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Post by MLB on Jan 16, 2012 22:48:07 GMT -5
I was killing a bit of time today and came across a Sterling Arms model 302 at the used counter of the local sporting goods store.  The stainless one above is similar. From my quick research, it's a low end .22 semi auto. The only thing that interests me about it was the low price and the fact that Sterling Arms was located here in Buffalo (or maybe Lockport, not entirely sure) before they went out of business. Parts are still available through Numich. I don't have a low end plinker. I've half a mind to pick it up just for the local connection. Anyone care to talk me out of it? |
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Post by 5ontarget on Jan 17, 2012 18:49:15 GMT -5
Those pocket guns from the 70's early 80's were kinda hit or miss. If you got a good one, they were great, but QC was lacking on a lot of those cheap small caliber pocket pistols. That being said, I think if it did come out to be a lemon, you could do a little work to make it work better. My guess is a little polishing and buffing on the frame, slide and chamber would make it work. That and a really good cleaning. I've shot a little pocket .22 and reliability started dropping after about 100 rounds. Well, I've got a couple old .22 semi auto rifles that start FTF after about 150-200 as well.
Soo, if the price is right, like in the $100 range, I'd go for it. Saying that, I'm still not buying a HiPoint handgun anytime soon..even though they are local to me. I already have plinkers in the calibers I want.
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Post by TMan on Jan 18, 2012 9:23:20 GMT -5
Wow, competition for Jennings. See if you can find an engraved one. ;D Ken, one of our RO's used to own a gun store and he told me that at first the Jennings weren't bad. However, the quality went south and nearly everyone that he got in had pitted barrels. I'm not sure how a barrel could get pitted without being shot, but the two shooters that I have came with pitted barrels too. I haven't checked the engraved one because I had no plans to shoot it. 5OT, I don't know about the Sterling, but you can't lump the Jennings and the Hi-Point together, other than the fact that Sterling was close to MLB, and Hi-Point to you geographically. The Hi-Point has a different design point that most handguns we deal with i.e. it is heavy and bulky because of it being a blow-back design vs. locking. What I dislike about the Hi-Point is the fact that you need a hammer and punch to field-strip it. Can you imagine issuing that to our troops.  I think the quality of a firearm depends on 3 things: 1) the design 2) quality of the materials used 3) workmanship of the assembler (or machines used to build it. It is possible that some of these small companies failed because of lack of sales rather than having a poor quality product. I saw Barrett on TV and he said that the first of the 50BMG's were sold at a loss just in order to get them out there. After acceptance in the field, he finally started making a profit. Had the sales not been there, he would have gone under too and there would be some great high quality rifles out there on the secondary market. Well, I need to get off my butt, put down the laptop, and pull apart a Zama carb. Usually when these things go bad, it is the fuel pump and they aren't getting enough gas. This is getting way too much gas so it is probably dirt or varnish in the float circuit. |
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Post by MLB on Jan 19, 2012 9:00:33 GMT -5
Well, from what I've heard, it sounds like there's a good chance it will be a paperweight. I'll probably get my hands on it to see if it has a pot metal slide (someone mentioned that possibility in another forum), but they had it listed for $130 or so. If it looks good and I can get it for closer to $100 I'll bite. It might be fun to tinker with.
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Post by MLB on Jan 31, 2012 8:56:48 GMT -5
Well, someone thought it was a good deal. When I went back to give it a hands-on review, it was MIA. Counter guy confirmed that it had found a new home.
Just as well. I really would rather have a PPK or TPH. Those are likely to be 6 to 10x the price though.
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