Raven .25ACP?

[Glock19Fan]

IF I did see a snake, first thing I would do is run away. Its quicker, easier on my ear, and easier on my pocket.

And BTW, Magsafe isnt plinking ammo. Its a carry ammo. Practice ammo is WWB. Its cheap. I dont know anyone in their right mind who would practice all day with $2 per round ammo.

I might consider a derringer if I see one at a good price. What are some good brands that manufacture derringers at a decent price, around $100, and in preferably .410. The thought of a derringer never poped in my head for some reason until now. :banghead:

 

[JohnKSa]

...mainly as a snake gun, and somewhat possibly as a last resort SD gun. ... I really dont want to get anything over $75 or so...

Heck, I don't even know you and I figure your life is worth at least $150 or so. You could get a nice used revolver or a Makarov for that.

Or shop around--you might find a beat-up kit gun cheap. I ran into a Dan Wesson the other day for $125--might have been able to talk the guy down some if I had really wanted it. Looked like someone had stored it in a toolkit in the back of a truck for a decade or so. Still perfectly functional, but ugly as sin.

 

[Glock19Fan]

Heres my main SD gun.

http://img155.exs.cx/img155/4639/nicksgun0008vr.jpg

I also have two other guns as well.

The Raven (or derringer) would just be a little knock around gun, something to put in my front pocket and just forget about it. Of course this will be on private land, since im not old enough to carry.



"Heck, I don't even know you and I figure your life is worth at least $150 or so."

I figure no less than $400.

 

[Fiero]

The Raven .25 ACP was my very first gun over 20 years ago. I learned a very valuable lesson, cheap guns are junk.

While reliable to shoot, and reasonably accurate, it has serious deficiencies. First is the safety, both literally and figuratively. Between shots, the safety would tend to fall back to the "on" position, necessitating a reset check on every shot. Sort of a single action gun that you have to cock everytime.

Secondly, you have to be ultra careful as to hand position. That bugger will take a serious notch of hand webbing if you hold it naturally high. The slide will bite you real good, unlike most other semi-auto weapons which feature a protective beavertail.

I would never sell the thing for sentimental reasons, and it makes a good conversation piece. I still have some ammo, so I'm inclined to play with it again, but I would never, ever rely on it as a tool for anything rational or practical. I would never think of taking it alone anywhere.

I have a NAA .22, and think it's a great little toy. A bit impractical though. I think a Beretta .22 is a much better mini, which I have also.

-Fiero-

 

[GEM]

Fiero - how reliable is the Beretta? I had a similar Taurus which was a terrible jammer. A friend had a Beretta that was a jammer also.

I always liked the configuration but was spooked by the jamming problem.

 

[Fiero]

My beretta .22 is effectively 100% reliable if two methods of operation are observed.

1. I always use hyper velocity ammo. In my case, I use CCI Stingers.
2. A firm grip. "Limp-wristing" will absolutely cause a jam/failure to extract.

The gun simply is not capable of cycling reliably unless the recoil action is assisted by a "powerful" cartridge and a stiff hold.

Using these "techniques", I have not had a problem with my Beretta.

I have several different .22 autos and a few revolvers as well. The Beretta is one of my favorites.

 

[No Quarter]

Before the internet was around to tell me what guns were junk or not, I owned a Raven .25 while I was in the Marines. I shot the gun for hundreds of rounds and it never missed a beat. I remember shooting at paper plates and can out in the desert in 29 Stumps and always being able to hit what I wanted to out to 20 yards or so. As a matter of fact, that gun was in my pocket throughout my time in somalia and everwhere else I went. It was beat up and ugly. I gave it to a guy when my enlistment was up. I wish I had kept it as it brings back memories to me now. I would buy another just for kiicks. I think they are the best of the cheapo guns.

Of course, now that the internet is so common a thing, I have been told that all guns like Ravens, Cobras, Jennings, Lorcins and just about every other gun that anybody has ever had a bad experience with is junk so I am MUCH smarter now than when my own experience actually directed my decisions

Anyhow - that is the way I see it.

NQ

 

[Alan Fud]

Having owned a Raven, I can tell you that you would be better off with something else for the needs described.

 

[dogngun]

The Reven .25 looks like a cigarette lighter, and is made out of the same metal. It has very poor sights and controls. It is the best of the cheap auto pistols ( Jennings, Davis, Lorcin, even Phoenix.)

Do not buy it.

Buy a used .22 or .38 special revolver, or a larger .22 pistol (Ruger).

Mark

 

[Dorrin79]

I hate snakes - my personal preferred weapon for dealing with them is a 12ga loaded with No8 shot



If I had to use a pistol on them, I'd find an inexpensive old .38 or .357 revolver and load it with shot rounds - I'm a decent hand with a pistol, but I have no confidence in my ability to shoot a snake, in the head, under pressure.

Of course, maybe that's just me