SCCY pistol quality

[TexasPatriot.308]

I been looking at the SCCYs in Guns and Ammo, they seem to be low price about like a Hi-Point but much better looking. I generally stay away from cheap pistols but do have a Hi Point for a junker to carry in my pickup for a backup, much better than a rock, cheap, accurate but dog ugly. Been thinking about a SCCY .380 for 9mm for my better half, she is a small frame woman and has had problems with slides before. Any input welcome.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Gen 1 sccy pistols gave them a horrible reputation. The second gen seem to be better. I want to get one. Many folks will tell you to get a s&w shield. Nothing wrong with the shield but I like the higher capacity of these.

 

[ilbob]

JMNSHO

I don't think it's appropriate to buy a firearm for someone else that they haven't had a chance to shoot. There are so many things that contribute to making a gun comfortable in one's hand that it is probably best to test fire candidates till one finds a firearm that is appropriate

 

[C0untZer0]

I still don't see where a CPX-3 in 380 APC can be purchased.

Its on their website, but I don't see where you can actually get your hands on one.

 

[herrwalther]

My wife had a CPX-1 (model with the safety, her preference) and neither of us were really fond of it. Wasn't particularly accurate for either of us, machine marks all over the place making it show its low price point. And when she was shooting it, the gap between the magazine and grip would pinch her hand to the point of bleeding. I would rank them better than a Hi Point in terms of general utility as a truck or backup gun. I have run into a few of them over the years before I bought one for her, and they are generally well liked for what they are: budget 9mm.

As with every handgun, try it before you buy it to see if its even worth it.

 

[MedWheeler]

They're pretty stout. They have a "true" DAO mechanism, which means that the hammer is always at rest until a long pull of the trigger drives it rearward before releasing it. This is different than the hybrid-DAO triggers found on most of the small .380 pistols, such as the Ruger LCP (I), Taurus TCP, and the Kel-Tec P3-AT, and the Kel-Tec PF9. A hybrid has a shorter trigger pull, as the hammer is partially-cocked by the action of the slide but, if the hammer is dropped and the gun does not fire, it remains fully at rest and requires a partial slide-rack to try again. Not so with the SCCY. Any pull of the trigger will cycle the hammer.

Personally, I think the SCCY CPX-II would make a good vehicle gun as well as a carry gun. However, if you're a Glock guy, or only used to the trigger on your HP, you'll hate the SCCY's trigger. If you've been around long enough to have been broken in with DA/SA autos and revolvers, you'll be fine with it.

While I find the .380 SCCY intriguing, I don't think it has been released yet; there have been some hangups with its introduction, from what I hear. For now, it's available only in 9mm Luger.

Oh, and get thee to corneredcat.com for more on "picking out a gun for the lady."

 

[Hanzo581]

With all the rebates and deals currently going on I can't think of a reason to buy these questionable bargain brands. If it's just a range toy fine, but if it has a defensive role no way.

 

[ilbob]

With all the rebates and deals currently going on I can't think of a reason to buy these questionable bargain brands. If it's just a range toy fine, but if it has a defensive role no way.

I can't think of a good reason to buy a firearm of questionable quality at all given that there are plenty of decent reasonably priced quality Firearms available. I don't think it's fair to assert a firearm is of lower quality just because it cost less. There are plenty of fairly expensive guns that are not all that great

 

[Hanzo581]

I can't think of a good reason to buy a firearm of questionable quality at all given that there are plenty of decent reasonably priced quality Firearms available. I don't think it's fair to assert a firearm is of lower quality just because it cost less. There are plenty of fairly expensive guns that are not all that great

I don't think a gun has to be super reliable or extremely durable to have fun plinking with it. But I will agree some guns are crap despite their price. That said, do you have personal experience with the SCCY brand? I don't so I can only go by reviews I've watched and read which have left me with a luke warm feeling for them. But if they've improved their design that's great.

 

[ilbob]

I don't have any personal experience with them. I agree with you if you are trying to say that YouTube reviewers opinions are better than nothing when you have no personal experience with some product.

I think your best bet is to find somebody that has one and shoot it and ask him or her what their experience with the firearm is if you are seriously looking at any firearm. Be it one of questionable quality or a very expensive one.

