Hi Standard Questions
I'm looking to buy a good .22 bulls eye target pistol. Currently I'm looking at a Hi Standard Model 107 Supermatic Trophy Military SN 2261369. Good shape, 7 1/4" fluted barrel. Lots of questions.
What's a good price. Asking $725.
I understand Hi Standard made some fantastic guns. Then they built crappy guns. Now the guys in Houston are making good ones again. How do I find out whether this one is a good one (I think it does say Hamden on it)?
I'm confused by models. Trophy? Citation? Tournament? 106? 107? 103? The numbers seem somewhat interchangeable. What's what? Which are good, better, best? Does 'Military' matter?
thanks for any help
What's a good price. Asking $725.
I understand Hi Standard made some fantastic guns. Then they built crappy guns. Now the guys in Houston are making good ones again. How do I find out whether this one is a good one (I think it does say Hamden on it)?
I'm confused by models. Trophy? Citation? Tournament? 106? 107? 103? The numbers seem somewhat interchangeable. What's what? Which are good, better, best? Does 'Military' matter?
thanks for any help
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quote:Originally posted by Big Oz
I'm looking to buy a good .22 bulls eye target pistol. Currently I'm looking at a Hi Standard Model 107 Supermatic Trophy Military SN 2261369. Good shape, 7 1/4" fluted barrel. Lots of questions.
What's a good price. Asking $725.
I understand Hi Standard made some fantastic guns. Then they built crappy guns. Now the guys in Houston are making good ones again. How do I find out whether this one is a good one (I think it does say Hamden on it)?
I'm confused by models. Trophy? Citation? Tournament? 106? 107? 103? The numbers seem somewhat interchangeable. What's what? Which are good, better, best? Does 'Military' matter?
thanks for any help
If the condition of the gun is good, buy it. That is a "Hamden" Conn. made pistol, which were excellently made. It will only go up in price, and in the meantine you will have a great target gun, with a fantastic adjustable trigger.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it anyway... make it better!" (RadCat)0 -
Great info. Thanks. I will wait to see if Bobski responds, too. Today I found a Hamden made Citation military, 7.25 fluted (didn't get the SN or model no.). Good shape, with box and fitted with Morini competition grips. Really nice feel $500. Seems like a very good deal? 0 -
And one more question. How different is the trigger pull on the trophy vs. the citation? Are they adjustable? 0 -
thanks. And it this a good deal for the Citation? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Big Oz
Great info. Thanks. I will wait to see if Bobski responds, too. Today I found a Hamden made Citation military, 7.25 fluted (didn't get the SN or model no.). Good shape, with box and fitted with Morini competition grips. Really nice feel $500. Seems like a very good deal?
I'd buy that without thinking too hard.
Trigger pull on the different models is equally excellent, though obviously there can be differences between any two guns, even of the exact same model with sequential serial numbers!0 -
sorry ive been silent, im up in conn caring for dad and have been offline for some time.(fyi...my home is near the old hamden plant!) ok, so far all inputs were good.
hi stds were made in 4 places. i will list them in the order of shootable and desirable preference:
hamden
east hartford
new haven
houston
(all clones from everywhere, tx, nj, etc...)
fixed bbl to 100 were new haven.
102/4/6/7/#/ thru 1/2 the ML series were hamden.
1/2 the ML and SH were east hartford
houston is houston. early were crappy mags and finish. newer are improved. latest are going down hill again.
clones are clones. hit and miss. guns to avoid are stainless and nickel finish.
slant grips dominated the market from late 40's until 1965 when the smith m-41 was the first to break ranks and make a gun to duplicate the 1911's frame. shooters loved it. hi standard, (for the first time,) had to play catch up in the 22 market.
finish isnt the only thing seperating the trophy, citation and tournament.
trophy had the best finish, then citation, then tournament...yes.
but, the early tournament didnt have stippled front and back straps, sear adjustment or backlash adjustment. it wasnt until 65(106) hi std put backlash adj on their tournament.
trophy and citation had all of this. next fact, citations outsold trophies because real shooters could care less about finish, they want x's! and since they were the same gun inside, shooters went for the cheaper one. and too, the gold triggers flaked on trophies which caused jams. so rule of thumb, trophies are more collectibles than practical.
bbl attachment was numerous.
you had:
fixed to frame
dovetail takedown
plunger
allen screw
thumb screw(plinker)
most popular and current is the plunger type.
are bbls interchangable? yes. do they all function ? no! if the plunger hasnt been fit to the frame just right, it wont drop in. every bbl may need a little tlc to fit. and just because it drops in, doesnt mean the bbl and breech line up. mag angles and feed is always a chore for guns slammed together. now keep in mind MOST WILL drop in, but with more people putting into service spare parts being sold as original factory assembly or hacking bbls and guns together with mismatched or swapped parts, you have to be really careful. the best guns to buy are ones that have been with the same owner for years of great service and a record. most common problem with hi stds is worn springs in the mag and slide. wolffe spring kits are available and are the best investment on a used hi std with an unknown background.
so with that said...the gun youre looking at is kind of right where it needs to be since its sporting the 7 3/4" fluted bbl which is desirable.
can you do better? yes.
my choices are...........(similar to dave lettermans countdown)
10. if you like the feel of a slant grip, do the slant grip guns between 102 and 104 series.
9. if you like military feel, do the 106 thru ML series guns staying away from the east hartford and allen screw bbl takedowns. new houston guns are all militaries.
8. how strong are you? longer bbls are for distance shooting. short bbls are for plinking. the longer it is, the more you shake.
7. 5.5" bbls were the most common.
6. 6 3/4" tapered bbls are lighter and shoot just as good.
5. space gun bbl guns bring premiums but arent always the best buy because if they are missing weights and hangers and compensators, its not a space gun!
4. make sure you get old mags with old guns. people mix new mags in old guns making them a misery to shoot.
3. i prefer citation grade guns in slant grip, followed by tournaments. this way im not worrying about "oh my god, i scratched my trophy!," when my carry box tips over going around a corner and all my bullets, ear muffs, and screwdrivers fall on it in the car.
2. victors are heavy. bullets clog under the ribs but victors make better platforms for optics.
1. and the number one guns that bobski says everyone should shoot is....
the 106 or 107 tournament because the rear sight is on the slide and it wont interfere with racking the slide back like the 106 or 107 citation with bridge mounted sight. one peel back of your thumb skin will make you a believer. and for 550 NIB how can you go wrong?
next is the 102 thru 104 series citation with 6 3/4" space gun bbl or taper bbl with thumb rest wood grips. if you are a lefty, get one with the plastic coke bottle grips. they fit like a glove in either hand.
so there you have it! hope it helps.
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction. NRA certified instructor.0 -
so, did ya get it or what?[?][:)] 0 -
Bobski, take a look at my auctions hit the HS jackpot...http://www.forthehunt.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?item=29759739 thats one out of 6 up for auction
Dave0
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