive pocketguns, just because it amused me - some, like the Intratec Pro-Tec 25 copy of the CZ 45, were pretty neat).
My understanding is that some "generations" of Jennings are better than others - check out the forum that I posted for info.
I've had two Jennings J-22s, and both worked great with Stingers and other hot ammo. Indifferently with weaker stuff. The J-25 I had worked fine (at one time I had quite the collection of inexpensive pocketguns, just because it amused me - some, like the Intratec Pro-Tec 25 copy of the CZ 45, were pretty neat).
My understanding is that some "generations" of Jennings are better than others - check out the forum that I posted for info.
dkees
Member
A Jennings is the only gun I've ever simply thrown away. In fact, I was shooting cans at a landfill and just left it there.
I don't miss it.
I don't miss it.
T-Baggin98
US Veteran
I sadly still have a bryco(jennings) model 48, .380. I put about 300 rounds through it smoothly and surprisingly it was accurate however now it will jam everytime you pull the trigger. I think it only needs a slide spring but I dont have the desire to mess with it. I wouldnt ever buy one again even for a range plinker.
Well, I don't know about inaccurate, just that it jammed. You know, I hate yard sales and flea markets and stuff. I'm a rare woman who hates shopping.
I guess I will just wait and look around for something used.
I guess I will just wait and look around for something used.
Ah yes, little Jenny. I bought her for the shocking price of ninety bucks,(the seller paid the transfer fee). He said she was a proven good shooter, and I believed him. She is the shiny chrome "Hooker Style", and I actually shoot her quite a bit; simply because i always have her in the rig.
This little gun has provided me with a lot of fun for a few reasons; the main one being it's ability to prove that a cheap "Saturday Night Special" can be accurate and reliable.
Now understand, the sights are horrible, I'd never carry it with one in the chamber, and it sometimes does jam. (but not very often) I'm sure that many of them by all accounts are problematic.---hmmm. The Jennings Problematic. Kinda has a ring.... Where was I... Oh yeah, I'd pick one up for 50 bucks. Heck, I've wasted fifty bucks on pizza for guys I really didn't like. You might wind up with a good one like I did, and if ya don't you might find another weirdo like me to sell it to.
Jim
This little gun has provided me with a lot of fun for a few reasons; the main one being it's ability to prove that a cheap "Saturday Night Special" can be accurate and reliable.
Now understand, the sights are horrible, I'd never carry it with one in the chamber, and it sometimes does jam. (but not very often) I'm sure that many of them by all accounts are problematic.---hmmm. The Jennings Problematic. Kinda has a ring.... Where was I... Oh yeah, I'd pick one up for 50 bucks. Heck, I've wasted fifty bucks on pizza for guys I really didn't like. You might wind up with a good one like I did, and if ya don't you might find another weirdo like me to sell it to.
Jim
Wee Hooker
Member
I've had a Jennings 22 since 1987. Bought it used and have run a thousand+of rounds through it. Had a Beretta 21 once and sold that off because I felt the Jennings was actually a better/more reliable pocket gun.
The good: Very simple, decently built and dependable .22 pocket gun. Not a whole lot of moving parts to fail. Reliability was excellent ONLY IF you run hotter ammo through it. Mine (and my buddies) was a jam-o-matic with any std velocity stuff. ( I'm not over-riding the manufacturers warnings here, just stating that my 80's vintage J-22 functioned flawlessly with Remington yellow jackets and other hyper velocity ammo.) Nice carry size and it disappears in your pocket. Take down is super simple. Mine has been impossible to wear out.
The bad. Accuracy sucks due to near non-existent sights, short barrel and horrible trigger. You can keep it on a gal milk jug at 21' but don't expect much more.
I WOULD NOT carry this gun with a round in the chamber. The safety is pretty basic and untrustworthy due to design.
All that said, it'sa decent enough gun for what it is. However, I'd look for something a little bigger with better sights if plinking was my goal.
