somebody clue me in on the Cobra guns..

[Mooseman]

At one time I was interested in getting the Patriot 45 but I held off in the hope that I could get one after the invariable teething issues were solved. I just looked up some reports made within the last year and it seems it still has issues with reliability, is ammo sensitive and doesn't like hollow points. Any of those is a bit of a deal killer in a defense pistol, even an inexpensive one. Personally I'd give this one a pass. I think that a pistol in 45 that is under $300 would have developed a following by this point if it worked half decently. Fans of this pistol appear to be few and far between.

 

[Armored farmer]

Can either of you advise which gun was involved in your situation?

F-N-L's gun was a striker fired, all zinc .380 (iirc)

 

[MedWheeler]

KbBailey, thanks for the additional information. That gun is from the "old" Cobra line, the one that helped contribute to the company's poor reputation. It was also sold under the name "Davis."

 

[kneesus]

CDNN always has guns priced under $300 and they are quality! The Turkish beretta clones rock (paid about $300 for mine). They have really good deals, check it out.

 

[jahwarrior]

I have actual trigger time with three models: the CA380, the Shadow, and a derringer. Each and every one was hot garbage. The slide of the 380 cracked after a few rounds, and fell apart. The Shadows cylinder wouldn't line up correct, and the trigger was terrible, among other issues. The derringer's firing pin broke after twenty rounds.

I am by no means a gun snob. I have owned, and enjoyed lower priced guns such as Hi Points, Keltecs, and even Ravens. The difference is, all those guns were reliable, durable, and safe to carry. Cobra have only made an art of making Saturday night specials, and charging the public three times their actual worth. They are the one company I would actively try to steer someone away from.