Jimenez Arms

Question
I recently purchased a J.A. 9m.m. I have heard some negative remarks regarding this particular firearm.  I purchased it only for home/personal safety.  I am concerned about the jamming remarks and other hazardous things.  Although have not found any particulars.  I Have a wife and child w/ a restraining order against her x-abusive drug addicted father of a 18 month old.  IF you have any information that can help me I would be extremely thankful.  I took it to the range shot 200 rounds and it seemed fine.  I just hope it works when I really need it.  Its not a target practice toy.   Thank you very much regarding information or links that you  may be able to assist me with.   Sincerely, Patrick

Answer
Patrick,

Although my link specifically says that I won't answer questions about inherently unsafe firearms and naming JA as an example of such, because of the seriousness of your situation I didn't hit the "sorry, I can't help with this" option.

If you seriously think that the gun may be called upon to be used for self-defense, and you are settled on a 9mm, my recommendation would be a Glock (SIG, H&K are other good choices, but not better than the Glock, and are more expensive than the Glock).

People buy JA because they are cheap - well, you get what you pay for. What is your life, and the lives of your wife and child worth to you? $500 is a cheap one-time-payment insurance police, and unlike "conventional" life insurance which simply pays out a death benefit, this insurance could actually save a life.

I'd also recommend that you find a place to get training. Learning to shoot and learning to defend with a gun are two different things. The first is a necessary skill to the second, but learning only to shoot is like someone learning piano scales and thinking they are ready to play at Carnegie Hall. Good training will have you shoot your gun under conditions that will more approximate the demands on yourself and your equipment in a self-defense situation. If you were to bring your JA to such a class, it would likely not last an hour without jamming, or (more probably) breaking.

Good luck.