FWIW, Mine actually helped me out of a ugly spot some 20 years ago . My (then)girlfriend and I were walking deep in the woods when we came across 3 older teens who were partying and pretty loaded. They began to follow us at a distance but eventually purposfully started closeing the gap. All the time, they were making increasingly disturbing and agressive comments. I had NO doubts of their intent. When they got to within 25' or so, I turned with the little J-22 in my hand, racked a CCI stinger into the spout and confronted them firmly. All three went pale and started sputtering/ wimpering apologies. I sent them running past us deeper into the woods while my wife and I made our way back the other way to the car. I bring this up not because I'd advocate this gun for PD. I don't. However because it's so handy, that it tends to go with you when larger guns stay home in the safe. i.e. Even a $40 throwaway .22 is better than no gun if you need it. I'm sure glad I had it that day and will tell you that I'd never sell it.
The good: Very simple, decently built and dependable .22 pocket gun. Not a whole lot of moving parts to fail. Reliability was excellent ONLY IF you run hotter ammo through it. Mine (and my buddies) was a jam-o-matic with any std velocity stuff. ( I'm not over-riding the manufacturers warnings here, just stating that my 80's vintage J-22 functioned flawlessly with Remington yellow jackets and other hyper velocity ammo.) Nice carry size and it disappears in your pocket. Take down is super simple. Mine has been impossible to wear out.
The bad. Accuracy sucks due to near non-existent sights, short barrel and horrible trigger. You can keep it on a gal milk jug at 21' but don't expect much more.
I WOULD NOT carry this gun with a round in the chamber. The safety is pretty basic and untrustworthy due to design.
All that said, it'sa decent enough gun for what it is. However, I'd look for something a little bigger with better sights if plinking was my goal.
FWIW, Mine actually helped me out of a ugly spot some 20 years ago . My (then)girlfriend and I were walking deep in the woods when we came across 3 older teens who were partying and pretty loaded. They began to follow us at a distance but eventually purposfully started closeing the gap. All the time, they were making increasingly disturbing and agressive comments. I had NO doubts of their intent. When they got to within 25' or so, I turned with the little J-22 in my hand, racked a CCI stinger into the spout and confronted them firmly. All three went pale and started sputtering/ wimpering apologies. I sent them running past us deeper into the woods while my wife and I made our way back the other way to the car. I bring this up not because I'd advocate this gun for PD. I don't. However because it's so handy, that it tends to go with you when larger guns stay home in the safe. i.e. Even a $40 throwaway .22 is better than no gun if you need it. I'm sure glad I had it that day and will tell you that I'd never sell it.
James NM
Member
You are lucky they didn't right you up for junking up the landfill.
5906fan
Member
I had one of those and as said it did fine with the 'hotter' type of ammo. I didn't trust the safety at all and sold it to a buddy for his 'tackle box gun'. he still has it.
If you want a tackle box gun, then it is surmised that you may actually need / want to shoot it sometime at something where you will be when the tackle box in in your possession... given that, your intended target may also be moving and you in an excited mode. The lack of reliable functioning and accuracy of the Jennings will surely transform it to something closer to a rock than a gun. You will now have the opportunity to stop at your local gun dealer and hope to get half of what you paid on trade for something you should have gotten in the first place! Since this is a S&W forum, then the .22 Kit Gun would be the recommended gun of choice.
canoeguy
US Veteran
I had one that I bought new with the intention of using it as a tackle box gun, fired about 50 rounds through it, and started carrying it fishing with me. Went to use it one day while fishing, it wouldn't fire. Took it back to the dealer who sold it to me, he bashed it hard on the side with a rubber mallet, and it started working again.
Kind of lost enthusiasm for it after that, sold it and bought a used Ruger .22 for $165, now that was a good tackle box gun, and target pistol, and hunting pistol....
Kind of lost enthusiasm for it after that, sold it and bought a used Ruger .22 for $165, now that was a good tackle box gun, and target pistol, and hunting pistol....
I have one of these pot metal POS's. Total crap from the day I got it. Stovepipes every few rounds, poorly designed, poorly manufactured.
This is the gun that gives guns a bad name.
I hope to find a gun buy-back in PA so I can get rid of it and replace it with something that works.
This is the gun that gives guns a bad name.
I hope to find a gun buy-back in PA so I can get rid of it and replace it with something that works.
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