 

[Hanzo581]

I don't know anyone personally that owns a SCCY pistol. YouTube reviews (and a lot of other online sources) are tough since most are sponsored reviews that are basically just thinly veiled advertisements. There are some that are truthful out there that I try to stick to. But yes, I'd highly recommend the OP finding one and shooting it first. Hopefully more people that own them chime in. So far we just have one person with a CPX1 that wasn't a big fan in here.

 

[ilbob]

That can be a problem with an uncommon firearm. You can also run into people that have a gun they just don't like for whatever reason even though there's nothing really wrong with the gun. That's why I think it's important to actually shoot a specific firearm before you buy it. With a few exceptions. I'm pretty sure I haven't shot any of the military bolt-action rifles I've purchased before I bought them.

To me the only person's opinion that matters about a firearm is the guy that owns it. If he or she is happy with it that's what matters.

 

[il.bill]

The SCCY CPX-2 pistols with which I have had direct experience seemed to me to be very much like the Kel-Tec P-11: decent, dependable DA 9x19mm pistols with relatively high capacity and a l-o-o-o-ng stiff trigger pull in a small, concealable double stack size selling for about $250 that would 'do the job' but are no fun to shoot. They have lots of felt recoil and after two magazines at the range I was done practicing - they made my hand hurt.

With the just ended (06/30/17) $75.00 rebate deducted, the S&W Shield9 was available numerous places for about the same price and is a much nicer, though lower capacity pistol. If I currently had a $250 maximum budget for a 9mm Luger pistol I would buy myself a Taurus PT111 Gen 2 and be happy shooting mag after mag through it.

 

[oss117]

The SCCY's have a reputation for being "not fun" to shoot because of their recoil. Likewise for the micro 380's like the TCP, LCP. (I have no experience with the SCCY, but do with the micro 380's) It would not be good to buy your wife a "one and done" range experience. Sig sold some 380 caliber P250's that had easy-to-rack slides. You might still be able to find one. They're a lot bigger, but the Walther PPX/Creed and Remington RP9 slides are really easy to manipulate too. The grip on the Remington is decidedly smaller than one would expect. The light trigger, but visually moving hammer of the Walthers may appeal to her. In general I've found full size pistols easier to shoot an manipulate than small ones as long as the grip is small enough. Come to think of it, the Walther CCP uses a gas-delayed blowback action that doesn't require a strong recoil spring and it's sized nicely for smaller hands. It's supposedly a pain to disassemble for cleaning, but that's what husbands are for LOL.

Cornered Cat is the place to start.

 

[hso]

I had the 9mm SCCY like il.bil and found it accurate and reliable with that DAO long trigger, but since it didn't fit my hand I sold it off after making sure I couldn't learn to love it.

At $219 around here on sale we all need to understand that it isn't a target gun.

 

[C0untZer0]

With all the rebates and deals currently going on I can't think of a reason to buy these questionable bargain brands

The SD9VE was on sale recently for $234.99 shipped.

But having said that... the SCCY can often be had for $199.00 shipped (But then usually have to pay a transfer fee, for me that's 20 bucks)

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I get paid to shoot guns. Not to see how good they shoot, but to make sure they work and collect evidence. I get to shoot right at 900 to 1000 different guns each year, and have been doing so for the last five years. There are not many handguns I haven't fired and there are a few I don't care to shoot. The SCCY is one of those guns I don't care for. Both the CPX1 and the CPX2 have very long and heavy trigger pulls. The trigger reset is so long that the trigger has to go almost to it's full forward position to reset.
I have a friend that has large fingers and has trouble shooting the SCCY, he has trouble getting the trigger to reset.
The grip frame looks good, but is thick and not made for small hands.
Recoil is not pleasant also.
The one plus the CPX2 has over the CPX1 is that it doesn't have an external safety lever that will break off.

I would spend the little extra and get the Taurus PT111 G2.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I agree with those above that getting a Smith and Wesson Shield on rebate since the Summer of '17 seems to be the time to buy firearms at discount prices.

I also would say to not buy the SCCY in .380. It's too large and chunky for a .380. I'd rather have a Bersa in .380 for a similar price. Or even a pocket gun like the LCP or Bodyguard.

