Ah Jeez

January 4th, 2009

So, Dad proudly told me that he got Mom a pistol to carry in her car, until she can get her CHL, at a future date.

Sounds like good news right? Well it is to a certain point, but it goes downhill from here. The first question I ask of course is what did you get her? He responds, “I got her a .380, it isn’t a Smith and Wesson or anything.” At this point my oh crap sensors are starting to buzz. After prodding him for the brand he remembers, “It is a Bryco semi-auto. I got it for $200 at a gun show probably six months ago.” Oh crap moment fully realized.

So then I ask if he or Mom have shot it yet, and of course they haven’t. She hasn’t shot a gun in thirty years, but does know the basic principal of doing so. So that is a bit of a plus I guess.

The fact that she hasn’t shot any gun, much less than one in question in decades is not much of a plus. It is only slightly better than handing an unknown quantity handgun, to a woman that has never shot any gun before. We are talking about a notoriously bad firearm, being relied on as a defensive weapon, by a small woman, that has not been fired. The damn thing may not even fire at all, or it might jam after the first shot.

While not trying to alarm my Dad, or insult him, I did say that he needs to take her out to shoot it as soon as he can. Hopefully it turns out to be a decent firearm. Certainly if she can shoot it, and it functions, it will be better than nothing. If it a jam-o-matic turd, then he will know it is not right for her. Right now though, it is almost worse than nothing. It represents false security. Hopefully she never needs it, but what if she does?

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1 Comment

  1. theirritablearchitect January 5th, 2009

    Bryco?

    Umph. I’d probably take a hatchet over that or a Lorcin, or a Davis. Not that I’m trying to be a gun snob or anything, but carrying a .380 with you, well, there are better choices for about the same coin.

    I’d stick with either the regular FMJ ball, or try a ball profile JHP, like a Rem Golder Sabre. It turned one of my expensive .380’s into a very reliable feeder, that wouldn’t otherwise feed JHP worth a damn. ‘Spensive, but worth it.

    I like your assessment too, have HER shoot it, as much as she can. Familiarization breeds confidence, in more ways than one.

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