2 New Toys (Both 9MM), Some Questions, and a Small Safe Review.

Hey guys!

Thought I would share my new toys, ask a couple of questions, and share some experience on a safe to stay away from.

Questions are in the second "Toy" section about a Hi-Point C9, and at the very end about a Zastava Arms M57 7.62x25mm.

First off, the Toys!

1) S&W M&P Shield 9mm.

I traded for this from a friend of mine. I got the gun, which was 1 year old, an extra clip( ), a holster that can also hold an extra mag(clip ), 50 reloaded lead rounds and 20 Hornady Critical Defense rounds. I gave up a Ryobi 4-Stroke Weedeater that has been running a bit rough lately(He has a lawn care business), my 1 year old Hi-Point .380 w/ 2 magclips, a holster, and 21 Remington HTP Hollow Point rounds. I am also going to pay him $150 cash.

I feel like this is a fair trade for both of us. I may be on the better end, but I loved my .380. It is a sweet shooting gun when I keep it clean, and while I did have to clean it a good bit more than other guns, it was mostly just to be safe. When I pulled the trigger, it fired, and it fired accurately. Speaking of cleaning, I also offered to clean it for him, for free, as long as I live in the area. He doesn't know how to clean handguns, I do, so it was value I could add in to the deal.

Artillery is a reference to my soon-to-be-here son, that is his middle name.






2) Hi-Point C9.

This one also contains issues and questions as well. My Father-In-Law gave this to me, and refused to let me pay him for it(thankfully). But he told me I had to keep it in the family. Which is fine, except something happened with it today. Specifically when I pulled the trigger on the second round I tried to put through it. When I pulled the trigger, I felt the pin hit the bullet, and the best way I know how to say it is...something felt strange.

All of the following happened in a split second. Trigger was pulled, felt the pin hit, the bullet didn't fire when it hit, and then...it kind of felt like it slid forward an extra tiny bit. Almost like the firing pin broke. When I pulled the bullet out, it had a mark on it, but it was NOT a nice neat round punch like most firing pins marks. It was more like a random sideways scratch with a slight indention. I am not sure what to make of it.

I also can't figure out what happened inside the gun, because I can't take the slide off. I can't push it back enough to lock it open. Which prevents me from taking out the pin that holds the gun together. It feels like the spring is maybe...rusted, or perhaps out of place? It just refuses to go past the certain point where it locks up, and when it slides forward it feels slow and, uh, raspy? Not sure how to explain how I feel that, and what exactly it feels like.

Plus, either he, or a friend he mentioned he had look at it, used grease on the gun where the firing pin is instead of gun oil. Actual thick grease, like what you would see on ball bearings in a machine.

The one time I saw him take this gun out and shoot it was 2 years ago. He had 5 rounds....and it jammed 11 times. As much as I loved my newer .380 Hi-Point. This 17 yr old Hi-Point is the type of gun their reputation is based on. Looking back, the sheer amount of jams feels like a lot, even for Hi-Points. He was never able to fire 2 rounds back to back that day. Every time it tried to feed on its own, it jammed. He cleaned it since then, but that s when the grease showed up on it.


Could it be jamming because the slide can't go all the way back? So it is "short arming" the feeding mechanism?


Small Rant Here:

Here is what gets me about the grease. The man always talk down to me about guns, because he has been hunting all of his life. I will say he knows more than me about rifles, but I know more than him about handguns. By a fair amount at this point. In fact, I own more handguns now, than he has in his entire life combined. I'm sure at least some of ya'll probably remember how few I own.

He even got on to me today about "never assuming a gun is empty", and that I should look into a safety course. I looked him dead in the eye and told him I didn't assume, I checked it myself. Just like I always do before I hand a gun to someone, and just like I always do when I am handed a gun. ALWAYS. Because it is a good habit to force on yourself, even if you see them check it. It should always be second nature. I also mentioned that if I ever assume ANYTHING about a gun, I always assume it is loaded until I clear it for myself.

I must also add this tidbit, I have learned almost all of my knowledge about handguns from to this board!!!

Just to see what it looks like.


Basically, I am hoping someone has an idea of what it might be. Or if the know of a way to get the slide open. Is the action something covered by the warranty? Is the firing pin covered by the warranty?



The Safe Review:

Some of ya'll may remember I started a thread on the 15th asking about Stack-On Safes. Because Wal-Mart had one on sale. Well, finally got it in, and I am taking it back immediately. I'll let the picture do the talking on why. I will simply call attention to the gaps in the door, and their lack of square.




When you can't open an unlocked safe without a pry bar, it is a waste of money, and the only thing it is keeping "safe" is the intruder you need to shoot with your stuck in the safe gun.

I already bought its replacement. Grabbed this ammo box at a local flea market yesterday afternoon. Cheaper, Bigger, and Easier to use than the crappy safe. The lock I have on it is better than the shoddy lock that was on the "safe" too.

With the M&P.



Last, but not least. Was looking around at some used gun prices and noticed this little beauty on Gander Mountain's website. Wanted to see what you guys thought of it. Its older, and not perfect. However, its only $279, and a quick perusing of ammunition prices told me that ammo isn't as expensive as I thought it would be. Only around $0.28/round.

Does anyone have any experience with Zastava Arms or the 7.62x25mm round? Would like to hear from someone experienced with it. I like off the wall weapons, and for American shooters, I do believe this qualifies.

Clicky the Picture!