Having said all that, I got my SCCY CXP-2 (no safety) 3 years ago for $200. At the time, there were no other real competitors at that price (not even KelTec was that low in my area). It was an excellent carry gun and even a decent range gun. It is bigger than it looks in pictures, but still a "compact". Not a pocket gun, you'll need a holster.

I never had a jam or hiccup with mine; I put hundreds and hundreds (I have no idea how many but alot) rounds through it. I had to call customer service once about the sights (I was being overly careful and wanted to see what they'd say) and they were top-notch. Fast and friendly and even sent me an email after confirming my call and thanking me. Remember, they mean "lifetime warranty" when they say it.

It was accurate as I could be with it. If you can master a DAO trigger, then you should have no problem tagging clay pigeons past 15 yards with it. The only issue is it stings the hand after a range day. But a box or two of ammo wont even have you notice it.

If you get a good price, they are a great gun. But there are many options now including the EAA SAR compact line (made in turkey) or the S&W Shield line or the Ruger LC9 or Kel-Tec and so on...

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

JMNSHO

I don't think it's appropriate to buy a firearm for someone else that they haven't had a chance to shoot. There are so many things that contribute to making a gun comfortable in one's hand that it is probably best to test fire candidates till one finds a firearm that is appropriate

I own several pistols, both revolvers and autos given to me by friends and family, I shoot them all regularly and shoot them well. My wife shoots all my pistols, I bought her a .38 special revolver last year she had never seen before, she does very well with it also. Some people are just comfortable with any firearm.

 

[Hanzo581]

I own several pistols, both revolvers and autos given to me by friends and family, I shoot them all regularly and shoot them well. My wife shoots all my pistols, I bought her a .38 special revolver last year she had never seen before, she does very well with it also. Some people are just comfortable with any firearm.

Do you like picking out your firearms? Or would you be ok if someone else did it for you? Not bashing you but too often we as enthusiasts get in the "I know what's best for you" mindset. She might shoot anything you give her, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't have a preference if she were given the choice.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I like picking out my firearms, right now buying a Browning BLR .308, never shot, but handled it...why...cause I can. I am lucky, got a safe full of guns I never take hunting, but like to shoot. She can have any gun she wants, she aint picky and neither am I, can never have enough guns. Just thinking about getting another cheapo pistol for her to carry in her 4 runner as I am not always home. For now, I like her having a revolver that she can shoot quickly and accurately at close range, we live right off a major highway in Bryan College Station area.

 

[C0untZer0]

I would spend the little extra and get the Taurus PT111 G2.

If you wait for a sale you can get the Taurus Millennium G2 a few bucks cheaper, and Sig 226 mags fit the Taurus Millennium G2 PT111 and Mec-Gar makes a 20-round mag that works fine in the Taurus.

 

[MedWheeler]

I've only dry-fired the SCCY. I found its trigger pull and reset to be about on par with those of a double-action revolver, with which I have a lot of experience.

I agree, though, that this isn't the best time to be picking the "bargain brand" based on price since some of the more-pricier brands are coming with some incentives that make them more price-competitive.

 

[JONWILL]

I picked up a couple the first of the year when they were $199 delivered. The stainless with OD frame. The Blue with Black frame.

As another poster said. The trigger is alike a DA only revolver. Mine breaks clean and shoots well. Take down is easy.

My only problem was the front frame pin started to move out after a couple hundred rounds. It pushed back in easily but kept coming out.

I read that it could be superglued in place. I did that and haven't had and problems since.

 

[agent89]

I have a CPX-2 that I bought about 3 years ago. I have found it to be a pretty good quality gun. It always shoots and functions fine for me. The trigger is a bit long and firm, but for a defensive handgun it works ok. I use this as a "car" gun (have a truck too). I feel confident it will work if I ever had to protect myself out on the road. But, with some of the street prices of more mainline brands it's a tough sell these days. A smith SDVE or shield are pretty cheap these days, ruger 9e or the Remington RP9 are all cheap price. I'm not promoting Buds shop, but their web site is a good place to compare prices on almost all available handguns today.