Jennings J-22 Question

[Confederate]

I realize this little pistol has both good and horribly bad reputations, but I have one that works quite well. I have two magazines and have barely shot it. Still, I'd like to order a few parts for it and wanted to know which parts are worth buying. I have two mags, which is plenty.

I'm thinking three firing pins, three firing pin springs, two mainsprings, all of which are fairly modest in cost. I won't be buying another magazine for twenty dollars, though. But how about an extractor and an extractor spring? Would I likely need those or not? I think the part that breaks the most on the Jennings is firing pin.

Also, has anyone left a Jennings loaded for a long period and then tried to shoot it? I don't know whether I should load it for extended periods. I know it's okay to do this with quality magazines, but don't know about Jennings.

As for overall reliability, mine shoots flawlessly for about five clips, then it begins jamming. But if I clean it, it just fires as fast as I pull the trigger. I really wish I had bought ten of them when I had the chance. I love cheap little .22s that work.

 

[Mooseman]

I had 2 of these that I eventually got rid of. I had fun with them and got back the $65 invested in them. I'm not trying to bash jennings but I noticed that the rails and other internal parts seemed pretty soft. I'd be concerned that you might end up with replacement parts that won't fit a beat up frame or slide.

Glad your having fun with yours, it's a lot prettier than mine were.

 

[Jim K]

The parts I found most liable to fail in those pistols were the sear, the firing pin and the springs (recoil and firing pin). I would not leave it loaded for any long period of time.

In my experience, when those guns failed, it was usually before firing even a box of ammo. If they got to two boxes without a failure, they would work OK for a good while.

Jim

 

[kirkcdl]

I left mine loaded for a couple of years...Mag spring is shot...Don't do it...

 

[makarovnik]

parts o plenty at jimenez arms. I think your parts list sounds reasonable. These pistols are usually good. There are so few parts, there is not much that can go wrong.

I wish they would sell me an extra slide but they insist on getting the old slide back on a trade in. Buy a crappy one on ebay then trade it in for a new one. Good to have an extra with a new extractor and all.

 

[loadedround]

The Jennings had a bad reputation for soft metal and weak/poor quality springs. Since you have a good running one, I certainly don't blame you for wanting a supply of spare parts. Why not give Gun Part Corp(Numrich Arms) a try, they have a parts web site going and a rather extensive parts catalog available. GPC are good people to deal with on the phone also. BTW, I would suggest that you don't keep your mags loaded or if you do, rotate them.

 

[22LRFan]

I would maybe recommend mag springs to the list.

 

[richyoung]

I realize this little pistol has both good and horribly bad reputations, but I have one that works quite well. I have two magazines and have barely shot it.

If the blue part is true, then you can't possibly know the red part.

 

[jackstinson]

I see no reason to leave it cocked for an extended period unless you are carrying it. Even then, I personally would not carry it with a round chambered and the safety on. I've never had one fail, but I'm not comfy with carrying ANY striker fired gun loaded. Opinions vary.
I'd buy a couple more magazines. Cheaper-Than-Dirt has new Triple-K brand J-22 mags for $12.97 which work well.
Springs and most common parts might best be purchased new from Jimenez. Their JA22 is the same basic gun as the later model J-22 (up/down safety). Although the Jimenez firing pin is slightly different with it's red rubber "cocked" indicator.
gunbroker.com usually has "parts kits" up for auction...a good way to get the essentials. You can sometimes find magazines cheap there also. Although, sometimes it less expensive to buy an entire beater gun for parts use.
BTW: There is an ongoing test posted on the bryco-jennings-jimenezarms.com Forum, which has a new Jimenez JA22 at (so far) over 10,400 rounds fired without a failure. Not bad, 21 bricks?! These little wonders are more rugged than many people give them credit for.
I currently have an early model Jennings J-22 (CalWestco distribution) and a couple of later model Jennings/Bryco J-22's....all function quite well and are loads of fun. Just took a couple of them to the range last Thursday and put a few packs of Mini-Mags through them. All of mine have who-knows-how-many rounds through them without a failure.
Yes...that's correct....I happily admit to owning and shooting many pocket pistols from Jennings, Davis, Lorcin, Sundance, Sedco, FIE, RG. etc!!! I like 'em....inexpensive fun to collect & shoot. Be the first kid on your block to collect them all!

 

[Confederate]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I did order the parts through Numrich. I don't intend on shooting it much at all. As with the Raven .25s, I found that if they worked, they usually would work for awhile. The .22LR isn't a very hi-pressure round, but I did get the springs, an extractor and two firing pins. The gun says not to dry fire it, but it doesn't say whether the shooting stress is cumulative or whether it just breaks if you keep doing it. Firing pins aren't much, and I got an extra one for my 645 Smith & Wesson and my 659.

