Had a Bryco "blow-up" on us yesterday

[Jim PHL]

Four of us went to the range yesterday; myself, a buddy with a PPK who is more of a hunter/long gun fan, a "first-timer" buddy and a neighbor who shoots very rarely but I knew had some kind of gun for home protection. His gun turned out to be a Bryco .380. He said a relative (LEO) had taken it about a year ago, field stripped it and cleaned it and test fired it in some sort of device their dept uses when they are unsure of a gun's 'stability'. Everything appeared fine at the time. Yesterday my neighbor put two mags through without any issues (and without any accuracy!) and handed it to me to try it. First round fired and the second took a nose dive. I cleared that and fired again, this round fired and half-ejectied case stovepiped blocking the next round, so I cleared that. Next round fired ok and next trigger pull yielded nothing. I assumed the next round did not load from the mag. When I turned it in my hand to look at it I noticed the front end of the slide was sitting off and above the frame. Further inspection showed the chamber cracked and the barrel and recoil spring had exited and were about 3-4 feet in front of the booth! We shot my other guns for the rest of the session and had the R.O. retrieve the parts before we left. (I suggested he turn it into the next buy-back program for some quick cash.)

I feel lucky that all we had was a broken gun and no injuries. (He paid $80 about ten years ago for it.) I have long heard of the poor quality issues with some of these really cheap autos but this is my first direct experience.

On the plus side, my neighbor said right away he wants to come with me again when I go shooting and he'll be shopping for another gun asap. (His is a one-gun house.) He has enlisted my help and advice and I will definitely enjoy assisting him. My other buddy, (at 44 years old - a first-time shooter) had a blast with all my guns, being especially fond of my 4" M18 .22. Go figure, his second favorite was the 3" M65. I don't know if it was the configuration or the great-feeling Badger grips it wears that made it feel so good. I don't think he'll be getting a gun of his own anytime soon but he definitely had a blast and will be eager to join me when I go again. (We'll keep working on him!)

I know this may re-stir the "any gun is better than no gun" pot, but I thought I should post it so people who are inclined to think that way have something concrete to consider.

 

[NWdude83]

Here is an interesting side note. This is the newest list I could find.

ATFs list of top 10 guns used in crimes in the year 2000:

1. Smith and Wesson .38 revolver
2. Ruger 9 mm semiautomatic
3. Lorcin Engineering .380 semiautomatic
4. Raven Arms .25 semiautomatic
5. Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun
6. Smith and Wesson 9mm semiautomatic
7. Smith and Wesson .357 revolver
8. Bryco Arms 9mm semiautomatic
9. Bryco Arms .380 semiautomatic
10. Davis Industries .380 semiautomatic

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

8. Bryco Arms 9mm semiautomatic
9. Bryco Arms .380 semiautomatic
10. Davis Industries .380 semiautomatic

I think that percentage is not nearly high enough. If more criminals would use them, they might miss or even blow their hands off.

 

[Funderb]

Second time in 30min:
I have a bryco 380 that I picked up for $50
from a friend on hard times.
It was already used, and still after 250 rounds from me,
still fairly precise going strong with one stovepipe total.
It depends on your luck I suppose.

I still like my cz52 better though.

 

[FALZOO-XD]

I have A Lorcin .380 the thing is junk. You would do more damage
just clocking someone in the head with it.

 

[Dos]

3. Lorcin Engineering .380 semiautomatic
4. Raven Arms .25 semiautomatic
8. Bryco Arms 9mm semiautomatic
9. Bryco Arms .380 semiautomatic
10. Davis Industries .380 semiautomatic
All Pieces O S that wont flush..JMO

 

[db_tanker]

had a friend suggest you keep a Lorcin/Bryco/Davis handy and when a perp enters your house, you throw the pistol TO him so he can use it.

 

[JDGray]

Glock must be building them Brycos, cause no other guns blow up

 

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

I hate those type of lists b/c they make it seem like the guns are the ones chosen by criminals. The insurance institutes always list the top 10 stolen cars. Guess which ones are at the top? Honda Accord and Ford Taurus. Why? Statistically, the most driven vehicles on the road. The most prevalent handgun? SW revolvers, etc... All those lists do is give people the wrong ideas about certain brands and weapons. too bad about the Bryco and I hope you were not cut or anything. My Jennings from years back blew up and I needed two bottles of Iodine, tweezers and a whole mess of paper towels to clean it up.

 

[1911Tuner]

Straight blowback pistols depend heavily on the action/recoil spring to delay the opening of the breech. This is a fairly delicate balance of spring resistance, slide mass, and bullet mass X velocity. Let the spring go too long without replacement, or stray too far from standard specs for the ammo, or the pressure/velocity level that the gun is rated for...and these things can happen.

 

[Chipperman]

On the plus side, my neighbor said right away he wants to come with me again when I go shooting and he'll be shopping for another gun asap. (His is a one-gun house.) He has enlisted my help and advice and I will definitely enjoy assisting him.

Steer him to a Lorcin next.