Jiminez/Bryco Arms 380

[lagavulin62]

First off I never heard of this gun until yesterday and don't care to ever hear about it in the future. But a friend from work, who didn't bother with research, bought this gun and the 9mm version on the fly a few years ago. The 9 is his and get this, he even bought the 380 version for his wife. Anyway he knows next to nothing of guns so after showing me a picture I managed to download the owner's manual for him. (He lost both manuals and the containers they came with) Well I really don't think the manual is well written and easy to understand, esp for a person new to guns. For those who don't know this is a single action only gun with a 1911 looking trigger. The gun is similar to a P64 in overall appearance and with the 6 rd magazine with the bottom mag release. From his pictures I couldn't figure out how to break it down. But from the manual there is a red fire indicater behind the slide that you depress(unloaded of course) and then lift the back of the slide and it comes off fromthe front. I watched a video and it looks unnecessarily complicated. I have never seen anything like it. Anyway I must admit I am not a fan of SAO and the cocked and locked way of carry so even if it was a Colt 1911 I still wouldn't like it. But what gets me is the manual itself warns NEVER TO CARRY COCKED(duh), EVEN with the safety on. So what is the point and why build a single action which the manufacturer warns not to carry the way I thought was the most common way to carry a single action? To make a long story short I don't like this gun one bit. How do I advise my friend? I really think he should drop them both off at the local pawn and use what little proceeds to buy a model 10 trade in at Bud's. He bought the guns for, I hope you're seated, home defense. So what would you guys advise?

 

[rjm6120]

Guns are kind of like cars---I think you always have to be wary of brand new guns that cost $169. They're priced that low for a reason, and it's usually not a good reason. I saw many dealers at the last local gun show I attended trying to sell them. I was not impressed and most of the reviews I read were pretty scathing, but there were a small handful that gave them high marks.

I wonder if your friend has ever shot these guns? If he has is he happy with them? If he hasn't, and if you feel it's your duty as a friend to steer him in a better direction, I'd just tell him that you're very concerned for his safety with these and he should consider something more reliable, then go from there. If he starts getting defensive, drop it.

I wouldn't say anything that would sound in the remotest way like you're slamming his choice. I bet he will be lucky to get $50 each for those guns at a pawn shop. Just my .02.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I had one of each recently, a long slide .380 and a Jennings Nine. I liked the glrious chrome. A new magazine and a good cleaning had the 9mm working fine at the end. The .380 was trouble free with brass case FMJ. Neither gun is one to sit and fire thousands of rounds through. But they can generally work as house guns. Just use them with FMJ and condition three. They are much better than not having a gun.

 

[Arik]

The most common guns found on gangsters

Davis/Broyco/Jennings/Jimenez are all the same. Have been around since the 70s. Horrible things in every way

 

[Muss Muggins]

The most common guns found on gangsters

Davis/Broyco/Jennings/Jimenez are all the same. Have been around since the 70s. Horrible things in every way

Agreed . . . Surpassed in mechanical futility and evidence tags only by the Rohm RG . . .

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

The most common guns found on gangsters

Davis/Broyco/Jennings/Jimenez are all the same. Have been around since the 70s. Horrible things in every way

You forgot HiPoint

 

[BC38]

If you look up the term Saturday Night Special you'll probably see a picture of one of those.

The big problem with them is that since they are SAO, and even the manufacturer says it isn't safe to store or carry them cocked and locked, what are you supposed to do - draw it, rack it, THEN proceed to get on target? WAY too much to do in a high adrenaline SD encounter.

Sell them both on GunBroker and use the money as a good down payment on a better gun. You might even get enough for the two of them to completely pay for something that is at least decently serviceable.

 

[lowriderfxr]

I remember being a young detective and looking for a suspect in the housing authority section of town. Out of nowhere we heard at least 5 rounds fired in rapid succession behind us. It scared the be-Jesus out of me and after checking myself for leaks and finding none , ( well at least of the blood variety ) , my partner and I rapidly cuffed and stuffed the highly intoxicated resident , who couldn't understand why we didn't find the show as entertaining as he did. I entered his prize possession into evidence, which I'm sure it still finds itself. It was a Chrome Bryco 380. To this day ( at least 25 years later ), what impresses me the most is that it actually worked 5 times in a row!!

