Cobra: faulty by design?

[cidirkona]

Ok, after having picked up a Cobra FS380 for a VERY low price due to it missing a peice the guy had no idea how to fix it, none the less clean it, I took it apart to diagnose the problem.

First thing I noticed was that the grip panels hold in the safetey spring and mag release spring - which are both poorly placed.

Next I noticed that there are no frame rails, the front of the slide moves around the barrel and the rear uses the striker retainer to hold the rear of the frame down.

Next - the sear is only held in place by the slide, it pops out (as does the safety!) when the slide is removed. I'm guessing the cam is too, because that's what was missing when I took her apart...

Next thing I noticed is that there is NO EJECTOR!! When the slide reaches the rear part of it's movement, the striker hits the striker spring retainer and pushes the firing pin back out of the hole. I wondered 'hmm... if I were to eject a live round a little too quickly... holy damn.' Granted, you'd have to zip the slide back fairly quickly... but I really wouldn't want to take that chance...

Are there alot of pistols that use this potentially lethal means of casing ejection?!

Thanks
-Colin

P.S. The cam was $1 plus $4 shipping from Cobra Pistols, and the opperator was friendly, polite and helpful -- even joked around when I compared the crap-tactular shoddiness of their product compared to my glock...

PPS editted for inproper terminology

 

[Jim K]

Well, your "potentially lethal" firing pin ejection was used in the Colt Model 1908 .25 caliber vest pocket pistol and the identical FN .25, as well as the FN-Browning Models 1910 and 1922. These guns were produced by the millions and are generally considered among the most reliable and safest auto pistol designs ever made. I have never heard of any of them firing a live round that was being ejected, and I don't think such a thing could happen. Many other less known pistols worked the same way, but those examples will do.

By the time the firing pin is against the stop, the cartridge is long gone. Prior to that, the firing pin spring cushions any blow.

If you are worried, why not load a case with a dead primer and see if anything you can do will put a deep enough dent in it to fire a live primer. I don't think you can do it.

As to the other design factors you mention, they are quite common and have been used on pistols of quality varying from excellent (Walther and Browning) to poor. I don't know where your gun falls in regard to quality, but the use of the design features you mention does not make it poor quality or "potentially lethal" to the user.

Jim

 

[BluesBear]

It take a lot more to set off a primer than most people think. They're not percussion caps. They're not Greenie Stick-em Caps either.

The chances of you pulling the slide back fast enough for the firing pin to detonate a primer seated in a case that is only supported by the extractor is Slim and None. And Slim is on vacation. In other words you'd have a better chance of being abducted by aliens, winning the Power-Ball lottery and meeting Elvis on the same day.

It amazes me that people asctually worry about this. Don't we already have enough threads about some brands of primers being too difficult to fire?

I've replaced firing pin springs on quite a few old Colt and Browning .25s that could launch a golf pencil 2 feet but still wouldn't bust a cap.

 

[cidirkona]

don't know where your gun falls in regard to quality

Right between "crap" and "crappier."

It amazes me that people asctually worry about this.

Safety is a big concern of mine, and I'm still new to firearms and don't know the history of firing-pin extractors...

-Colin

 

[wally]

The Cobra seems similar to the Jenning/Bryco/Davis. I'd worry about the ease of the safety coming off unintensionally and the fact that the guns generally are not "drop safe" meaning a loaded one will often fire if dropped.

I'd never suggest these for CCW. OK I guess for a house gun if you can't afford any better, or fine for a hobby to see how bad a gun can be and still mostly work when clean, ideal for live fire practice clearing jams -- every serious shooter should have one to practice immediate action drills

I've my Jennings "collection" (.380, .25, & .22) proudly displayed in a glass case hanging on the wall as thief bait -- I figure they will grap what they can when the alarm goes off so if they grab these I'll have taken revenge

--wally.

 

[Tropical Z]

Cobra has improved the quality of the designs theyve acquired over the last few years.They are undoubtedly better than they used to be.

 

[cidirkona]

Well this is definately not one of them, then...

I picked it up real, real cheap (and legal) but missing a few dollars worth of parts.

I'll give it this much -- I can completely strip the thing in like 4 or 5 seconds; it just takes me a few minutes to find where all the springs shot off to... I wouldn't try that with my firestorm, there's a million little plates and disconnectors in there...

-Colin