In Xavier’s latest pawn shop circuit post he mentions encountering some cheap guns.

At Kenny’s shop I found a couple of junk guns, both priced under $100. Kenny didn’t have anything else. He said the Jennings and Lorcins tend to sell pretty quickly. I asked him how much he loans on them. He replied 10-20 dollars. Just enough to buy a rock. Interesting. I have occasionally pondered buying one of these cheap guns just to learn about them. Then again, I might just buy a spritz bottle of Tabasco sauce and squirt my eyeballs.

I’m guessing that he doesn’t like them, given that last bit about the Tabasco. 

Anyhow, it reminded me of something.  A friend of mine bought a little Jennings J22* back when we were in college because there had been some breakins near her house and she didn’t have a lot of money (heck, none of us did back then).

Fast forward 15 years to 2005 when she asked me about shooting lessons and learning how to use the Jennings.  At the time she was living in Lewisville and the neighborhood was going downhill (someone had broken into her house one weekend while she was away). 

We went to the range at Bass Pro and practiced the basics with my S&W 22S, then pulled out the Jennings.  She did fairly well with it, but I had a hard time of it, just barely keeping on the paper.  First, it’s so small that I couldn’t get my little finger on it, which annoys me no end.  But, and this is odd, this stupid little Jennings scared me.  I flinched every time I fired it.  I’ve shot thousands of rounds of .45 from a little 3” Kimber (the Ultra CDP II), I’ve shot .44 magnums, and even .38Spl +P out of a 2” snubnose.  I’ve never had that kind of flinch with any other gun.

But then being in fear of having the gun blow up in your hand will do that to you.

I just hope my friend never has to use that Jennings.  As someone said in one discussion group or another, “it beats a rolled up newspaper.”  Still, though, one of these days I hope I might persuade her to get something more reliable.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good, reliable handgun.  If I were in the situation of needing a handgun, but not wanting to spend a lot, I’d probably go to a gun show to look for a used Ruger GP-100, or perhaps a new Taurus.  A few years back I bought a GP-100 for $250 (including a nice leather holster and three speedloaders) from a dealer who had taken it in trade for another gun.  I admit it was a lucky find, but they’re out there if you’re looking.  At another show a friend of mine acquired a Dan Wesson .357 revolver for $325 from a private seller (bonus: no 4473 required).

Granted, none of these are as cheap as the Jennings, but the old adage that you get what you pay for remains true.

Update:  I just remembered the Makarov.  Lots of people swear by them and surplus units can be had for about $150 at gun shows.  I’ve got one sitting in my safe that I acquired about a year ago.  Unfortunately, after cleaning (cosmoline sucks) and oiling, I put it back in the safe and left it there.  Something always seemed to come up when leaving for the range and other guns got to go while the poor Makarov sat forlorn.  I’m going to make it a priority to take it with me next time.

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* While searching for a picture of the Jennings, I came across a post from Mr. Completely in which he, in a mad fit of optimism, had fired a postal match with one.  Much hilarity ensued.