 

[GatorFarmer]

Untold millions of striker fired autos have been sold and used since the start of the 20th century. Most were used condition three.

A Jennings can be carried cocked and locked if you want, though how drop safe that is...would be subject to question. Glock and FN both used to say in their manuals that civilians ought not carry chambered.Lawyers wrote most gun instructions.

Most cheap gun bashers have never owned or fired the weapon in question.

 

[Drm50]

It is true any gun is better than no gun. I have had a lot of
experience with the"Ring of Fire" and similar quality guns. I
have seen every thing from slides blown off to ones that failed
to fire or safety didn't work. Almost every gun person I know
has bought one at one time or another. It's the gun that resides
on a shelf, in pieces, in a cigar box. If you are worried enough
or live where there is a good chance you will need a gun for
protection, why would you trust such a gun. For the price of
most of these you can find used guns of quality manufacture
for the same money. I'm not out to bash anyone's gun, it's
just fact. It's still a free country, buy what you want.

 

[NYlakesider]

Sounds like the OPs friend is a shopper that buys based only on price!

If he was my friend I would tell him to do everybody a favor and turn them in at a gun buy back. That way he would get them off the street and melted down and recover some of his money.

 

[litenlarry]

My one and only experience with a Jennings, J22 was not favorable ..jam-o-matic...I bought it as new from a L.E. that had recently retired..This must have been his "throw away"...
I still have it, stuck away somewhere..I wouldn't trust even giving this pistol to someone..Might use it for a Trot line weight..

 

[elvisimprsntr]

It's the Saturday night special, mostly used by thugs and ganstas who want a disposable gun.

 

[Protected One]

Do some research on the Bryce/Jennings company and "print" a copy for your friend to read. After he see's why the name changed and they moved from California to Vegas he will hopefully get rid of both guns.
If not, it's his neck he's risking - not yours.

 

[Arik]

Untold millions of striker fired autos have been sold and used since the start of the 20th century. Most were used condition three.

A Jennings can be carried cocked and locked if you want, though how drop safe that is...would be subject to question. Glock and FN both used to say in their manuals that civilians ought not carry chambered.Lawyers wrote most gun instructions.

Most cheap gun bashers have never owned or fired the weapon in question.

I also don't own a Yugo, Lancia, Polonez, or a 71 Pinto or a Corvair yet I've only HEARD that they weren't reliable. Never actually owned one.

 

[DWalt]

I picked up a nearly-new .380 Bryco cheaply several years ago. It lasted less than 100 rounds, because the breech got peened from primer setback, locking the firing pin. That's because of the cheap Zamak alloy the slide is made from. But 100 rounds is probably far more than anyone in the market for one would ever shoot it. I figured most users would probably fire only one shot, then it got thrown into the nearest body of water.

 

[lagavulin62]

I sent him some reliable alternatives and told him I would never own such a gun due to safety concerns. He seemed grateful so we will see what happens. Thanks to all the responses.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Bryco/Jennings fell victim to anti gun bias and law suits in California. The former foreman now owns it and they make guns in Nevada.

I had a Jiminez .22, they were popular in SC. They sometimes needed a fluff and buff as many a cheap gun does. Once upon a time it was common to do such with any 1911. If kept clean the JA 22 works.

The JA Nlne is the same as the late model Jennings Nine Califotnia model that I had. I made it work. A Kel Tec or Hi Point is a better value, but they can function.

I probably fired about six or seven boxes of .380 FMJ through my old long slide Bryco .380. It worked fine with brass cased ammo.

The long slide is defunct. But so is Bryco Jennings.

The way to test one is clean it, grease it, and then shoot it.

 

[DWalt]

About 30 years ago, I had a Jennings .22 pistol. I think at that time, Jennings was located somewhere in New York. It actually worked fairly reliably, even though I didn't fire it much, maybe a couple of boxes. Anyway, something broke (I don't remember what, exactly, it was) and I could not get a replacement part (remember, this was pre-Internet). I seem to remember I sold it to someone for $10 or so.