Why is the Seecamp so popular?

[idahoberetta9000s]

I was wondering why so many people are Seecamp fans? They don't have a set of sights on them, they are DAO, and they are more expensive than a lot of other smaller guns out there. I have a Beretta Tomcat 3032 INOX, and I think it's better suited for my needs as a CCW. I have heard that Seecamp's are very reliable though.

 

[MCgunner]

I was wondering why so many people are Seecamp fans? They don't have a set of sights on them, they are DAO, and they are more expensive than a lot of other smaller guns out there. I have a Beretta Tomcat 3032 INOX, and I think it's better suited for my needs as a CCW. I have heard that Seecamp's are very reliable though.

Lotsa press back when they were the only .32 pocket size gun on the market in a world of .25s. Now, they have competition, better priced competition.

I won't own a gun without sights, even a pocket gun. So, I never considered a Seecamp. They're too high priced anyway for a mouse gun IMHO.

 

[idahoberetta9000s]

I agree with that. I would think that a gun without sights would be worthless at a range of more than a few yards.

 

[Starter52]

MCgunner is correct. The Seecamp got a lot of favorable press from gun magazines back in the day.

The Seecamp stays popular even with its limitations and higher price. Just like the Colt Peacemaker, P-08 Luger, etc.

 

[saltydog452]

seacamp.

I don't have anything positive to say, other than its a handy size.

I had two. After a few boxes of Silvertip, the recoil spring became 'sluggish'. I called several times..never an answer.. but voice mail. No response from voicemail msgs..Sent a 'snail mail' letter with return envelope with postage attached...still no response. All I wanted was a couple of spare recoil springs and an extra mag or two. At that time, they were selling all they could make, and dealers were getting a premium price over list. I traded my Seacamps for 6 hours of legal assistance.

Bought a NAA Guardian and never looked back. NAA recently sent me extra grip screws and recoil spring..gratis. Thank you Sandy.

salty.

p.s.,

Some folks, I'm not one of them, can do surprisingly well with 'pointed' vs. 'aimed fire'.

 

[f4t9r]

Seacamp
I camped by the Sea once, had a real good time

 

[duncan]

I was wondering why so many people are Seecamp fans? They don't have a set of sights on them, they are DAO, and they are more expensive than a lot of other smaller guns out there. I have a Beretta Tomcat 3032 INOX, and I think it's better suited for my needs as a CCW. I have heard that Seecamp's are very reliable though.

You're right. The Seecamp has been outdated.

With the Kel Tec polymer pocket guns in 32 acp and 380 and now the Rohrbaugh in 9mm, people are not running out to buy those Seecamps. Heck I love my Kahr PM9 - you can easily carry it in most pockets and it mounts some nice night sights too.

Many of us are carrying these for BUGS and pocket CCWs:

 

[poppy]

I once believed the hype on the Seecamp but didn't want to spend the $750 that dealers were "giving" them away for. I arranged to get on the factory waiting list by sending them a $100 deposit and was all set to pay the $450 retail price, but my FFL holder talked me out of it because he didn't trust a company that would not answer their phone.

I got my money back and later bought a Kel-Tec P32 and a Beretta Tomcat both for about what the Seecamp would have cost. I have never regretted that decision.

If the Seecamp is still popular, it would have to be because owners are trying to justify what they did before there was any competition. poppy

 

[MikeJ]

As McGunner stated there was a time when the Seecamp was the only game in town if you wanted a .32 in that size of a gun. As far as I am concerned the NAA Guardian is THE gun to get if you want something similar to the Seecamp. The KelTec is fine too but very different from the Guardian and Seecamp.

 

[Ala Dan]

Well friends, I'm a happy Seecamp (thats S-E-E-C-A-M-P) owner~!

My LWS-32 is a winner, as a BUG for my everyday carry piece. Nowdays,
with the new design of W-W silvertips, Larry recommends using Federal
Hydra-Shoks, or Speer Gold Dots in these small pistols. Oh~! and the
price? How 'bout $360 NIB, and OTD~!

 

[seed]

http://www.seecamp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

 

[kokapelli]

The seecamp, was produced in very limited quantities creating an illusion that it was super popular.

There were more KelTec P-3AT pistols sold in it's first year of production than all the seecamps ever made.

By he way, KelTec will never hang up on you.

 

[Chipperman]

I am very happy with my Seecamp. I also have had good service from Larry, having spoken with him on the phone a few times.

If KelTecs were available in MA, I may not have ever bought the Seecamp, however.

Damn Reilly.

 

[saltydog452]

My experience with Seacamp was about 6 years ago. Maybe they have started answering the phone now.

As I said, they were not accessable via the phone, net, or the USPS.

Maybe serious competition from NAA and Beretta kinda got their attention.

 

[Ala Dan]

To Whom It May Concern:

In all fairness to Mr. Larry Seecamp he will admit that in the begining
the company was grossly under funded, and likewise under staffed.
Phones were not answered, as all efforts were being made to offer
the consumer a quality product; even though at an inflated price.
Firearms were built one at the time, with a few problems along the
way. For that, Larry apologizes to all his many customers that had
faith in his project. Nowdays, times have gotten better and hope-
fully customer service has improved dramatically. Phones, faxes,
and e-mails are being answered as rapidly as possible. Hopes are
that Seecamp is producing the finest firearms in the gun industry,
at an affordable price. Any questions can and will be addressed
if you will kindly drop Larry an e-mail or PM by computer; or call
by phone. BTW, Larry is a registered member here, using his own
last name: Seecamp.

