A Lorcin 380 lives up to it's reputation

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11-22-09, 21:51
Pilgrim

A Lorcin 380 lives up to it's reputation

This one will be short one...

Today I was able to fire the magnificent Lorcin .380.

I friend of mine bought one from a rather rustic individual who had fallen on hard times, and needed $50 more than the pistol.

Pistol was disassembled, cleaned, and lubed. Appeared to be in new condition, no easily discernible evidence of being fired could be noticed.

All we had available for ammo was the loading from Dynamic Research Technologies. Yes, that's right, we were firing DRT ammo out of a stinking Lorcin.

I tried the pistol first and found that, surprisingly, it was reasonably accurate with about zero recoil, and it functioned for the complete mag without a malfunction.

Next fellow up had one hangup half way through a mag.

Third guy to try it made it half way through a mag... when the end of the freaking slide broke off... and the trigger parts caught the rest of the slide before it slung back into the shooters eye!

Yeah we got pics...

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9278/1001263w.jpg

Close up via Kodak Easy Share...

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/3357/1001259m.jpg

No way this pistol could have had more than 100 rds ever fired through it before it gave up.

I'm done with anything Lorcin myself. I don't even want to look at one.
11-22-09, 21:58
perna

Looks like the rustic individual got the better end of the deal.
11-22-09, 22:19
Pilgrim

Quote:

Originally Posted by perna

Looks like the rustic individual got the better end of the deal.

Agreed!

The Lorcin ended up being 'more expensive to fire', than the new Remington 338 Lapua we were working with that day.
11-23-09, 04:16
tkoglman

Awesome.

I think I've seen more Lorcins confiscated at my dept. than any other single brand.

They should be air dropped over every major city. If I have to get into a gunfight, I hope the other guy is using one of these.
11-23-09, 06:11
ThirdWatcher

I never even heard of a Lorcin until I became a street cop. What a POS.
11-23-09, 08:33
Dave Berryhill

I guess that zinc alloy couldn't withstand the pressure and recoil of the mighty .380 Auto cartridge.
11-23-09, 08:39
loupav

I've heard of them, never seen them in person.

I think I'm better off.
11-23-09, 10:17
Wayne Dobbs

I've seen and seized quite a few Lorcins during my LE career. They are junk for sure, but before you insult them too much, always know that they will usually work long enough and well enough to kill the good guys.
11-23-09, 10:27
geminidglocker

:cool:Yup, they're junk, I hope the shooter was wearing eye protection.
11-23-09, 10:46
the_fallguy

I saw the same thing with a 9mm Lorcin (and two Hi-Points) when I worked in a gun/pawn shop. Amazingly, no one was ever hurt.

If you add a Jennings to the list, you have the Trifecta of crappy, low-cost, thug pistols.
11-23-09, 19:58
Mate

Or Raven...
11-23-09, 20:35
bulbvivid

Back when

Back when I didn't know better, though I about hate to admit it, I bought a Lorcin .380 at the recommendation of a friend who said, "Everybody shot those when I was in the Navy." I was poor at the time and wanted a gun to take to the range.

Took it out and it wouldn't cycle more than a few rounds at a time. I guess I got lucky, 'cause it didn't have a chance to break. Took it home and put it up and never shot it again. Ended up trading it to someone who knew what he was getting and wanted it anyway.
11-23-09, 21:06
xray 99

I believe a killer used a cheap .380 to murder a police officer in my city a few years ago.
11-23-09, 21:15
AZG23

lol...I too bought one for my 1st pistol...:rolleyes: I still have mine, but the firing pin broke..can I have the one outta that one..? I could never bring myself to pay anymore $$ for this pos..sure a far cry from the Glocks and Sigs I own/have owned since.:D

BTW...I put probably 500 rounds thru mine..never any problems....but mine is probably close to 16 years old. Maybe it was higher quali...bwahahahahahahaha riiight.
11-25-09, 17:30
mattjmcd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I'm done with anything Lorcin myself. I don't even want to look at one.

