jennings nine

[scottbird]

I was just given a jennings nine 9mm by my brother in law. I have been looking them up, and wondering if they are as bad as some people say, or if a lot of it is hype because they just don't like them.

I am planning on shooting it this evening

 

[WardenWolf]

Well, I'll say this: they're not as bad as Diamondback. But they're the classic "Saturday Night Special". Cheap guns that often are problematic but sometimes work just fine. Overall, they're not terrible. But they won't hold up long-term, and there's lots of better pistols out there.

The thing about Jennings is they're not an inherently flawed design; they're just made with poor-quality materials. So they can be made to run, but they'll wear out fairly quickly.

 

[Archie]

Jennings Nine -

Only shoot it to find out: "Does it function?" and "How does it feel to shoot?" Keep this to a minimum.

The Jennings - the manufacturer - is not renown for high quality and long use life. As WWolf said, some work better than others. However, by all accounts they have a limited life span.

Keep it as a drawer gun; if attacked, open the drawer. It is not for general carry to defend one's self and one's dependents. These are not sought after handguns; there's a reason.

 

[GRIZ22]

I have a Jennings 22 for about 35 years now. Not very accurate but good enough for close range. Took some time to find what ammo it likes. Reliable until it starts to get dirty after about 50 rds so I just keep it clean. Don't carry it regularly now but don't feel unarmed if that's all I had. Keep it because I can't get much selling it.

 

[stchman]

IIRC, Jennings was renamed to Bryco, then bought by Jimenez.

These are your typical pot metal Saturday Night Special pistols.

My neighbor had a Jimenez JA-NINE and the firing pin broke after just a few magazines.

While I don't expect the gun to explode in your hand, I would not expect it to function reliably for long.

The great thing is, you spent $0 so shoot it and have fun. I would just not use a gun like that for self defense, there are guns out there that aren't much more money but a LOT better built.

 

[Jackal]

I had one I purchased brand new years ago. I fired it a few times and sold it to a friend. He and his son fired another 50rds through it before the slide cracked. They sent it to Jenning's and they were sent a new pistol. I'd not shoot one ever again. With quality used pistols available in nearly the same price range, there's simply no reason to risk loosing your face/hands to those zinc alloy garbage guns.

 

[Flintknapper]

Keep it as a drawer gun; if attacked, open the drawer. It is not for general carry to defend one's self and one's dependents. These are not sought after handguns; there's a reason.

If 'attacked' offer it to the attacker.

You'll be much safer that way.

 

[Swing]

I don't know about the 9mm version, but I had a .22LR version slide bust whilst firing the first box of ammo from said. The pistol was absolute garbage and I wouldn't fire another one, in any caliber, again.

 

[scottbird]

well I put some rounds through it. it shocked me as it was rather accurate. it did jam twice and miss fires once, but over all it did better than what I thought it might. I was using winchester 115gr fmj.

 

[johnnydollar]

As mentioned, slides crack and firing pins break in pretty short order on the Jennings/Bryco/Jimenez pistols. The guy who gave it to you knew what it was worth--nothing!

 

[alleycat7002]

Hi Point got Jennings beat..The only Jennings that was fair was the first one not Byrco..had a 22 that ran perfect

 

[kozak6]

It's probably only almost as bad as everyone says. It probably won't explode, but it's probably not drop safe.

A close friend of mine briefly owned a Bryco 9mm (same thing).

It would fire the first round accurately and right to point of aim every time.

Then it might choke on every remaining round on the magazine. If you were lucky, it would fire three times in a row. Light strikes, failure to extract, failure to eject, double feeds, everything.

It also had a unique malfunction type. The recoil impulse would activate the takedown button, and the slide would half unhook itself from the frame up firing.

I'm glad yours isn't that bad.

 

[Dragon breath]

Have you field stripped the gun yet? Those guns are known for cracking in the frame under the left grip. Even the people who like the Jennings, Bryco, Jimenez guns say that the crack is a question of when, not if.
What is even scarier than the crack is that their are actually Jimenez fanboys out there.

 

[wally]

kozak6 has it dead on. They are a highly reliable single shot pistol with a significant probability of multiple shots.

They are a terrible choice for anyone who can afford range time and practice ammo, but for the poor and infirm in high crime areas, they sure beat a pointed object, and fill a need.

Many times simply producing a gun causes the miscreant to flee -- happened to my sister when she walked in on a burglar, she yelled "Gail, get the gun!" and the guy almost knocked her down on his way out the door.

 

[zWarlord]

A few years ago there was an incident with one of those guns at a local range. The gun was on the bench, loaded, but facing sideways (poor form, I know). No one within 3 feet of the gun.
It fires off a round and hits the person in the next lane.
So, yes. It is as bad as the word says.