The Jennings and the Ravens have a lot of success stories under their belts. I had a couple of Sterling .22LRs that wouldn't work at all, but the Jennings have worked well. I had one years ago that I shot quite a bit and it never needed any parts replacements. I probably put five hundred rounds through it, maybe even more. I kept thinking the firing pin was going to break. (It happened to me once on a Raven.)

I also had a slam fire with a Jennings. I had it pointed in a safe direction, jacked a round into the chamber and *BANG!* This was in my father's house and I didn't want any trouble, so I got some white putty and put it in until it became unnoticeable. I sold that gun, but later bought another because it appeals to me.

The frames are zinc and the slides are steel. The only really hideous cheap gun I ever bought (and still have) is a Davis P-32. I actually transferred it to a guy who owned a Chinese restaurant. It didn't work and he asked me to try it out. Before I could, the place suddenly shut down. Try as I might, I couldn't ever find him again, but I did try out the pistol and it jammed every single magazine full. I guess it's the worst gun I've ever been in the possession of. Still, it's a pretty nickel plated piece of garbage and it does have some appeal. I may one day use it as a photo prop.

Anyone ever have one?

Jack Stinson recommended using Sellier & Bellot FMJ ammo and I might try that some more (it's the one I had problems with). Some people have had a lot of luck with the Davis pistols. Mine may just be tight.

 

[makarovnik]

The slides are not steel.

 

[Confederate]

You're right. I took mine apart again today. It's zinc.

 

[jackstinson]

.double post

 

[jackstinson]

Dry firing a J-22 a whole lot will eventually peen the chamber where the cartridge rim sits...as well as damaging the end of the firing pin.

Actually the slides and frames are ZAMAK. It's not quite the same as the old zinc white metal alloy our cap guns were made from. Modern ZAMAK alloys (zinc, aluminum, magnesium, and copper) are used in many products. This is the same grade of ZAMAK used in current Henry rimfire rifles, Hi-Point slides, and others.

Yes, I happily own a Davis P-32 and a P-380. I own a lot of ZAMAK pocket pistols. Both the P-32 and P-380 I got because their previous owners claimed they couldn't shoot a full mag out before a jam. The one guy said he could fire two rounds, then the slide would bite him and the third round jammed. Duh....the slide hit his hand, slowed down and couldn't cycle the next round properly. I've fired hundreds and hundreds of various .380's (even hollow points) through that same gun without a single malfunction. Fine for me though, he only wanted $40 for a like-new gun.
And the P-32? Other than a fiasco with a box of .32acp Winchesters, my P-32 has also never experienced a malfunction in hundreds and hundreds of rounds.
Use S&B or Fiocchi .32acp FMJ ammo. If those fail to feed properly, check your magazine. It may need the lips adjusted, or it may need replaced. Current Cobra CA32 and CA380 magazines are the exact same thing as the old Davis. And note: the Davis P32 magazine and the Davis P380 magazine interchange..they are identical. Don't pay $20 more for a "rare .32acp magazine"
Actually, current Cobra CA32 and CA380 parts are the same as the Davis parts.

And if you have not already done so...cruise over to: http://www.bryco-jennings-jimenezarms.com/forum/

 

[speedsix]

I had one just like the OPs. Mine had those pearl grips and chome body. Mine was never reliable but I shot it a LOT. I probably put 2-3K rds through it before it started to become unsafe. It started to double and triple fire on my. It was starting to go full auto. I assume the sear was wearing out.

In anycase, I wouldn't bother getting spare parts because you don't know what will break first. My firing pin never broke but I ended up taking the gun apart and throwing it away because I was afraid I would shoot myself with it.

I also read a story about a guy near me who killed himself with this same type of gun. He had it chambered with the safety on. He was in a tree stand and had the pistol in his shirt pocket. When he leaned over, the gun fired and shot him in his heart.

These guns are not safe and should not be fired. NEVER carry one with a round in the chamber unless you want to shoot yourself or someone else by mistake.

 

[jackstinson]

.....

 

[Cowboybootnut]

I had a Jennings that I bought in the mid-1980s, it wasn't too bad of a gun. It functioned good using the CCI Mini-Mags.

One time it also went full auto. I could have ruled the world with it if I had hi-capacity mags!

I traded it a few years ago, and bought something better. Now I will not purchase similar quality firearms.

 

[Funderb]

i had the .380

it always ran well, and never jammed, except a stove pipe once during the first 50 rounds. I put about 1000 rounds through it, and there were no cracks to speak of, or noticeable damage/weakening. I sold it about a year ago, and I'm sure its still fine. I just didn't like the idea of a striker pistol, or one w/o a slide detent function.