Phoenix Arms

[dblagent]

If it is the looks that you do not like with the Rugers and Brownings, try to find a Firestorm .22, this is a .22 version of the Bersa/Firestorm .380 that everyone seems to love. They are hard to find, but everyone that has one seems to like them. I would get one if I could find it for plinking myself I think.

Review link I found quickly: Firestorm .22 Auto Pistol

Wonder if anyone around here can order them. I have never seen one locally. Otherwise the S&W would be a good one also. The Phoenix seem pretty cheap, and this is coming from someone poor, so I usually like cheap! Friend had one years ago, and it was not very reliable then, but they may be better now. It has been 10-11 years since I handled one.

[RonPaulSupporter]

Thanks for the info on the Bersa .22. I hadn't heard of it before.

[dblagent]

Cool, glad I was able to help maybe.

Firestorms are actaully Bersa firearms with another brand stamped on them and you'll find a lot of reviews on the Bersa Thunder .380 out there, the vast majority good. I personally owned a .380 and it was perfect for me, sold it to a coworker and it's treated him nice so far also. Good size, and seeing as the .380 is poupular you can find holsters and the like easy as they are the exact same size. Same gun really, just a different caliber.

[Dr. Dave]

I had an HP22 several years ago, it had the interchangeable barrel, not bad for a plinker but the safety was a little bit of a pain.

[BrownDog]

Originally Posted by RonPaulSupporter

I was just wondering if anybody has thoughts on the Phoenix Arms HP22. Basically I'm just looking for a cheap .22LR plinking pistol, definitely not something I would depend on to save my life one day. I just want an inexpensive plinking pistol chambered in .22 so I can shoot a little more on my property and save some money on ammo costs while I'm at it. Any one own one or ever shot one? I thought it looked a little more attractive than the Rugers, Berettas, and other similar .22 semi-autos.

I dug through my old copies of Gun Test Magazine and copied their opinion. I could post their entire piece but I think that would take up too much space.

Gun Tests Recommends
Beretta EL22, $349. Buy It. Whether the EL22 is actually meant as a defense gun or a fun gun, we recommend only the higher-velocity rounds be used for reliability. Whether you spend $349 for the EL or only $242 for the base model, we feel you will find this is one of the few designs that actually work in a pocket-pistol format.

Walther PPK/S, $540. Conditional Buy. The price is high for a rimfire gun, but you get a big-gun feel in a small package. It produces superb accuracy and makes for an ideal trainer, but its dimensions may make it slightly too big for a true “pocket” gun.

Phoenix Arms HP22 Rangemaster, $116. Don’t Buy It. Simplifying this gun, which we initially found comfortable and reasonably accurate, and putting the money saved toward enhanced durability, would make this gun a bargain. To us, however, it seems that Phoenix Arms went overboard on the extras and forgot about basic reliability.

UPDATE: Gun Test did like the HP22A though.

[Dr. Dave]

Just an added thought, after looking at the Firestorm site, I recalled that the HP22 needed to use hot ammo, otherwise it didn't cycle properly. Also the interchangeable barrel was a bit of a pain to change out, still it was a fun shooter.

[Bluedragon]

I just wanted to say on the Fourth of July, i got a chance to fire one of these guns, and let me tell you, it was a piece of SHIT. The trigger would stick back into the frame after each shot, i had to manually pull the trigger forward again to fire it and repeat the process each time, it pretty much made the gun be like a single shot gun by how it worked.... it also jammed quite a lot, and worst of all right when i was about to give it back to the owner, one of the grip screws just randomly decides to fall off....

[Michiana]

<<<<<[quote=RonPaulSupporter;81151]I was just wondering if anybody has thoughts on the Phoenix Arms HP22. Basically I'm just looking for a cheap .22LR plinking pistol, definitely not something I would depend on to save my life one day. I just want an inexpensive plinking pistol chambered in .22 so I can shoot a little more on my property and save some money on ammo costs while I'm at it. Any one own one or ever shot one? I thought it looked a little more attractive than the Rugers, Berettas, and other similar .22 semi-autos.[/quote]>>>>>

If you buy a cheap gun you are throwing your money away so just buy as cheap as you can and when it falls apart you will not feel as bad. One of my first handguns back when money was tight was a Jennings J22 auto in 22 cal. It was classified as a Saturday Night Special but I had some thing to shoot until I could afford a better gun. I still have it and it still shoots. It is a fun gun to pluck cans with and I think I paid around $55 for mine. I am sure there are a lot of these types of guns sitting around in peoples safes collecting dust. Just a suggestion.

[Bill of Rights]

I'm surprised no one's said anything (til now) about the Walther P22. I like mine and can't recall anyone saying they didn't like shooting them.



Blessings,
B

[tatters]

The Phoenix was my first gun. Bought it in 1995 and still have it. It's had it's share of minor problems, but still shoots just fine.