 

[DeepSouth]

I had one in .380 and it was at least as bad as their reputation, I didn't keep it long.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I won't allow them in my classes and they are specifically banned by name in our compies firearms policy.

 

[bikerdoc]

[QUOTEI won't allow them in my classes and they are specifically banned by name in our companies firearms policy.][/QUOTE]

Banned in my classes also

We also include Lorcin, Davis, Bryco, Jimenez, Cobra and pheonix.

High points are ugly but they work. Caution. The 380 high point will not feed hollow points.

 

[TfflHndn]

The Jennings Nine that I had worked fine for a box or two of ammo. Not the most accurate gun I had, but good enough for SD work. After a hundred rounds or two, the recoil dislodged the magazine every shot. I'm guessing a bad spring in the mag release button. Then it got stolen. I hope the gang-banger that ended up with it used it, got one round away, and then had no second round with a dislodged mag, and took one between the eyes. But I never saw it again (or any of the several guns that disappeared from my gun cabinet that day).

 

[Flintknapper]

http://www.firearmsid.com/Recalls/FA_Recalls 2.htm



BRYCO ARMS
MODEL 59,
9MM LUGER CALIBER, SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL
WARNING: The Bryco Arms, model 59, 9mm Luger caliber, semiautomatic pistol is subject to misfeeding and jamming during the loading of cartridges into the chamber from the magazine. If the primer of a cartridge comes in contact with internal parts, such as the tip of the ejector, an unintentional discharge may result. This occurs while the port is open and without the trigger being pulled. This situation is extremely dangerous and could result in serious injury.

Source:

AFTE Journal, Summer 1999; Volume 31, Number 3:379-381

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRYCO ARMS
MODEL JENNINGS NINE,
9MM LUGER CALIBER, SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL

WARNING: The Bryco Arms, model Jennings Nine, 9mm Luger caliber, semiautomatic pistol is subject to accidental discharge. The pistol MAGAZINE SAFETY is subject to FAILURE when the trigger is pulled and the magazine release button is depressed simultaneously. When this occurs the pistol will fire even though the magazine has been removed from the pistol.

Source:

AFTE Journal, Summer 1999; Volume 31, Number 3:379-381

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRYCO ARMS
Model Jennings Nine,
9mm LUGER caliber Semiautomatic Pistol

WARNING: These pistols may create an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION and a POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY by firing without pulling the trigger.

During the testing of a Bryco Arms, Jennings Nine pistol by a forensic firearms examiner it was noted that it would fire upon release of the thumb safety and spontaneously fire in a FULL AUTO MODE on an inconsistent bases. When loaded with the manual thumb safety in the “safe” position, if the trigger of the submitted firearm has been pulled stiffly a few times, the firearm will discharge when the thumb safety is moved to the “fire” position.

Disassembly of the pistol revealed some wear/damage to the sear which allows slight downward movement when the trigger is pulled. It appears due to the wear/damage the sear/striker engagement is reduced allowing the striker to override the sear after the thumb safety is released.

MANUALLY UNLOADING THIS PISTOL MAY BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT COULD DISCHARGE DURING THIS PROCEDURE.

Source:

AFTE Journal, Spring 2001; Volume 33, Number 2:145-147
Illinois State Police Laboratory, Springfield - Notice, December 7, 2000

 

[jhb]

let me show you first hand what a bryco jenning 9mm will and can do.......









was at the range with a few coworkers. one had this gun. he went to load it using the front of the slide and it fired out of battery and his finger was not on the trigger. it blew fragments of brass into his hand and burned him and the sheer pressure bruised the crap out of it. this picture was taken immediately after it hasn't bruised and swelled up yet. he still has some nerve damage. that was over a year ago or more.

i've also witness one go full auto slam fire. they are very dangerous and poorly designed weapons. avoid at all costs. i have pictures from this event cause i was there and started taking them. ironically the jenning owner chuckled prior to when he showed me what he brought and i said it will blow up in your hand. he aid he'd shot it hundreds of time and never an issue, and i stated it's just a matter of time. he thought i was crazy until it fired out of battery. he believes me now.

 

[groundhog34]

They are a good drop gun

 

[Shaq]

I'd be concerned about why your brother-in-law doesn't like you.

 

[HKGuns]

Garbage, couldn't give me one.

 

[Jim K]

Regardless of the quality (or lack thereof) of earlier pistols in other calibers, 9x19 is another kettle of fish, or at least a lot higher pressure level. AFAIK, the Jennings Nine is still a straight blowback, and much better companies (e.g. Walther) have not had good luck in using that hot round in a blowback pistol. The Spanish Astra pistols did it by use of a heavy slide and a strong spring. Hi-Point uses a massive slide, making the gun reliable, but heavy and awkward.

A Jennings/Bryco Nine might work, but IMHO, it will simply not hold up. I would be quite astonished to find one that works beyond one box of ammo, and that would be standard velocity.

Jim