Well, duh! Lorcin's fine print specifies that it should only be fired on Saturday evenings. :D

Too funny. Glad nobody was hurt.
11-26-09, 12:03
wes007

I see these allll the time at fun shows for less than 100 bucks. I guess you get what you paid for with these!

Glad you werent hurt my man
11-26-09, 13:35
DacoRoman

Thanks for destroying a perfectly good low rent pimp gun :D.....what a POS! if you want a good gun get a Jennings :cool:
11-26-09, 14:34
nfranco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/3357/1001259m.jpg

Ah, just needs a little.
http://nfranco.smugmug.com/Military/...22_aUXbt-M.jpg
11-26-09, 15:30
krinkov5.45

Think a pipe gun would be more reliable and safer.
11-26-09, 17:02
sandman99and9

Wow, that brings back some memories. My father in law used to carry one of these at night when he walked the condo property he was managing. He let me take it to the range to see how accurate it was. It would not fire more than 2 rounds before jamming and I was lucky to get it on paper at 10-12 yards:eek:
I told him if he was confronted to just throw it at the bad guys cuz it would be more dangerous that way.:D

He has a glock 9mm now.

S.M.
09-24-12, 09:39
saw4364

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

This one will be short one...

Today I was able to fire the magnificent Lorcin .380.

I friend of mine bought one from a rather rustic individual who had fallen on hard times, and needed $50 more than the pistol.

Pistol was disassembled, cleaned, and lubed. Appeared to be in new condition, no easily discernible evidence of being fired could be noticed.

All we had available for ammo was the loading from Dynamic Research Technologies. Yes, that's right, we were firing DRT ammo out of a stinking Lorcin.

I tried the pistol first and found that, surprisingly, it was reasonably accurate with about zero recoil, and it functioned for the complete mag without a malfunction.

Next fellow up had one hangup half way through a mag.

Third guy to try it made it half way through a mag... when the end of the freaking slide broke off... and the trigger parts caught the rest of the slide before it slung back into the shooters eye!

Yeah we got pics...

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9278/1001263w.jpg

Close up via Kodak Easy Share...

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/3357/1001259m.jpg

No way this pistol could have had more than 100 rds ever fired through it before it gave up.

I'm done with anything Lorcin myself. I don't even want to look at one.

I also have a Lorcin .380 that was given to me as partial trade for some work my husband did. Last night, he took the gun apart to clean it, and we discovered what I think is the problem with this gun and why your .380 broke the slide. I've attached a picture of the take-down button for my .380. This piece is made of aluminum and if you can't tell in the pic, the bottom of the hook is warping out of place and in danger of breaking. This piece is the only thing that keeps the slide from coming loose and kicking up and back. I imagine if you found the parts that came out during the slide break, that take-down button would be broken. This is an unsafe weapon and I plan on throwing it at the bad guy before I'd ever fire it!!!!
10-01-12, 13:38
G.B.

I got one in a .25. Not to horrible for accuracy and reliability. I think the only reason it hasn't blown apart is the round isnt potent enough. I don't think I'm brave enough to fire any of those cheap guns in a heavy caliber.
10-01-12, 18:31
Nephrology

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Berryhill

I guess that zinc alloy couldn't withstand the pressure and recoil of the mighty .380 Auto cartridge.

I am sure that the highly educated engineers at Lorcin probably had simply taken one too many biochemistry courses, and assumed that Zinc's ability to hold together proteins translated equally to its ability to hold together a slide....
10-01-12, 19:23
duece71

Back when I was in college, all my shooting buddies and I used to crack jokes and make fun of the Lorcins/Jennings/Ravens/Hi-points that we saw at the range. I am not going to go into great discussion about whom was firing said pistols. It was funny to hear the language used to describe what happened when the pistol stopped. Nobody ever got hurt mind you, just a lot of "colorful" language.
10-04-12, 10:18
J-cat

Pot metal has no place in firearms.

http://www.mnguntalk.com/download/file.php?id=5749&t=1
10-04-12, 10:24
markm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Berryhill

I guess that zinc alloy couldn't withstand the pressure and recoil of the mighty .380 Auto cartridge.

