Mauser HSc-80 / HSc-Super review

[Float Pilot]

I picked up an Italian made Mauser HSc-80 a while back on a whim.

Basically it is an oddball made by Rento Gamba company that uses a Hsc type action with a double column magazine. But it disassembles pretty much just like any Mauser HSc.

The guns came in a couple versions back in the early 80s. Some are marked HSc-80, some as SAB-2001, and some as HSc-Super. They came in 32 acp, 380 and 9mm Super.

There are also some versions with a scalloped trigger guard for support hand finger support. Mine has the standard trigger guard and black plastic grips. There are also two serial numbers, one seems the be the real serial number of the weapon and the other appears to be a hand stamped inventory number from some sort of agency.

The pistol has a ALL STEEL frame and Slide. It weighs 2 pounds empty. The magazine is a 13 round all steel magazine that looks almost exactly like a Beretta M84 mag.

While the mag release is a thumb style popular in the US, it is semi recessed and you really have to work in order to release the mag.

The safety lever looks like a Walther PP decocker, style but it is NOT. It is simply a hammer block safety that rotates part of the firing pin out of the way. So the hammer just hits steel when dropped. So you need to manually drop the hammer via pulling the trigger.

There is no magazine disconnect safety on my pistol.

The Slide is actually pretty hard to pull rearward for a 380. Even after I polished the exterior of the barrel which acts as the recoil spring guide.

The double action trigger pull is horrible. Around 12-14 pounds...
The single action trigger pull is crisp after a LOT of take-up and it is still 7 pounds. That I think I can fix.

The barrel is 3.55 inches. The overall length is 6.5 inches and height is 4.75 inches. The grip is 6 inches in circumference.

Range Results:
NOTE No Chrono due to poor light.
15 yards:

PMC 90gr FMJ = 1.75 inch group.
American Eagle 95gr FMJ = 2.75 inch group
Independence 95gr FMJ with plated cases:= 2.0 inch group
Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX. = 1.0 inch group

175 rounds fired, no malfunctions of any kind.

 

[silversport]

I remember reading about them back when but never had seen one...nice...thanks for sharing.

Bill

 

[Float Pilot]

I think I can improve the single action pull. I am not so sure about the double action. The mechanism looks like thing from the Mouse-Trap game.
Even greasing the heck out of it did not make any difference.

 

[silversport]

Nice!

Bill

 

[Jim Watson]

Seems they were carrying on the tradition. The few real HSc Mausers I have handled and shot all had tough double actions. Much heavier than Walther or Sauer.

 

[Float Pilot]

HSc Mausers I have handled and shot all had tough double actions.

Yes, I have found that it works much better to not try and stage the double action pull, but to just go for broke and pull straight through as fast as you can.

I have fixed the single action pull. I have it breaking now at 4 pounds.

Since this gun was originally designed for the 9mm Ultra it seems to like warmer (+P) 380 loadings as well. I could not find any Buffalo Bore or Cor-Bin factory ammo, so I tried some pretty warm hand-loads and this all steel gun really likes them. The accuracy improved!

Since it has been too dark ( Alaskan winter) for good chronograph readings, I will refrain from posting my load data until I can gather a wee bit more info.

I need to find another 13 round magazine...

 

[Pilot]

Very cool. I am a bit enamored with oddball guns like these. It seems the Italians are good at this type of thing. The "mouse trap game" is a good analogy, and made me chuckle. Nice report. It looks like a typically well made Italian piece, and I remember when these things were being imported by Interarms, I believe.

 

[Float Pilot]

Some were imported as HSc-Super and some as SAB-2001 Super.
Here is an import model HSc-Super with the scalloped trigger guard and the Interarms Import marks.

I want to try a set of wood grips on mine for chuckles and grins. I did not pay much for it, and it is a wee bit thick for carry purposes, but it sure is accurate and reliable.

 

[bannockburn]

I also remember seeing the HSc 80 back when I got my Beretta Model 84. I thought it was pretty interesting looking but the DA trigger pull was incredibly heavy. Fit and finish were decent enough but I really didn't have a need for another .380 that had a large mag capacity.

 

[Float Pilot]

I used to own a Beretta 84 and it is a much superior pistol. It cost a lot more as well.
I paid less for this 13 shot HSc than we paid for Ruger LCPs a couple years back. Although it is really just a novelty pistol.

 

[Float Pilot]

Here is a relative size comparison. Top is a Taurus m-445UL 44 Special. 5 shots.
Next is the HSc-80 13 + 1 shots of 380.
Then the KAHR CW-9, with 7 plus 1 shots of 9mm Para.

 

[Float Pilot]

A few more range results with the Mauser HSc-80 and a chronograph.


Range 15 yards, Temp 19 degrees F. Chronograph at 8 feet.

Buffalo Bore 90gr Sierra HP +P factory load= 1,258 fps and a 3/4 inch group

Rem Golden Saber 102gr HP factory load = 912 fps and a 1.5 inch group

PMC 90gr FMJ factory load = 920 fps and a 1.70 inch group

Win PDX1, 90gr HP factory load = 950 fps and a 2 inch group
* this load advertizes at 1,000 fps...

Winhester Train and Defend 90gr hp factory load = 975 fps. and a 4 inch group

Federal 95gr FMJ = 857 fps and a HUGE group.

 

[silversport]

WOW on that Buffalo Bore load...

Bill

 

[Float Pilot]

Yes it seems a bit zippy.... Maybe a little too zippy....

I fired 6 over a chronograph and they were all within 5 fps of each other. That explains the nice group. It really tossed the brass a long ways with those rounds.