Jennings Spotting

I've heard several people on here joking about the *ahem* quality of Jennings pistols, so when I saw one at my local backwater, run-down, hole in the wall type gun store, I had to laugh. The guy wanted $78 bucks for the thing, looked used, so probably was broken. My question is whether these thing are rare enough to make seeing one a "where's Waldo" kinda of deal, or if they are everywhere to the point of being a pest.

I haven't seen one in a year at least...

I haven't seen them around much either. I wonder what people are doing with them? They used to be so common.

looked used, so probably was broken.

Thank you. Now I need to clean my screen.

Haven't actually seen one in a while.

Maybe I just got a good one, but my well used (even before i got it) J-22 doesn't miss a beat, even after all the rounds I've run through it. These are not quality guns, but if you are reasonably intelligent, and take the time to figure out what makes it runs best, then it will work for you. I've seen this theory apply to high end 1911's as well, BTW. I shoot alot, and try to exercise all of my 17 pistols, many of which didn't come to me new or high priced. I don't beleive how much you pay for a gun is the only determinant of how well it will perform. I have a P-64 I paid $120 for that will outshoot any similar-sized gun I've seen at the range...and has so far. Likewise, I get a chuckle out of busting a gun-snob bubble or two with that little Jennings.

Jennings, Davis, Raven were all made by the same company or group of companies. They went out of business (or was put out of business) in CA; they moved to Idaho(?) but never got going again. I hate to say this about any gun company, but small loss.

Hi, Bigfuel, I am glad your Jennings works, but I have to say yours is the exception, in my experience.

Jim

FWIW........From Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryco_Arms

Bryco Arms and Jennings Firearms

Bryco Arms was one of the Ring of Fire manufacturers of so-called Saturday night special firearms that operated in and around Los Angeles, California, all of which were descendents in some way from George Jennings' Raven Arms. It produced firearms variously branded as Jennings Firearms at its Irvine, California facility, as well as under the brand name of Bryco Arms at its former Carson City, Nevada facility, and at its Costa Mesa, California facility.

Bryco Arms went into bankruptcy in 2003 as a result of losing a lawsuit filed in Oakland, California and which resulted in a jury award of a record $24 million judgment against Bryco Arms. The lawsuit stemmed from an injury to a then 7-year old boy named Brandon Maxfield from a 12-year old who was attempting to unload the 380 ACP version of the Bryco Arms Model 38 and who pulled the trigger with a round still in the gun. The ensuing accidental discharge paralyzed Brandon Maxfield from the neck down (quadriplegia).

Jimenez Arms

Bryco's former foreman, Paul Jimenez, bought the bankrupt Bryco Arms for $510,000 in August 2004, and renamed the company Jimenez Arms. The former Model 380 (the 380 ACP version of the Model 38) was renamed the JA-380, and production of the same semi-automatic pistol design was resumed.

In an ironic twist, the victim of the accidental shooting, Brandon Maxfield, was a runner-up bidder for taking control of the Bryco Arms company, bidding $505,000. Had he had the high bid, his plan was to melt all stockpiles of guns and gun parts at the company to make a sculpture, and to close the company, firing all of the employees.

The soon-to-be-named Jimenez Arms (JA) was purchased by Paul Jimenez and resumed operation in Costa Mesa, California and quickly resumed manufacturing former Jennings Firearms and Bryco Arms models, after only changing the name and model numbers on the slides of the models. This transition was easily accomplished, simply making minor changes in the engineering drawings for the next set of slides when it came time to order more. The JA-NINE, the former Bryco Arms Model 380 (renamed the JA-380), the former Jennings J-22 (renamed the JA-22 LR), and the Jennings J-25 (renamed the JA-25 Auto) quickly became the only firearms currently manufactured by the company.

The California Attorney General ordered Jimenez Arms to stop producing arms in Costa Mesa, California on August 22, 2006. As a result, the company has moved to Nevada. A business license was granted on August 30, 2006 for Jimenez Arms to commence operation in Henderson, Nevada, and production has resumed there.

So owning one might have some curiosity value but as always a used item is only worth what you're willing to pay. Make the guy an offer, maybe he'll haggle

I haven't seen them around much either. I wonder what people are doing with them? They used to be so common

Paperweight? If you put a primed, unloaded case in it could be a lighter.

The gunshop by me has three Jennings... hmm...

Bigfuel what kind of ammo are you using? I was given a new in box Jennings J-22 about a year ago. I cleaned, lubed it and took it shooting. Out of 50 rounds it only cycled and fed once! I tried Remington, CCI, Winchester super X and nothing worked. It is now a safe queen untill I can find a way to make it work. :confused:

They were every where at gun shows in AZ. They usually run about 100 bucks new. IMO it is better to spend another 20 dollars and get a Phoenix Arms 22. I still have my Jennings 22 and I like it but if I had to do it again I would spend the extra 20 bucks:)

hey sammy try aguila maximum velocity or cci mini mags.

I use mostly copper plated hv ammo, like CCI mini mag, and have no problem. This gun IS finicky about ammo. I find that lead hollow points don't feed as well. If you want to see something truly amazing, try shooting Aguila supermaximums. Not great accuracy, but in such a short barrel, these open open up to a .38 caliber hole before it even hits the target! (Does the same thing in a Beretta 21A, also with a 2" barrel). I've included a picture of a target I shot at 10 yards with Aguila ammo. Its a jpeg of a target that was originally scanned in as a pdf file, so its not great but it is genuine. The little holes are Federal bulk pack coppers. The big holes are the Aguila.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/hubmonster/22_aguila.jpg

Sammy, this is just an afterthought, but I've found that the magazines for the J-22 are pretty lame sometimes. I have a couple that I can't use at all. You might try a few until you find one that feeds well. I'm not a posterchild for the Jennings J-22--since the only one I've ever shot is the one I own--but with a little trial and error I think you can get the pistol to work if you have the patience.