Favorite off brand handgun

I'm not even sure if Taurus or RIA count anymore. They sell literally boatloads of guns here.

Rossi has been more of a minor player in the US. They made their Model 720 for just a few years in the early 90's, and it's a very nice revolver. They got the balance just right. Everyone who shoots it likes it. It's like a much better SP101 in 44 special.

IIRC, Kel-Tec started what would become the micro 380 market when they came out with the P32. I haven't seen another 32 this light and tiny.

FEG was a Hungarian manufacturer. When I was younger they were making and exporting good-quality copies of the Browning Hi Power, Walther PP, and Walther PPK, among others. Those are the three I have, anyway. Here's a picture of the PP.

Rossi 720 44 special by Tallball posted Mar 20, 2020 at 1:56 PM

KelTec P32 by Tallball posted Jun 11, 2018 at 2:48 PM

FEG AP9 32acp by Tallball posted Dec 28, 2017 at 4:14 PM

 

My Taurus 66 has been a good revolver.

 

I have a few "off brands". Older oddball guns appeal more to me than 99% of the new offerings out there.
AMT Automag II in 22 Magnum

1954 vintage Star SA 9mm

& I have a Erma baby Luger in 32 like others-fun pistol

 

I guess my AMT .380 Backup and FEG SMK-380 are my only truly off-brand guns. My Taurus aren’t high-end, but they’re common and still being made, so even though they’re S&W based copies I don’t see Taurus as off-brand. Dan Wessons were a premium brand on par with the S&W and Colt’s of their day. So even though they’re not super common, and are out of production, I can’t call my DW off-brand guns either.

Stay safe.

 

Probably my Charles Daly Hi-Power, in 9 mm Luger:

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I have a Hogue grip on it now and it picked up a bit of surface rust from bad storage over the years, but there she is. One day, I'll replace the sights with something decent.

 

My favorite off brand handgun is a revolver made in the Philippines. It was a knock-off from a S&W. I didn't get a chance to own it because the owner approached another shooter at the range and not me.

 

highglander5

You recall correctly sir. Randall did make a 1911 for lefties. The quality with all of their guns was very high but were only in production for two years, making them very collectible nowadays. I have only seen one for sale back in the mid '80s at a gun show and the asking price was $500. I would have bought it only I didn't have the financial wherewithal to do so at the time.

 

I wouldn't consider Taurus or even Kel-Tec as off brand. I do like my Kel-Tec CP33, PMR30 and CMR30. And the three Taurus small frame revolvers have done well for me.

I also wouldn't consider Harrington and Richardson revolvers as oddball even though they haven't been made since the 1990's. I still have a H&R 949 9 shot 22lr that is a joy to shoot. Another that use to be quite common were Star pistols. I have a Star Model A Super along with two Star Firestar pistols in 9mm and 40 S&W.

Outside of the PA63, any of the other FEG PP clones are a bit more uncommon. I use to see the PA63 being sold for $100-%120 in most gun shops. I paid $125 after taxes for my FEG PA63 back in 2002. I can say that the FEG Hi Power clones were well made pistols too. Another one that use to be common that I own and shoot is my Llama IIIA in 380 ACP.

 

Star BM, which I think of as basically a Colt Commander in 9mm.



One that I used to own, and wish I still did was this Ballester-Molina .45

 

I like hi points. Cheap and they work. Heavy and ugly like me. So I feel a connection with them.

 

I have a Wichita Silhouette pistol chambered in 7mm IHMSA Rimmed - basically the 30/30 case necked down to 7mm with a 40 degree shoulder. S/N 80 (a perfect score in Metallic Silhouette matches). Since the leaders of IHMSA decided they needed a class for every kind of pistol and shooter on Earth, I dropped the sport and don't shoot this gun very much. It's quite a powerful pistol and would be excellent for game from prairie dogs to deer. Might shoot a hog with it some day. I have a scope mount and a 5X scope. Super accurate!

 

Sweet! I have a 7mm IHMSA (not Rimmed) XP myself.
The truth is, I'm not familiar with the 7mm IHMSA Rimmed. What is it - a necked down 30-30? Are those cast bullets you're using in it?

 

Yeah, necked-down 30-30. The bullets are 139 gr military-surplus steel-jacketed that I bought in Phoenix about 50 years ago. Very cheap and surprisingly accurate. I used them for 50 & 100 yds and used Hornady 160 & 175 gr bullets at 150 & 200 yds. That gun will group 5 shots on a soda can at 200 meters. I used it for Production and Standing and did very well. I was IHMSA State Director in SD for 7 years. I probably ought to sell it, but only a serious silhouette shooter or hunter would be interested.

 

I'll guess a Caspian 1911 probably counts.
Should never have traded that for a Marlin 1895, but, hey . . .that was then and this is now

 

Well, I don't know if I'd call these "favorites", but the FEG is actually reliable and decently accurate.

The Clerke is functional, that's about the best I can say for it. I've kept it just for the novelty and history.

The Lorcin is actually decent for what it is. A throw away pocket gun. But it shoots decent and feeds reliably with good ammo. I've had a few "ring of fire" guns over the years, it's the only one I've kept.

FEG 7.65 Browning (32acp)



Clerke 1st .22Lr


Lorcin .25 auto

 

Back in the 90s I had a great little Phoenix .22 LR pistol, it was a great little gun.... until...

I ordered the 5 inch accessory barrel and messed something up when I tried to install and shoot it, it didn't work well after that. I sold it at a loss, but I would buy another maybe if price was right. It was accurate and didn't jam until I fubared it up.

 

Rural King has them. I bought one on sale for $169, normally they have them at $199.

 

Oh man i would love a Wichita made gun. Thats one of the only companies to make guns in my state.
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I plum forgot about my Interarms Virginia Dragoon. Manufactured by Interarms right here in the USA, not imported. It is a fantastic shooter and a handy club.

Shown here above a monstrous X-Frame.

 

Here are a couple of pics that were mentioned in posts, the little Phoenix 22 and the FEG PPK clone:

Phoenix HP22A by Tallball posted Sep 28, 2019 at 3:11 PM

FEG SMC 380acp by Tallball posted May 15, 2018 at 6:36 PM

 

Are Uberti's considered off brands? Foreign made. Still my favorites, shoot them more than my Colts. Remington 75's.

 

Are Bond Arms an off brand? Everyone needs a pocket shotgun

 

Fusion Firearms CCO for sure. Has a lot of Dan Wesson characteristics at half the price.

 

I guess if I did have a favorite "off brand", it would be this one. It is my backup most of the time and sometimes my primary edc in summer when I can't conceal anything else.

Diamondback .380

 

Only if American Derringer counts too...