That's funny.
10-04-12, 10:46
wahoo95

Should've gotten a Hi Point instead.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...1076609625.jpg
10-04-12, 12:28
Apricotshot

the slide work and the sight cost 300% more than the pistol itself.
10-04-12, 13:59
Dave Berryhill

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoo95

Should've gotten a Hi Point instead.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...1076609625.jpg

I think I shat myself from laughing so hard!

Nice job with the red dot installation and the back up iron sights! :D
10-04-12, 17:39
Redmanfms

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoo95

Should've gotten a Hi Point instead.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...1076609625.jpg

Talk about polishing a turd.
10-04-12, 18:04
wahoo95

Adding the red dot made it the ultimate combination for speed and accuracy. It also helped center the balance when using the extended clip.
10-04-12, 21:46
Kain

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoo95

Should've gotten a Hi Point instead.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...1076609625.jpg

My head is hurting just a little looking at that. I think what is crazy is that the there is just that much to mill away and not hit anything important, though I am wondering if that is compromising the structural integrity of the slide. The only thing that is going through my mind is the Hi-point lovers near me using this as a means to justify their Hi-point being accepted as the tactical pistol they claim it to be and how its now just that much more better then my Glock since they can have a red dot on their pistol for less then what mine costs. At least until I introduce my friend who's life has been saved twice by a hi-point. Gang banger shoved it in her chest and pulled the trigger but the gun failed to fire due to the firing pins being broken. That fortunately usually shuts them up until they begin spouting how their WASR is better the my BCM.

Proof positive that you get what you pay for.
10-05-12, 05:50
ThirdWatcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-cat

Pot metal has no place in firearms.

+1 I couldn't agree more.
10-05-12, 12:21
Magic_Salad0892

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoo95

Should've gotten a Hi Point instead.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...1076609625.jpg

Needs a larger magazine, threaded barrel, and suppressor.

An IR laser is also desired, for night operations.
10-05-12, 13:30
ArmedSuspect

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i.../IMGA02681.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i.../IMGA02741.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i.../IMGA02761.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i.../IMGA02651.jpg

i was a few tables down from this guy....
10-06-12, 07:38
HackerF15E

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-cat

Pot metal has no place in firearms.

And yet, some manufacturers keep making 'em and people keep buying 'em!
10-06-12, 07:40
HackerF15E

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmedSuspect

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i.../IMGA02681.jpg

The best part is that HiPoint has a lifetime warranty, so he'll have a new pistol in no time.
10-06-12, 09:41
Nephrology

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoo95

Should've gotten a Hi Point instead.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...1076609625.jpg

Oh my god.
10-07-12, 06:42
whick1

People around here swear by their Hi Points. At the sheriff's dept i work for of al the guns we confiscate I would say at least 60% are Hi Points. Probably 25% of the Lorcins, Ravens, Bryco Jennings, etc. I was at a gun show the other day and a gut was selling used ones for $39.00 He probably had 200 of them by the time i made my rounds I made it back to his table, probably 2 hours has passed, he was done to maybe a dozen. People like their cheap pistols and swear they are just as good as a Glock, SW, HK , etc and that we cops are stupid for packing a Glock or M&P when we could but a Hi Point so much cheaper.
10-07-12, 10:12
HackerF15E

Quote:

Originally Posted by whick1

People like their cheap pistols and swear they are just as good as a Glock, SW, HK , etc and that we cops are stupid for packing a Glock or M&P when we could but a Hi Point so much cheaper.

Fortunately, most intelligent people don't mistake popularity for capability or performance.

Anyone know what the Lorcin/Jennings/etc sales figures are compared to Glocks and M&Ps?