I was offered a gun...

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Rogelio

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2003
Messages
288
Location
Lima,Peru
Hello Everyone:

My name is Rogelio and I live in Lima,Peru. Down here guns do not come around easily and are quite expensive..the only gun shop that I have access to is www.armaq.com/pistolas.htm and the guns here are quite above my buying possibility, as I now work just as a waiter at a local restaurant.

However, a friend of mine has offered me a Bryco Model VALOR .380 for 250 USD and I can pay for it in 12 monthly parts, so I guess it could actually work.....

Previous guns?? Had a Makarov and a glock 25 (both in .380 acp, it is the biggest round you can get here) and both were really cool, but had to sell them to pay for rent...
I just need something I can carry, as I have no money for range trips at the moment. I have heard that the gun is not really good, but I went to the gun shop and asked for an oppinion and the guy said that the gun would not last much, but as long as it is for personal carry, it would shoot fine when I was in need.

So the question is: Will the Bryco shoot when I pull the trigger? Can I load it with AMERICAN AMMUNITION 115gr .380 super auto? That is what I used in my glock and I never had a problem....By the way, we can not use hollowpoints here, we can only use round nose FMJ.

I hope that you can help me out here, because right now all I have for personal protection is an ANDUJAR butterfly knife.....

Thanks

Rafael
 
Be VERY careful, .38 Super is NOT .380 ACP, and the fact that the bullet weight is 115 grains leads me to believe that you are talking about .38 Super, you need .380 ACP for your Bryco.

I don't know what prices are like in Peru but I wouldn't in all conscience recommend a Bryco to my worst enemy, especially for $250 used.

If you're looking for a good low cost pistol, try and get your Makarov back.

Good luck with your choice.


Newton
 
I am a little confused, Rogelio. In your other post two days ago, you said you still have your Glock and take it to the country for target practice. Why not use that for self defense?

Can you buy any other ammo other than the American Ammunition? That brand doesn't have a very good reputation here.
 
I would pass if I were you.

First, Bryco isn't that good, and at least around here that price is nuts.

Second, you said you wouldn't really be able to practice with it. If you buy a gun for defense you really need to practice at minimum a few times a year (once a month is really what I see as minimum, but you probably could get away with a little less if you really are that broke).

Also, if you are so broke that you keep having to sell your guns just for rent, I'd wait until you had a better job and then buy.

Until you have the money for something better or at least to hold on to at least one gun, and until you have some money to practice at least once a month, I'd hold off. Get a folding knife (if legal there), pepper spray and maybe some hand-to-hand combat training. If you have been subject to some threats then get the gun, any gun (though I'd lean towards used revolvers, still cheap and more likely to go "bang" when you need it to), but otherwise you can get by for a while with the knife, OC spray and some basic self-defense training.
 
Skip the Bryco, save your money and buy another Glock 25. BTW, that's a model we can't own here in the US. :(
 
I DO NOT like the Bryco pistols.

After a lot of bad experiences with them, I decided not to allow them on the firing line when I am instructing a Concealed Handgun License class. I don't believe there was EVER a shooter with a Bryco who made it all the way through a 50-shot proficiency course without a malfunction. Sometimes, those pistols would mot go through an entire magazine without a stoppage.

I would not want to see any relative or friend depend on a Bryco for personal defense. A Rossi or Taurus revolver would be far better.

Best regards,
Johnny
 
Avoid the Bryco, it's a junk gun.

Buy another Makorov pistol or get a Taurus or Rossi revolver. You may want to put in some overtime hours at work to pay for it so that you don't have to sell it for rent money.
 
The bryco is useable. It is worth about $50 US dollars.

It is not your best choice. I would go with a makarov or VZOR 70
 
Thanks everyone...

I just came back from the range where my frien took me..the bryco postol is really not that bad (well, I just shot a box out of it -50 rounds of Remington UMC-) but I think I will follow the advice given and get a pepper spray (I already have the fight training, I studied 7 years of Aikido).

Thanks for the comment on .380 super auto, it worked ok on the glock so I thought it would also work on any other .380.... I think I´ll just wait until I can get another LUCRATIVE job and then get a nice gun...maybe get another glock 25 (the best gun I have ever had!).

Thanks for all your answers...

P.S: Just one thing i did not get..how is that about bryco being USABLE???
 
What I meant about usable was that the bryco functions and sends bullets
towards the target but thats about it.

It is not comfortable to hold and the sights are difficult to use.


Good luck on the glock 25. Thats one I wish they sold here.
 
How about a Taurus .38 revolver? I noticed some for about $300US at the web site you mentioned. That would be a much better way to go in my book.
 
Im Kicking myself on a Daily Basis, and Ask myself what was I thinking. I bought the Wife a Cobra .380 , which is Very similar for her to use incase someone intruded into our home while I've got the .45 on me. She's 4'11 96 lbs and a 12 guage pump puts her on her butt everytime she shoots it. I needed to get her something that could hurl a projectile ate a BG if shee needed to , so it did'nt need to be expensive. Took it to the range Got 20 Rnds through it and it broke..... So I would stay away from it. Cheap Guns are'nt good , and good Guns are'nt cheap!!
 
glock 25....wish we could get those. Anyway, can you get bersa pistols in Peru? I think one of those or another makarov would be a good bet if you can't get another glock.
 
To get back to the man's dilemna...

Rafael, I would not buy the Bryco if I were you. It will not be reliable protection and could very likely break, and be a waste of alot of money.

Off of the site you gave, the pistol that I would recommend to you is the Russian Makarov:

Pistola marca BAIKAL, modelo IZH-71H, cal. 380 Auto (9mm Corto) pavonada, de 12+1 balas, 02 cacerinas, doble accion, cañón de 3.6", (503-IZH71-38) -322$

I know this is alot more money but this pistol will last a lifetime and will be extremely reliable. If you can find one already used in okay condition for less money, buy it. I wish you luck in your search.

Brands to avoid (do not buy!): Bryco, Jennings, Raven, Lorcin, Davis.

Hi-point is ok, dispite what people may say about their looks and their price, they are actually reliable guns and in your situation would be acceptable to buy.
 
not to jack the thread, but to quell the tangental curiosity-

my understand as to why you cant get a Glock in .380 here:

The Fed (DOJ?) "scores" all imported handguns based on their sights, their size, caliber and maybe a few other things.

Handguns that are under 9mm get fewer points than major calibers (because it is a "Sporting purpose" test and large calibers are more sporting I guess).

Anyway - a lot of guns just barely make it in one caliber (like Glock) but if you then drop the caliber under 9mm, you lose a couple points and now its not valid to import.

Thats the gist - you can look it up for more detail.

Back to the regular topic: Get the revolver. If you have to go cheap, among cheap guns, a revolver is going to be WAY WAY WAY WAY better and more reliable. Autos are just finicky - even the good ones. Make it out of cheap pot metal and you are really asking for trouble.
 
Second that revolvers are the best cheep, guns.

I have an rg-.38 that has never misfired ever.

Sure is ugaly and poorly finished but it go's bang evey time, and thats the important thing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
2.5" or 4"
Replies
9
Views
906
Atticus
A
M
  • Locked
Your favorite "saturday night special?" No gun hate please.
2 3
Replies
61
Views
23K
badgerrr
B
R
  • Locked
A crazy one...please take it seriously
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
Rogelio
R
J
  • Locked
Three Gun Sets
Replies
6
Views
1K
pauli
P
B
  • Locked
I am an addict!!!
Replies
10
Views
662
Mizzle187
M
Back
Top