Disclaimer: I do not work directly for Seecamp Firearms, but I do
sell a lot of his weapons. I'm of the opinion that Larry is one of
the finest individuals currently in the firearms industry.

 

[alamo]

I think Seecamps are fine, well-made pistols that serve their intended purpose well.

I ordered one around 1994. I put down $100 at the gunshop and gave them about $100 towards it a year later. At that time, the wait was 2+ years. Over a year later, I got a call one day from the gun shop saying they heard from Seecamp and my pistol was being shipped soon. Not long afterwards, the gun shop suddenly went out of business and I lost my $200 and the Seecamp.

I found one at a gun shop in 1997 and bought it on the spot for $600. After 200+ rounds of Silvertips, it stilled jammed pretty consistently. Needless to say, it was a pretty disappointing experience. A friend of mine who was aware of the problems it had bought it from me at my cost. I probably could have gotten it working with what I know today but not back then. I replaced it year or so later with an Autauga .32 and then I got Kel-Tec P-32 & now a P-3AT.

So, despite my personal experience, I still think they are great little pistols that inspired competitors to enter the market and offer us many more choices for concealed carry. Thanks to Larry.

 

[Slowhand]

I have a Seecamp .32. It never gave me any trouble (using STHPs), and I used it as my BUG for a couple of years. I doubt I shot more than 100 rounds out of it that entire time. I recently got a Rohrbaugh R-9, and it has replaced my Seecamp. The Seecamp is a good bit smaller, but not too much lighter, given that the R-9 has an alloy frame. I would (and did) trade the modest increase in size and weight for the massive increase in horsepower from a .32 to a standard pressure 9mm. The Rohrbaugh is also exquisitely made. Frankly, I know the Kel-Tec has a lot of supporters, but every time I handle one, I just feel like I'm holding a cut-rate dollar store cap gun.

 

[1 old 0311]

Hi Saltydog452,

I went through the same thing with mine. Problems with pistol, Seecamp won't return calls, or mail. Dumped it. I now have a N.A.A. Guardian and couldn't be happier. GREAT pistol. GREAT customer service, plus with the Guardian you don't need a punch, and a empty case to field strip it.

Kevin

 

[saltydog452]

Seecamp..

Granted, my problems with the Seecamp was several years ago. Also, several years ago, the product was in demand and sales of the product were pretty much guaranteed. Gun scribes like Mas Ayoob and Mickey Fowler could get 'personalized' serial numbers. If there was a problem, the rest of us got a recording on the phone and no return call.

I had two Seecamps, one for practice, the other for carry. When the recoil spring on the practice .32 started lookin kinda battered, and function was erractic, at best, I put it aside. The thinking was, 'no problem, I'll use #2 'till I get #1 fixed.' It didn't happen. No one answered the phone, no one replied to a U.S.Postal Service 'snail mail' attempt even though I included a return addressed envelope with postage affixed.

It does not matter if they were under-funded, over-funded, complacent, family difficulties, or, whatever. They made a product that had an extended waiting list, sold for inflated prices, and would/could not offer product support, much less be willing to hold a conversation with us peons.

I wish the Seecamps well.

As to their product, it may be great, I'll never spend any more money to find out.

 

[MCgunner]

Granted, my problems with the Seecamp was several years ago. Also, several years ago, the product was in demand and sales of the product were pretty much guaranteed. Gun scribes like Mas Ayoob and Mickey Fowler could get 'personalized' serial numbers. If there was a problem, the rest of us got a recording on the phone and no return call.

I had two Seecamps, one for practice, the other for carry. When the recoil spring on the practice .32 started lookin kinda battered, and function was erractic, at best, I put it aside. The thinking was, 'no problem, I'll use #2 'till I get #1 fixed.' It didn't happen. No one answered the phone, no one replied to a U.S.Postal Service 'snail mail' attempt even though I included a return addressed envelope with postage affixed.

It does not matter if they were under-funded, over-funded, complacent, family difficulties, or, whatever. They made a product that had an extended waiting list, sold for inflated prices, and would/could not offer product support, much less be willing to hold a conversation with us peons.

I wish the Seecamps well.

As to their product, it may be great, I'll never spend any more money to find out.

Sounds a lot like a "dime store cap gun", don't it? I've never owned one, never will now that .380s fit in a pocket, not to mention a couple of 9s if you have big pockets.

 

[ruger357]

Bought a used one and have had not one problem with it. I'm happy with mine.

 

[jsalcedo]

I just bought a brand new one and it jams with S&B ammo.

After reading some it seems that it is intended to be used with silvetips.

I cannot find .32acp silvertips with any regularity.

Is there another type of ammo that works well in a seecamp?

 

[greg531mi]

Is there another type of ammo that works well in a seecamp?

Had good luck with Speer Gold Dots.....in fact, since they changed the Silvertips, Seecamp recommends the Gold Dots now.....

 

[ruger357]

Federal Hydra Shoks also work well in mine.

 

[nero45acp]

I have a Seecamp LWS .32 that I'm very happy with. Mine has been 100% reliable.

As to Seecamp's responding, on 4/11/2005 at 6:40 PM I sent a email to Seecamp with some questions about their new ammo recommendations. On 4/12/2005 at 6:28 AM I received a very friendly and helpful email response from Larry Seecamp himself.


nero